THE DAY DEATH WAS DEFEATED

HAPPY RESURRECTION SUNDAY!

Mark 16 NIV84

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ” Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it. Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either. Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

Today Christians throughout the world celebrate the day death was defeated.

the resurrection of Jesus Christ was a historical even!

It happened on a day like today. Sunday, April 3, 33 AD.

An event that changed the world forever!

1 Corinthians 15: 20-26 ...

First Corinthians 15—

1 Corinthians 15:20–26 NIV84

20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

We’re talking today about the defeat of death.

Very frankly, people don’t like to talk about death very much; and if you don’t know the Lord, I don’t blame you.

You know, man is the only creature who knows that he’s going to die, and he’s trying desperately to forget it. The truth of the matter is, we don’t want to die.

Let me be clear with you, I don’t want to be somber about it, but I’m telling you, one of these days, unless Jesus returns, death is going to lay his icy hands on you.

Every time the clock ticks somebody died. And, one of those ticks is for me, and one is for you; and we never know when that is going to come.

Death is a fact, and death is a foe. But, while death is a decided fact, I want to tell you, death is a defeated foe—death is a defeated foe.

And so, the message today is not sober; it’s not sad news. We can laugh in the face of death if we know the Lord Jesus Christ.

And so, I want to talk to you a little bit about the day that death was defeated.

I want to give you some good news, which is the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, which speaks of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave—His triumph over death.

The first thing I lay on your heart:

I. Jesus' Resurrection Defeats the Power of Death to Keep Us Dead

Number one: I want you to see that Jesus' Resurrection Defeats the Power of Death to Keep Us Dead -

You know, death has the idea that he can keep you, that it can keep me dead forever.

But, Jesus said, “Oh, no. Death, you cannot keep Me dead forever.”

You see, Jesus willingly, vicariously laid down His life. He said, “No man takes my life from me. I lay it down of Myself” (John 10:17).

Jesus was the only person who really ever decided to die.

You say, “Well, no. If a person commits suicide, he decides to die.” No, he doesn’t. He’s going to die anyway. He just decided the time of his death.

Jesus was the only One who really decided to die. He did not have to die. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

Jesus was not a sinner. There was no seed of death in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus willingly, voluntarily, vicariously laid down His life. Death thought he had a victory.

And so, old Death, King Death—and by the way, the Bible calls Death a king. In Romans chapter 5 and verse 14, the Bible says, “Death reigned” (Romans 5:14).

That is, Death ruled. And so, old King Death laid his icy, bony hands on the Lord Jesus Christ and shackled Jesus with the bonds of Death.

And Jesus, in that tomb, lay cold, and stiff, and stark. And, old King Death clapped his bony hands, and he shrieked a horselaugh; and he said, “I have Him. He’s mine forever! I am going to keep Him forever!”

But, after three days, the Lord Jesus’ body stirred, and He majestically rose from His resting place—I said, His resting place.

He got up from that stone slab. You know what He did? His face was covered with a napkin.

He turned around and folded the napkin. I love that. When the disciples came in, they found that napkin that was over His face, folded.

How did you leave your bedroom this morning? There’s no hurry. He’s in complete control. He folds that napkin and leaves it there.

And, there is that cruel king of terrors, Death, sitting upon the throne, and this time Death has a terrified look because no one has done that before.

And, Jesus now begins to walk toward Death. Death cowers in the corner of that tomb that has become Death’s dungeon.

Jesus reaches up and pulls Death from the throne, cast him to the dungeon floor.

Jesus puts His heel on the neck of Death. Jesus reaches down and pulls the sting out of Death. Jesus puts the crown upon His own head and walks out of that tomb a risen, living, victorious Savior. Jesus did more than survive death. Jesus defeated and decimated death in that tomb.

And, our Scripture says that Jesus is two things: the Bible says, first of all, that Jesus is the firstfruits, and then, secondly, it says that Jesus is the last Adam(1 Corinthians 15:22–23). Notice this:

A. Jesus Is the Firstfruits

First of all, He’s the firstfruits. Look in verse 20: “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:20).

The early blooms of spring are a reminder that new life is about to burst forth. Similarly, Christ's resurrection as the first fruits reminds us that a new and eternal life is about to burst forth for all who believe in Him.

Just as the first fruits of a tree indicate the promise of a bountiful harvest, Christ's resurrection assures us of the promise of our own resurrection and eternal life in Him.

Ladies and gentlemen; Jesus is the firstfruits, we are the harvest. Because Jesus came out of the grave, we are coming out of that grave, also.

