Each Believer's Journey Towards Spiritual Transformation
John Hester
Our Blueprint for a New Testament Church • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Metamorphosis
It begins with a person. It comes with a whole bunch of perks. It’s pinnacle is coming soon.
The Person of Spiritual Change
The Person of Spiritual Change
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
The Holy Spirit now draws our attention to the vast differences between Adam and Christ. In our text, we have the “first man Adam” and the “last Adam.” As we know from Genesis, God created the first man and called him “Adam.”
7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Note that God formed the first man from the “dust of the ground.” In our text, verse 47 reiterates this by stating, “The first man is of the earth.” There is no doubt that every person sitting here this morning is born of that first man. How do I know? Well, wait long enough and your body will go back to being dust. Each time a person dies and their body decays it proves verity of Scripture. God created man from dust and unto dust we all return. However, God not only created man from dust, but God was also the One Who breathed into man’s nose making man a “living soul.” Thus, Adam, the first man, was made alive and became the progenitor of all humanity. There is a problem though. This first man is also the same man who sinned against His Creator.
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Adam, along with Eve, disobeyed God’s one simple command. Adam’s disobedience brought sin into this world. Along with sin came both physical and spiritual death. Until Adam’s sin, man did not know death. It was after their sin that the curse of death fell upon man. From the moment they sinned and God cast them out of the Garden of Eden, death began its slow descent upon them. Eventually, Adam and Eve returned to the dust from which humanity was created. However, long before their physical death, they suffered the evil of spiritual death. Death is nothing more than separation. God cast Adam and Eve from His presence in the Garden for the sin they committed.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
In this verse, we find that sin’s wages (what it earns) is always death. Sometimes when I am sharing with someone this verse, I will read the first part and then close my Bible. I will then say something like this, “If this was all that Bible had to say about sin and our condition, we would have no hope.” That is really the essence of this entire chapter in 1 Corinthians. If there is nothing more than sin and death, there is no hope for any of us. The only thing we would know is that we are born in the same image of our father, the first Adam, who was a sinner. We would be born in sin, condemned, and with no hope of any redemption. What a bleak picture! Truly, with only that small amount of information we would be men most miserable.
Thank the Lord there is so much more! The second half of Romans 6:23 is our hope. For we know that God’s gift is eternal life and it is available through Jesus Christ our Lord. We find this same hope in our text this morning.
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
The first Adam was made a living soul. God gave him life. However, the “last Adam” is a quickening spirit. You will note in you Bible that the words “was made” are words not in the original Greek. They were provided by the translators for context. However, here it is important to understand that the “last Adam” was a much different person than the first Adam. God provided life for the first Adam. However, the “last Adam” is the One Who provides life for He is life. By the way, just so no one is confused about the identity of this “last Adam” read verse 47.
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
You see Christ, Who is both God and man, is the “last Adam,” “the second man,” and the Savior of the world. He is the Lord from heaven.
This truth is essential for us to understand and know. It is so significant the Holy Spirit notes a key distinction between these two Adams. Note what He says.
1 Corinthians 15:46–49 (KJV 1900)
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
Adam is of the earth and is natural. By the way, the connotation here is that the first Adam is temporary. We are here today and gone tomorrow. The first Adam is no where to be found today here on earth. Why is that? He died a long, long time ago. His body decayed and turned back into to dust.
In contrast, the last Adam is spiritual and from heaven. In other words, the last Adam is eternal. Death has no power over the last Adam. He proved that by His own resurrection.
Here is the application!
Every one of us are born into this world in the same likeness of the first Adam. We are born of a physical body that it set on a course of decay and decomposition the moment we are conceived and brought into this world. Additionally, we are born already possessing a sin nature that is contrary to the things of God. It is the whole reason we spend our time as parents teaching our children to do right. They already are born with the innate sense to do evil. Even now, our society is reflection of this truth. Evil and wickedness abounds while righteousness and truth flounders. And, without a doubt, we are born destined to return to dust. The moment a person enters the grave they are also destined to an eternity without God.
However, all of that can change simply because the “last Adam” came down from Heaven to rescue us.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Remember Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
There is also the great verses of 1 John 5:10-12
10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
You see the Person of Spiritual Change is the Lord Jesus Christ, the “last Adam.” His death, burial, and resurrection is the quickening power by which you recieve spiritual life. If you want to truly live, then you must place your faith in Him.
