The Death Of Death (The Resurrection Hope)

Introduction

Death must be an evil and the gods agree; for why else would they live forever?

Sappho, c. 600 BC

Prologue to “The Death of Death: The Scientific Possibility of Physical Immortality and its Moral Defense” by Jose Cordeiro and David Wood

Aging, like the weather, does not respect national or ethnic boundaries; it affects each group and subgroup of humanity more or less equally. There is much talk about the disparities that exist in this regard; for example, that although the United States is the country that spends the most on health per capita, it is not even in the group of the 30 countries with the highest life expectancy. However, these statistics should not deceive us, since the disparities are numerically small: life expectancy in the United States is only 5 years lower than that of Japan. It is essential that there be no borders in the crusade against aging. The entire world must unite and devote its greatest efforts to solve this problem, since it is the main challenge facing humanity.

“Stolyarov continues a conversation he held as a child with his mother, who was explaining to him that people finally “die.”

The young boy asks his mother in surprise: “Die? What does that mean?” – He asked

– “It means they stop existing. They are just not there anymore” – she replied 

– “But why do they die? Do they do anything bad to deserve it?” – He questioned

– “No, it happens to everyone. People get old and then die” – she said

– “It is wrong!” – He exclaimed – “People should not die!””

Man fears death because he loves life. Fyodor Dostoyevsky, 1880

Transition To Body- Jesus Christ (Who Conquered Death)- Gospel preached, received, and stood upon

The Gospel We Preach

1 Corinthians 15:1–2 ESV

1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

Preach/Proclaim- to publicly announce religious truths and principles while urging acceptance and compliance—‘to preach

Christ Died For Our Sins

1 Corinthians 15:3 ESV

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,

Christ Buried & Resurrected on the 3rd Day

1 Corinthians 15:4 ESV

4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

Christ Who Appeared Resurrected

1 Corinthians 15:5–8 ESV

5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

Our Resurrection Hope

1 Corinthians 15:12–20 ESV

12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Our Past & Our Future

1 Corinthians 15:49 ESV

49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.

We have the promise of the resurrection before us. We have the person of the resurrection above us. We have the power of the resurrection already at work within us. Until that day comes, when we are raised up or taken up, we each should use the body that we have now to do all the good we can for as long as we can, knowing we are getting ready for the body that is unlike any other body that has ever been born.

Incompatibility of Flesh With the Kingdom of God

inherit- to receive something of considerable value which has not been earned—‘to receive, to be given, to gain possession of.

1 Corinthians 15:50 ESV

50 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

Our Resurrection Hope

Jesus Will Raise Us Imperishable

1 Corinthians 15:51–53 ESV

51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.

The Death of Death

1 Corinthians 15:54–57 ESV

54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Death Swallowed Up In Victory

Isaiah 25:8 ESV

8 He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.

Death Does Not Have The Victory

Hosea 13:14 ESV

14 I shall ransom them from the power of Sheol; I shall redeem them from Death. O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion is hidden from my eyes.

Body- In Light of Our Resurrection Hope

Therefore My Beloved Brothers & Sisters

1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV

58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Be Constant (Steadfast)

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 31.92 ἑδραῖος, α, ον

pertaining to being firmly established in one’s position or opinions—‘firm, steadfast, unwavering.

“Therefore,” Paul says, we ought to be constant in God’s work: “be steadfast.”

Be Committed

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 31.81 ἀμετακίνητος, ον

pertaining to not being readily shaken in one’s opinions or beliefs—‘firm, unshaken, steady.’

We ought to be committed to God’s work: “immoveable.”

Be Consistent (Always Abounding) in the work of the LORD

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 67.88 πάντοτε; ἑκάστοτε

duration of time, with reference to a series of occasions—‘always, at all times, on every occasion.’

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 59.52 περισσεύω

to be or exist in abundance, with the implication of being considerably more than what would be expected—‘to abound, to be in abundance, to be a lot of, to exist in a large quantity, to be left over

We ought to be consistent in God’s work: “always excelling.”

Be Confident (in the LORD) your labor is not in vain

We ought to be confident in God’s work: “because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

Transition To Close

Look Carefully

Ephesians 5:15–16 ESV

15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Watch Yourself

Luke 21:34–36 ESV

34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Stay Woke

Matthew 24:43–47 ESV

43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. 45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.

Close- Eyes Have Not Seen

1 Corinthians 15:20 ESV

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

1 Corinthians 2:8–9 ESV

8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—

1 Corinthians 15:54–58 ESV

54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.