B. Jesus Is the Last Adam

And then, secondly, not only was Jesus the firstfruits, but Jesus is the last Adam.

Look, if you will, in verse 22:

1 Corinthians 15:22–23 NIV84

22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

Now, the first Adam lost it all. The second Adam, the Lord Jesus, bought it all back for us and became victorious over the grave.

You see, what is the Bible saying? He’s saying that Christ is the firstfruits; we are the harvest.

Adam ruined it, but Jesus bought it back for us. “Pastor, do you believe in the resurrection?” Yes, I do.

“Can you be sure of the resurrection?” I am absolutely sure. There is more reason to believe that Jesus Christ came out of that grave than there is that Julius Caesar ever lived. Now, that’s the truth.

Now why do I believe Jesus rose from the dead?

First of all, the man who wrote what we’re reading was an eyewitness.

Look over in verse 8: he says, speaking of Jesus, “And last of all he was seen of me also, as one born out of due time” (1 Corinthians 15:8).

That is, he tells about all of the people who saw the Lord Jesus

—how He appears to the disciples, how He appeared to 500 people.

Somebody said, “Well, they were having an hallucination.” You think 500 people have a hallucination at one time?

And then, Paul says, “Look, I am an eyewitness. He’s seen of me.” Well, you say, “How do we know he wasn’t lying?”

Well, look, if you will, in verses 14 and 15 of this same chapter: He says, “14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised” (1 Corinthians 15:14–15).

Now listen—“if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God.”

He doesn’t say “mistaken.” A false witness is somebody who knows better and yet tells a lie.

No honestly, Do you think the Apostle Paul was a false witness?

Do you think these early disciples were liars? You see, if Christ is not risen and they said that He’s risen, then they are false witnesses.

Well, then you have to ask yourself this question:

Was Simon Peter a TikTok prankster?

Was the Apostle Paul a con artist?

Was the beloved John a deceiver—not mistaken, but were they deceivers?

Were they false witnesses? If you say, “Yes,” I want to remind you that these men suffered, bled, and died for their faith.

Now, men may live for a lie, but no man knowing, willingly dies for a lie.

Martyrs and con artists are not made out of the same things.

Men do not go to prison and to the flogging post for a fairy tale.

Men tell lies to get out of trouble; they don’t tell lies to get into trouble.

But, these people believed so much that Jesus Christ was the firstfruits and the last Adam that they testified gladly and freely that He is risen.

And friend, because He is risen, we will rise also.

He is the first fruits, and one of these days there’s going to come a shout from the lips of the Lord Jesus when He returns, and that shout is going into the tombs of the multiplied who have named Him as Lord and Savior.

And, We’re going to hear the shout that Lazarus heard that prefigured this in John chapter 11 (John 11:43).

Our Lord is going to step down from His majestic throne in the Glory, and the shout will be this, I believe: “Church Come forth—come forth.”

And, the voice of the Savior will roll through the length and breadth of Satan’s ruined empire and bring it crashing down.

And, at the command of the Lord Jesus Christ, the sea will heave and give up the dead which is in it.

And, they’re going to be raised and made like unto His glorious body.

And, the send sheets of the desert will give up the dead that are in them,

and the battlefields of this world will give up the dead that are there.

And, graveyards will, perhaps, look like a plowed field, as the Lord Jesus says, “Bride, come to your groom, Come forth.”

Well, you say, “Pastor, that sounds supernatural. How could that be so?”

I’m glad you’re asking this. Look, if you will, in verse 35ff : 35 But someone may ask, “How are the dead raised? – how could this be possible? - With what kind of body will they come?” 36 How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. (1 Corinthians 15:35–38).

You see, folks, the resurrection is illustrated by a seed that dies.

That seed—small, insignificant—goes into the ground, and out of it comes life—far more glorious, far more spectacular than that which went into the ground.

But, there is a continuity between that which went into the ground and that which comes out of the ground. And so, each time you plant a seed, think of the resurrection.

But, you say, “Pastor, there is a difference in a seed and a human being, because in the seed there is still a germ of life, but in a human being, when you put that corpse in the ground, there is no more germ of life.”

No, see, that’s where you’re wrong. There is a part of you that never dies. You need to understand that.

There is a continuity. Just as there’s a germ of life that remains in that seed, there is a germ of life that remains in you.

The real you never died. Jesus says, “[He that] live and believes in me shall never die”(John 11:26).

You’re looking at a man that can never die. Now, this seed may go into the ground, but Samuel is never going to die.

You see, it’s not this particular bit of hide, and hair, and skin, and bone that our Lord is going to raise up.

