I Believe in the Reign of Jesus Christ

Introduction

Could an event that happened 2000 years ago impact your life today?

Now you might say, no way… the ordinary day-to-day life of people 2000 years ago has no bearing on life today.

Even the big events of human history; the invention of the wheel, the printing press, flight, the Manga Carta, the rise and fall of empires, all of that may to some degree or another be interesting.

It may have created layers of realities that our lives are built on today, but it doesn’t seem to have any super impact or significance.

Does it matter to your life that Julias Caesar was stabbed in the back and assassinated… probably not.

You might be here today and wonder if all this stuff we do, the songs we’ve sung, the baptisms, the Scripture reading… and really the event that it points to, really matters in any significant way.

As Christians, we believe that what we celebrate today occured as an actual historical event and that this event impacts everything.

The Apostles’ Creed—what we have confessed together this morning—places us in the story of God at work in the world and identifies for us the one who came and changed everything:

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again from the dead;

he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.”

Christians today believe that the events of 2000 years ago, the life of Jesus Christ, impact absolutely everything.

And it’s the reality of the statement, “On the third day he rose again from the dead” that gives shape and meaning to everything.

Those last three lines speak about the event we might call “Jesus’ victory” - his resurrection from the dead, his ascension to the Father, his future return to judge the living and dead.

This morning I want to show you that:

Big Idea: Jesus' victory impacts everything!

But maybe you’re a bit skeptical about that statement.

Perhaps you might feel that while it’s a nice slogan, or an inspirational mantra that feels good.

Yetin the big picture it really doesn’t matter.

Maybe you are tired, defeated, worn-down and overwhelmed and you wonder how that statement could be true.

Perhaps you believe in Jesus, but you are just unsure of what impact he really makes.

I want to answer this question for you today:

What does Jesus' victory mean for me?

The passage we will be studying is in the Apostle Paul’s first inspired letter to the church in Corinth. 1 Corinthians.

In these eight verses we are going to hear some incredible news.

This news is the impact of what Jesus has done for us.

And these verses show us three realities of Jesus’ victory and impacts it our lives today!

The first reality of Jesus’ victory and how it impacts our lives:

All believers will be made alive (1 Cor 15:20-22)

The Apostle Paul says,

1 Corinthians 15:20 CSB

20 But as it is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Now catch this - he is saying this as fact of history.

It’s not a myth, not a speculation or suspicion.

It’s true! The eyewitness testimony of multitudes after Jesus’ crucifixion and the revolution his appearance produced is significant.

Noted skeptic and writer Nicholas Kristof asked Tim Keller in an interview for the NYTimes;

“I deeply admire Jesus and his message but am skeptical of… The Resurrection… can I be a Christian while doubting the Resurrection?”

Keller’s response is helpful.

“The Christian Church is pretty much inexplicable if we don’t believe in a physical resurrection…. It is hard to account for thousands of Jews virtually overnight worshiping a human being as divine when everything about their religion and culture conditioned them to believe that was not only impossible, but deeply heretical. The best explanation for the change was that many hundreds of them had actually seen Jesus with their own eyes.”

Earlier here in 1 Corinthians, Paul says if the Resurrection is false this whole thing is foolish and even worse - I am deceiving you!

But we believe the Resurrection is true! Jesus is alive!

And because he is alive that means good things for you and for me.

Specifically it means that all who believe and trust in Christ alone as the one who is Savior and Lord over your life will be resurrected (or made alive) also.

Paul points us to Jesus as the one who is the “firstfruits” of those who have fallen asleep.

“Fallen asleep” is a metaphor he uses to speak of death

Jesus is the first one raised from those who have died.

He’s at the front of the line leading all those who are his on in resurrection life.

The impact to our lives is because Jesus was raised, so too will those who believe in him.

Here’s why (1 Cor 15:21)

1 Corinthians 15:21 CSB

21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man.

Death came through a man - Adam, the first human… when he took the forbidden fruit in the garden and ate the curse of death fell upon him and the entire human race.

