Embracing Christ’s Victory: Fearless Devotion and Unwavering Dedication to Christ
John Hester
Our Blueprint for a New Testament Church • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
I have lot to cover this morning as we wrap our study of 1 Corinthians 15. So let us get right into it by reading our text.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Over the next few Sundays, we are going to examine some things we need to EMBRACE as believers. The word “embrace” as the idea of welcoming with opening arms. Whenever we embrace our loved ones, we hug them and hold them tight knowing how important they are to us. In the same vein, there are number of things in as we wrap up this chapter and finish out chapter 16 which the Holy Spirit encourages to embrace. He wants us to welcome them into our lives and cherish them knowing that they are important to us spiritually and physically.
We are going to start with the first of these with this thought. We must EMBRACE Christ’s Victory. Please remember that this entire chapter is focused on the factual event of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. We now come to the conclusion of this great action. As we do, the Holy Spirit encourages us to EMBRACE Christ’s victory through FEARLESS DEVOTION and UNWAVERING DEDICATION to Christ. Let’s begin with that first thought.
EMBRACING Christ’s Victory through FEARLESS DEVOTION
EMBRACING Christ’s Victory through FEARLESS DEVOTION
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Cultivating a fearless devotion to Christ beings with our understanding of Christ’s victory. There is no doubt that when Christ arose from dead he achieved a great victory over sin and death. Note that according our text that Christ at His resurrection fulfilled Old Testament prophecy. In fact, the Holy Spirit quotes Isaiah 25:8 and Hosea 13:14.
8 He will swallow up death in victory; And the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; And the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: For the Lord hath spoken it.
14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: Repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.
One of the horrible things about death is how it often comes and takes those who are near and dear to us. Sometimes, death comes suddenly and without warning. Death as well as sin are terrible entities that we deal with on a daily basis. However, the wonderful news for us, as believers, is that Christ is the One Who has defeated both. Thus, we can say while standing by the graveside of beloved one who is a believer, “O death, where is thy string? O grave, where is thy victory?” What is that comforting to us. Without Christ’s victory over death and sin, we all are condemned to a life of eternal pain and judgment. However, due to the fact that Christ did indeed rise again, we now stand confident knowing that we will see our believing loved ones again for we will have conquered death and sin vicariously through the Lord Jesus Christ.
However, here is one troubling thought. Too many times, as believers, we do not live as victorious conquerors but as cowering losers. You do realize that in Christ we are more than conquerors.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The unfortunate reality is that we, as believers, often fear tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, and sword. We cower at the prospect of suffering. In this passage of Romans 8, the Holy Spirit reminds us that we are “more than conquerors through him that love us.” That same theme runs in our text this morning.
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
For this reason, we must be “persuaded” that nothing in this life including death can “separate us from the love of God, which IS IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD!” In other words, we can embrace a life of devotion that is fearless simply because of Christ’s victory over death. That is the message this morning. The Holy Spirit is encouraging us to stand up and live for the Lord Jesus Christ. He won the victory. It is signed, sealed, and delivered.
What then does a life of FEARLESS DEVOTION look like?
FEARLESS DEVOTION replaces FEAR with FAITH.
FEARLESS DEVOTION replaces FEAR with FAITH.
One of our biggest problems is we allow fear to dominate our lives instead of faith. In fact, I am reminded this morning how many times Christ said to His disciples, “O ye of little faith!” Stop and consider this thought. These men, the 12 disciples, spent an incredible amount of time walking and talking with Christ. They saw Him do countless miracles which included everything from healing people of diseases, turning water in wine, and even raising people from the dead. Yet, in spite of these experiences, we often seen them paralyzed by fear at times when they needed more faith. One of those instances is recorded in Matthew 8:23-27
23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.
24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
Here they are in a boat with Christ. Now, remember that Christ has already demonstrated His great power through many miracles. They are in the boat with Him and there comes up this fierce storm. I have been on a lake in the middle of a fierce storm before. It is not fun. In fact, when the lightning is popping all around you and the wind is causing the waves to grow to the point of capsizing the boat, there is a lot of fear that overtakes you. This was the same situation for them. However, instead of putting their faith in the Messiah who controls all of nature, they cry out with fear, “Lord, save us: we perish.” I do not condemn the disciples. Lord knows that had I been in the same situation I would have done the same. However, there is a lesson here for all of us to learn. Fearless devotion sees the Lord of the storm instead fearing the potential consequences of the storm.