Ou bodies changes completely every few years. We’re sloughing off old cells, and we’re putting on new cells every day.

Question: Do you have the same body that you had when you were a baby?

Think about it. Do you have the same body you had when you were a baby?

Well, yes, no—I mean, you must have been a beautiful baby; but baby, look at you now.

I mean, it is the same You? Yes.

Is it the same body? No.

You are the same, but you’re losing cells and gaining cells.

I read that an average person will eat 50 tons of food in his lifetime. No wonder we look like we do—50 tons of food!

Well, we’re taking on new life, and we’re sloughing off old life; but there is a continuity of life that is there.

Let me give you a great scripture; I enjoy sharing this—Psalm 139, verse 16: the Psalmist is talking

about how he was being formed in his mother’s womb, and it’s a wonderful statement. It says

this: “Your eyes”—talking to God—“ your eyes saw my unformed body”—that is, “incomplete.”

Now, that little baby in the mother’s womb is a baby. It’s just not yet complete; it is not yet

formed—“ watch this now…

All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be

(Psalm 139:16).

Before I came into being, God had a book; and in that book, all of my days were written in it. All about me is there in God’s book.

The God who created us, knows how to put us back when death his cold boned gripe on us.

listen - if man can take the genetic code of a cell and clone an entire being,

don't you think that Almighty God can raise the dead? Think about it.

A man name Howard Carter in 1922 entered the tomb of King Tut. And, saw many artifacts that were in that tomb. But, one thing that many people don’t know is that he found some seeds that were in that tomb. Those seeds were 3,000 years old. They were planted and they sprouted—3,000 years old. Don’t think that … Listen, if God can preserve a seed for 3,000 years, He’s going to have no difficulty raising us up.

And so, what we’re trying to say … we’re talking about the resurrection—the resurrection, friend, destroyed death’s power to keep us forever dead. The devil and all of the hosts of Hell can’t keep us in the grave. Jesus killed death.

(To be continue… next week)

Conclusion

Let’s bow our heads in prayer. How many of you would say, “Pastor, I am absolutely, totally sure if I’d die today, by the grace of God and according to the Word of God, I know that I would go straight to Heaven”? May I see your hand? Hold it up. Praise God. Take them down.

Now, if you couldn’t lift your hand, I know that you’re interested in spiritual things or you wouldn’t be here. Maybe you’ve just never really gotten it settled, and maybe you don’t have that full assurance; but today, you would like that assurance. You would like to be saved. You would like to know, beyond a shadow of any doubt, that you’re going to Heaven. And, you can know. Listen to God’s Word—Romans 10:9–10: “9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” (Romans 10:10).

I want you to pray like this: “Dear God, I know that You love me and want to save me. Jesus, You died to save me and promised to save me if I would trust You. I do trust You, Jesus. I believe You’re the Son of God. I believe You paid for my sin with Your blood on the cross. I believe that God raised You from the dead, and I receive You now as my Lord and Savior. And, I’ll believe in my heart, and I will confess it with my mouth. I’ll not be ashamed of You, because You died for me. Thank You for saving me. Amen.”

II. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ once and for all destroyed the power of death

(last week summary) There is a second thing I want you to know about the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ - the resurrection not only took the power of death to keep us dead forever, but here's another good news: The Rapture - The resurrection of Jesus Christ once and for all destroyed the power of death. Did you know that not everyone is going to die? Look at verse 51. We are in chapter 15 of 1 Corint. Look, in verse 51: 5151 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, ”- the word sleep here is the term used in the NT for“ death ”of a son of God, the NT calls the death of a son of God “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.” (1 Corinthians 15: 51–52)

Ladies and gentlemen, we have just read in the Bible that not everyone is going to die. The day Jesus returns, millions, or perhaps even billions, of people will never die.

Now, he begins this statement in verse 51 with the word “behold!”. This means “pay attention”: “Listen carefully, I am about to tell you a sacred secret” - “51 Behold, I am telling you a mystery / pay attention because I am going to tell you a sacred mystery” (1 Corinthians 15:51). This word mystery comes from the Greek word mysterium, which means, "something that is hidden, something that has not been revealed previously."

Did you know that Daniel didn't know about the rapture? Isaiah did not know about this. Jeremiah did not know about this. Ezekiel did not know that. Nahum didn't know that. None of the Old Testament prophets knew this. This was a sacred secret. Paul tells us in the book of Ephesians, chapter 4, that this secret was revealed to him - Ephesians chapter 3, verses 3-5: he said 3 the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. 4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit, (Ephesians 3: 3-5). - the mystery was made known to me by revelation -

Now, what the Apostle Paul is talking about here is that some people who are alive when Jesus returns who will never die. Millions, perhaps billions, will never die when Jesus comes. Now, he begins this statement in verse 51 with the word behold. That means, “pay attention”: “Behold, I’m about to tell you a sacred secret”—“Behold, I will tell you a mystery” (1 Corinthians 15:51). This word mysterycomes from the Greek work mysterium, which means, “something that is hidden, something that is not previously revealed.”