But just as death came through one man so resurrection comes through one man as well.

Jesus is the Second Adam - the greater one who died and was made alive.

Let’s face the music for just a second this morning.

Death is coming for every one of us.

This is how I know every human being is in trouble.

We feel the desire and longing to live forever.

We don’t want to even remotely consider that our lives will end.

Furthermore, we don’t want to acknowledge the sinking feeling inside that something is wrong within us, and that we’ve done wrong things.

We bristle at hearing “judgment is coming.”

So we do all sorts of stuff to try and suppress those feelings.

You may have even come here today hoping I wouldn’t talk too much about judgement and death because you want to enjoy and be lifted up yourself.

But let’s face it - death is coming.

YOUR death is coming!

The good news is that everyone “in Christ” will be made alive again.

How do you get “in Christ”?

It’s a matter of a heart change that God can do! He can change your heart.

Friend, acknowledge that you are a sinner, you have failed to obey God’s standard and sinned by your evil thoughts and deeds. By what you have done and what you have failed to do.

Confess your sin to God! Cry out to him for his mercy and grace.

And the BELIEVE and put your trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

Romans 10:9–10 ESV

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

You’ll be fully and completely alive - never to taste death again!

Death will merely be a doorway through which you enter God’s eternal Kingdom and everlasting life.

Let me give you space right now in this sermon for you to pray and seek God’s mercy, especially if you have never done so.

Pray now and acknowledge your sin, ask him to give you a new heart, place your faith in Jesus Christ.

If you have trusted Christ this morning - let me be a friend and brother to welcome you into the family of God.

Would you please tell me after the service that you trusted Christ so we can help you grow and flourish in your new faith?

If you have acknowledged and confessed your sin before God and believed in your heart that Jesus is Lord, you are in Christ… you will be raised to new life again!

Because of Jesus’ victory all believers will be made alive.

The second reality of Jesus’ victory and how it impacts our lives:

All enemies will be defeated (1 Cor 15:23-26)

Let’s go back to our text:

1 Corinthians 15:23 CSB

23 But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; afterward, at his coming, those who belong to Christ.

Now in speaking about that final Resurrection, Paul says there is an order of events here.

You know if you go to a sporting event or concert or play or something there is an order to the things that happen in.

In the drama of redemption and resurrection God has an order as well.

Event one - Christ was raised first (that’s the past event of the Resurrection that we celebrate today)

Event two - Those who “belong to Christ” are raised at his Coming (that’s a future event we wait for).

Event three - “then comes the end”

1 Corinthians 15:24–25 CSB

24 Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he abolishes all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he puts all his enemies under his feet.

He does all the work to bring in and secure the Kingdom of God.

The Father sent Christ to secure his Kingdom and make all things right.

Jesus the King works to secure every area of his empire and ensure there are no splinter cells of rebellion or evil.

He goes to work as the victorious one putting to defeat every rebel spirit, every demonic stronghold.

He brings to submission every traitor and rebel ruler that tries to usurp his reign and supplant his ultimate authority.

I love this picture of King Jesus eradicating every foe and villain against him.

You might recoil from the idea that Jesus is on the offensive bringing all enemies into submission beneath him, but our hearts truly long for all things to be made right.

We all desire the day when there is no more turmoil, there is no more suffering or tears or sadness or shame.

Everyone wants to have a life where there is unending and uninterrupted peace.

For any Kingdom to have true peace then that peace must be secured.

Jesus Christ will come again and make all things right.

Revelation 19 gives us a vision of the King of Kings returning “and in righteousness he judges and makes war...”

Revelation 19:11 ESV

11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.

Revelation 19:15–16 ESV

15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

The Apostles’ Creed in speaking of the victory of Jesus reminds us that “He will come again to judge the living and the dead.”

That day is coming when all enemies will put under his foot.