That is the idea in our text this morning. Christ already won the victory over sin as well as death. What then should you and I, as believers, fear? Nothing is the answer. Through Christ, we have the ability to overcome personal sin. Additionally, through Christ, we will overcome death. Christ has promised us everlasting life with Him. Consequently, I can and must live with fearless devotion to Him utilizing my faith in His promises as well as His overwhelming victory through His own resurrection.
Believer, I encourage you this morning to let Christ’s victory be the foundation of your fearless devotion for Him. There is nothing in this world, as noted in Romans 8, that can separate you from the love of Christ. Even your own sin cannot separate you from His love. Remember this. The moment you accepted Christ as your Saviour, your sins were forgiven. He imparted His gift of ETERNAL life. Thus, nothing can separate you from His love. Praise God for that wonderful promise. It is a promise that should embolden you live fearlessly for Him.
Now, consider this point about embracing Christ’s Victory through Fearless Devotion.
A FEARLESS DEVOTION to Christ COUPLED with FAITHFUL LOVE and SERVICE is POWERFUL.
A FEARLESS DEVOTION to Christ COUPLED with FAITHFUL LOVE and SERVICE is POWERFUL.
We can be fearless in our devotion to Christ when replace fear with faith. Our faith rests in the fact that Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection solidifies our present relationship with Christ and secures our future existence with Him. Thus, we can live without fear of sin and death.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
We are in the perfect position now to faithfully love and serve Him. That is the point of these few verses. The Holy Spirit encourages us to live faithfully for Christ. We can do it. It is more than possible because Christ did it all for us. His grace enables to live for Him and to serve Him. For this reason, the Holy Spirit goes to say in this in verse 58.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
We can be stedfast, unmoveable, and abounding in our love and service for Him. His victory enables us to do so. It is now our duty to do these two things.
We must CULTIVATE faithfulness in our love and service to the Lord.
We must CULTIVATE faithfulness in our love and service to the Lord.
How do I cultivate faithfulness? I do so by repeatedly obeying His word. Again, I am now able to do this simply because Christ is victorious over sin and death. For just a moment, go with me back to verse 56.
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
Death, sin, and the law are all interconnected. Sin brought death.
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:
The law exposed sin and sin abounded.
19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
Thus, men stood in need of a Savior who could conquer both sin and death. This is where the Lord Jesus Christ stepped in.
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
He not only died, but He also resurrected Himself from the dead. In doing so, He achieved the needed victory over death and sin.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now, all that is required is that we, by faith, accept all that Christ achieved.
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Those who do believe and accept by faith what Christ has done experience spiritual rebirth, life, and an ability to no longer serve sin.
10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Consequently, God now places upon us the responsibility of CULTIVATING faithful love and service to Him. We must stop yielding ourselves to sin and yield ourselves to God. How do we do this? We do this by faithful obedience to Christ and His Word.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
There it is. The purpose of our Christian life is to obey God continually so we might be useful servants of His and demonstrate our love for Him. We, as believers, are not to live in fear, but in fearless obedience and devotion to Christ. We cultivate that faithfulness by our continued obedience to Him. However, if we stop obeying, our faith begins to falter. When our faith falters, we once again fall back into a life dominated by fear and uselessness.
So what must I do? I must make an unwavering commitment to love the Lord and serve Him each day. Each morning beings with a fresh commitment. Today, I am going to love the Lord with all my heart, soul, and mind. I am going to serve Him without fear. I am determined to obey Him in all things.
Note that this is an inward commitment. It is a personal embrace of Christ’s Victory. It is a commitment to fearless devotion to Christ.
What is interesting is something that Christ once said! He said the following.
33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
What Christ said not brings us to our last point in our text.
Remember this thought. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. I might add Scripturally that out of the heart actions are taken.
Embracing Christ Victory starts with a FEARLESS Devotion to Christ. Remember that is the inward (heart) commitment. From that inward commitment, there must be some outward evidence.
EMBRACING Christ’s Victory through Unwavering Dedication
EMBRACING Christ’s Victory through Unwavering Dedication
Note again 1 Corinthians 15:57-58
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
The word “therefore” is key here. We have victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. His victory gives us the confidence we need to live for Him. Nothing can separated us from the love of Christ. Therefore, for this reason, we must be stedfast, unmoveable, and constantly abounding in the work of the Lord. Why should we do this? We do it because we know (without fear and with great confidence) that our labour is not in vain in Christ.