Now, here is some additional and wonderful news. There are lot of perks that come with placing your faith in Christ. That is the next point of our text.
The Perks of Spiritual Change
The Perks of Spiritual Change
Look again at our text and note verse 48 and 49.
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
This goes back to an earlier point which may seem like an overstatement, but it is true and must never be understated. We are all born of this earth and, consequently, we are earthy. In other words, we are sinners. We, as verse 49 states, bear “the image of the earthy.” It is the reason why we are all naturally bent to committing sinful acts. Just like it is the nature of a dog to bark and cat to meow so it is with us. We sin because we are born of Adam and born with sinful nature.
In contrast, every person who puts their faith in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection is a person who experience radical spiritual change. For one thing, they are born again spiritually. Now, with their new life in Christ, they are “heavenly” and “bear the image of the heavenly.” This spiritual transformation is the greatest perk of spiritual change. It is a blessing taught throughout all of the New Testament.
Because of Christ, you now have a New Relationship with God versus the old relationship of enmity.
You are declared righteous and no longer under God’s judgment.
You are at peace with God and stand justified before Him.
You are no longer separated from God or a stranger to God’s family for you are now a joint-heir with Christ.
You have eternal life and the certainty that God’s work will continue in you.
You are no longer enslaved to sin, but you now have complete freedom to serve righteousness.
You have God’s promise that He will help you handle any problem that comes into your life.
You now can use trails and problems as opportunities to grow spiritually as God helps you through them.
You have the wonderful assurance that Jesus will never leave you.
Because of Christ, you now have New Power as you can tap into God’s sufficiency.
You have God’s Spirit within you to teach you, strengthen you, intercede for you, help you discern truth and error, and develop Christlike character in your life.
You have God’s Word which gives you hope and counsels you in every situation.
You have God’s Wisdom.
You have God’s Son who will remains with you, sustains you, and cares for you.
Because of Christ, you now have a New Purpose in life.
You now are free to worship the Lord and serve Him.
You now can live for Him by loving Him and loving others as God intended.
Because of Christ, you now have a New Plan for your life.
Your new plan involves obeying His Word and a commitment to please Him.
All of these are perks that you can enjoy right now. Yet, there is some much more to come which leads me to the next point of our text.
The Pinnacle of Spiritual Change
The Pinnacle of Spiritual Change
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51 Behold, I shew 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 trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Why is the resurrection so important? Here is the answer. The key to entering and inheriting God’s kingdom is this. God’s kingdom has no corruption, immorality, or sin. It is not a kingdom of flesh and blood. It is a kingdom of righteousness. Thus, all who enter His kingdom must be made righteous. There is only one way to be righteous and that is to experience complete new spiritual birth through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember He is the way, the truth, and the life. He is also the resurrection and the life. Accepting by faith His death, burial, and resurrection as payment for our sin is the only way to enter God’s kingdom.
One we accept Christ as the only way, we experience spiritual change and we begin to enjoy all the perks that change as I already noted. However, in verses 51 and 52, the Holy Spirit sets our sights on the pinnacle of our spiritual change. We will not sleep. In other words, we will not be harnessed by death’s grip. No, instead, we will be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump (the last trump we will hear as New Testament believers), we will be resurrected from the dead with an incorruptible body. We will experience the greatest change of all as we shed this weak, natural body and exchange it for a heavenly, glorified body.
The process of our spiritual change will end when we enter eternal fellowship with Christ and all those who have been redeemed by our Heavenly Father.
Note that we will be raised “incorruptible.” Another great way to say the same thing is that we will live eternally. No longer will we ever worry about pain, sickness, or death. Instead, we will enjoy an eternal relationship with Lord dwelling with Him in Heaven.
What is the promise?
We will meet Jesus when He returns with power and great glory.
27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
We will experience our final and complete transformation.
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
We will enjoy living with Christ in a heavenly, eternal city not made with hands.
1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
We will be part of a great host of righteous brothers and sisters in Christ who will dwell together in peace and joy.
23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Conclusion
Conclusion
In the meantime, we have a responsibility. Our duty is threefold. As we anticipate that last trumpet when we will be “caught up together…in the clouds,” we must do these things.
Keep our heart and mind established, ready, and clear as we anticipate His glorious appearing.
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Be careful about our walk making the most of the time we have right now.
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Encourage fellow believers and comfort them with the blessed thought of Christ’s soon return.
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.