And verse 26 brings the culmination of all of this:

1 Corinthians 15:26 CSB

26 The last enemy to be abolished is death.

Death is our great enemy. Death is the enemy of Christ. And although Death got a blow in at the crucifixion, on that third day Jesus began his victory tour putting all enemies under his feet

Death will be no more.

Death itself has a death-date.

Revelation 21:4 CSB

4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.

The happy ending to the story is going to come true.

Everything bad will come untrue.

Jesus’ victory, that began at the resurrection, continues in his ascension, will culminate in his return when he comes again and every enemy will be defeated!

I can’t wait to see death destroyed once and for all! Can you?

Jesus’ victory means all those who believe in Jesus will be raised again

Jesus’ victory means all enemies, especially death, will be defeated

Finally, the last reality of Jesus’ victory:

All things will be reconciled to God forever (1 Cor 15:27-28)

Paul here wraps up this paragraph:

1 Corinthians 15:27 (CSB)

27 For God has put everything under his feet.

He’s quoting Psalm 8:6 here where David says of God about the Son of Man.

Psalm 8:6 CSB

6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet:

Just as Jesus is the creator of all things, he is also the one who is over and supreme over all things.

Creator, Ruler…

But Jesus is also the Reconciler of all things to God.

So Paul speaks of the relationship of the Son and Father like this.

The Father has “put all things” under Jesus’ reign and dominion (excluding, of course, the Father, being under Christ)…

1 Corinthians 15:27 CSB

27 For God has put everything under his feet. Now when it says “everything” is put under him, it is obvious that he who puts everything under him is the exception.

And the Son is working to bring all things into right order underneath his reign and rule.

So as the Reconciler,

1 Corinthians 15:28 CSB

28 When everything is subject to Christ, then the Son himself will also be subject to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all.

Everything rightly relating to everything else. The Father over all things, the Son in relationship to the Father, and all things made new and right.

Redemption will be complete.

This is what I believe many hope for in the desire for heaven. Perfect peace and happiness.

Augustine, a pastor in North Africa in the 4th century in his book The City of God said this:

Saint Augustine: The City of God, Books XVII–XXII Chapter 30

Who can measure the happiness of heaven, where no evil at all can touch us, no good will be out of reach; where life is to be one long laud extolling God, who will be all in all; where there will be no weariness to call for rest, no need to call for toil, no place for any energy but praise.

Saint Augustine: The City of God, Books XVII–XXII Chapter 30

God will be the source of every satisfaction, more than any heart can rightly crave, more than life and health, food and wealth, glory and honor, peace and every good—so that God, as St. Paul said, ‘may be all in all.’ He will be the consummation of all our desiring—the object of our unending vision, of our unlessening love, of our unwearying praise. And in this gift of vision, this response of love, this paean of praise, all alike will share, as all will share in everlasting life.

I cannot think of anything greater and better than to be one of those who experience the eternal bliss and happiness of delight forever with God.

There is nothing in my mind that could be sweeter than never seeing anything sad, broken, wicked, evil, or destructive again.

Only eternal joy, only eternal delight, only eternal and never-ending love!

Because Jesus rose from the dead, this is no mere dream or desire. It is a reality that everyone who believes and trusts in him will experience.

Do you desire this? Are you eager for this life with God?

If you belong to Christ it will be yours. The victory of Jesus will be yours!

Conclusion

Could an event that happened 2000 years ago impact your life today?

Your life could stay the same today…

Same mundane things, same mundane existence.... headed to death.

You can continue to persist in your sin and passive-aggressive rebellion against Jesus as an enemy

You can live as if you are supreme and MVP of your life and find that you will be forced to bow your knee to King Jesus when he comes again.

Or your life can be absolutely turned upside down because Jesus is victorious!

If you believe in the victory of Jesus, demonstrated in the Resurrection from the grave, then yes - it’ll impact absolutely everything.

You will be made alive, just as Jesus Christ was made alive.

You will see Death destroyed, and all enemies of God vanquished under foot.

You will see all things reconciled and made right with God.

And you will see God!

Will the victory of Jesus impact your life?

Let’s pray!