You may have noted the words “work” and “labour.” The word “work” simply means any work that a person is obliged to do for any reason. In the context of this verse, it refers to the work that we are obliged to do for the Lord for all that He has done for us. Christ stated that if we loved Him, we would keep His commandments. The life that we live and the service we do for Him we do out of love for Him. The second word, “labour”, is word that means productive work. The first word is a generic word. The word “work” is like asking someone what kind of work do the do for a living. There are many different responses to such a question. Someone might say they are carpenter, farmer, electrician, teacher, or nurse. The second word though quantifies their work. Are they a productive in their work? In other words, are you a productive carpenter who is learning and growing to become better in his trade. It is one thing to say you are carpenter, but it is a far better thing to be noted as a exceptional carpenter. That is is the jest of this verse. Saying that work for the Lord must be backed up by productive labor for the Lord. Labor evidenced outwardly by committed, unwavering, and productive work for Christ.
Here is a question that each of must ask ourselves.
Do others see in me a person who is unwavering in their dedication to the Lord? Do they see a committed, unwavering, and prolific believer?
If not, than it is important that you develop such an UNWAVERING DEDICATION to the Lord that without doubt others see someone who is steadfast, unmoveable, and always abounding in the Lord’s work.
Embracing Christ’s Victory through Unwavering Dedication requires these two things.
Taking A BOLD STAND for Christ!
Taking A BOLD STAND for Christ!
What I mean by taking a bold stand for Christ is that you must publicly display your unwavering commitment to Christ! Here is a little self test you can take. Answer the following question truthfully.
How many people outside of your family knows that you are believer? It is more than 5, more than 10, more than 25? Of those who do know that you are believer, how did the come to know that you were? Did they figure it out by your lifestyle, did you boldly and proudly tell them, or did you just slip up and let it out without meaning to? Did you see the difference there?
Christ said this.
32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
The thing is Christ did not call us to be covert believers. Instead, He called us to openly and boldly proclaim His name to all we encounter. If you trying to hide who you as a believer, you are not embracing Christ’s victory. You not living a life of faith, but one of fear. It is time that we stop being undercover agents and start waging full open warfare for Christ. We must take a bold stand for Him!
Last week I was encouraged by our new Speak of the House, Congressman Mike Johnson. When he gave his inaugural address, he stated unequivocally that he believe in Christ as Savior and that all his decisions are driven by God’s Word. What boldness in time when American society has deemed Christianity as old fashioned and out of touch! Later, in an interview, someone asked him about his worldview. He retorted that all you needed to do is pick up any Bible from off a shelf and read it. That was his worldview. This is the kind of stand all of us need to be taking! We must not let the world dictate terms. We must no back down from the pressure of sinful men. We must stand up for the Lord. We must stand without fear, without wavering, and with complete confidence that Christ is victorious.
Here is one other thing we must do if we are to embrace Christ’s victory through Unwavering Dedication. The first was take a bold stand for Christ. The second is this.
Thriving in OUR SERVICE for Christ!
Thriving in OUR SERVICE for Christ!
This point comes from the words “always abounding” in verse 58.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
The words “always abounding” means to be abundant or plentiful. In other words, God expects us to thrive. We are to make much of what He has given us. This is principle found throughout the New Testament. Christ himself spent much time teaching this principle. He gave us the parable of the stewards who were given 5, 3, and 1 talent by their Lord. The stewards with the 5 and 3 talents spent their talents and turned them into 10 and 6. When their lord returned, he was extremely pleased that they had “abounded.” They were productive. They multiplied what he had given to them. However, the steward with one talent did the opposite. He went and hid his talent. He did “abound.” When the lord returned, he was wroth with the steward and asked his reason for hiding the one talent entrusted to him. Note his reply.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
Note that he was driven by fear. In fact, he totally misunderstood his lord. He did not have the right understanding of who his lord was and what was required. Thus, instead of boldly going in the market place and producing for his lord, he was afraid and hid.
I believe there are many believers who are in the same exact condition today. They have this huge misconception of their Lord. They feel that He is always out to punish them. They see Him as a hard man. Yet, that is not Christ. Christ is one Who love His own. In fact, even while He was facing the burden of the cross, He prayed for us. He noted that we belonged to Him. Listen to His prayer.
20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
Does that sound like a hard man? Is there any reason we should fear Him and His love towards us? The answer is no. Instead, we should realize that His love is our victory.
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.
Through His death, burial, and resurrection, we have freedom, life, and the liberty to stand boldly and to thrive in our service for Him. Thus, I would encourage you, as a believer, to get busy serving the Lord. Don’t be afraid. Be faithful. Be steadfast. Be unwavering or unmoveable. Be always abounding. Our labor is not in vain for Christ is victorious. He has defeated death and sin.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
Conclusion