The Bible makes this very clear - Cell leaders you should write this passage down - Write it down somewhere - "1 Thessalonians chapter 4, verses 16 and 17": Paul will elaborate a little more on Jesus' second coming, here he says: 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words ”(1 Thessalonians 4: 16-17)

Notice that the apostle Paul said, "we". That is, He was waiting for Christ to come in his day. Do not think that we are waiting for an event to happen before he comes. Friend, Jesus can come anytime! From the moment that He ascended until the moment that He will return, He is always about to return. That is, we must live in anticipation of the imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now, “the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them” (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17). We call this the Rapture. Paul called it caught up. The word Rapture is not found in the Bible, but don’t let that bother you. The word missionsis not found in the Bible. The word Trinityis not found in the Bible. The Rapture is taught in the Bible. The Bible calls this being “caught up.” It comes from a Latin word—rapere—which means “to catch away” or “to move away.”

Can you imagine what it’s going to be like when the Rapture happens—I mean, if it happens today: the trumpet sounds, the shout is given? The dead in Christ rise first, and then … Why do they rise first? Well, we’ve got a six-foot head-start on them. “The dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which [remain] and [are alive] shall be caught up … with them”—same time, simultaneously—“to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17).

Note: Can you imagine that? ... cars crashing on highways, even worse: you're on a plane - the pilot is gone. … The captain of a cargo ship… a train operator… Two co-workers working on scaffolding… 2 friends walking side by side on the street… Imagine the Sunday after the Rapture? The churches will be FULL! The devil's ministers, disguised as pastors of the Lord, will wear their best clerical robes / suits and ties, will stand before their congregations and say: “I am happy to see you here today after the mysterious events of last week” - “ God only knows what happened to all those people! It was probably God's judgment on them for being on the path of world order and utopia that we are trying to develop. ” I don't know how the devil is going to explain the rapture, but the devil is a master liar and he will lie his way out of it. ”

But, I’m telling you that “the dead in Christ shall rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). We which remain and are alive—we’re going to be caught up with them to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

And, don’t get the idea that we’re waiting on some sign. We’re not looking for antichrist; we’re looking for Christ. We’re not looking for some sign. There’s no sign that has to come. The early Christians were looking for Jesus. Listen to what Jesus said in Mark chapter 13, verses 32– 32 “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

35 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’ ” (Mark 13:32–37). - That is, just be ready. Because it will happen in a day and an hour when you don't even think He's coming. The trumpet can sound before I finish this message.

Now, what are we saying? Jesus - Jesus, the Lord Jesus Christ - through His resurrection, decimated the power of death to keep us dead forever. Because of Jesus' resurrection, death cannot keep us dead forever. Jesus' resurrection also destroyed the power of death. Death can't even kill everyone.

III. The Resurrection Destroyed the Kingdom of Death

But now, here is the third thing about the resurrection of Jesus Christ: Jesus, The Resurrection of Jesus destroyed the Kingdom of Death - Romans chapter 5 and verse 14: the Bible says, "Death reigned" (Romans 5:14). After Jesus, death is no longer a powerful king. His power to keep us dead forever was taken. His power to kill all people has been taken away. His kingdom has been totally destroyed.

I want to fill your heart with joy and hope with a wonderful text from the Bible.—

2 Timothy 1:10: 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

Here the Bible is saying that: "Our Savior Christ Jesus destroyed death and brought life and immortality to us through the gospel" - When Jesus resurrects the last believer, that day will be the greatest day of our lives! The Bible says that: "Death and hell will be thrown into the lake of fire "(Revelation 20:14). That is, death itself and hell will go to the lake of eternal fire. Jesus really destroyed the kingdom of death!

Praise God. Look, if you will now, in verse 54: 54 When the perishable “this old decaying body of ours”—“ has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

55 “Where, O death, is your victory? O grave, where is [your] victory?”—Can you hear the mockery—the sacred mockery—there that Paul is giving?—

Where, O death, is your sting?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

(1 Corinthians 15:54–57). And then, go back to verse 25—speaking of Jesus: “For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:25–26).

That means when the last saint is raised, then all the battles are over, and death itself is cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14).

Friend, I’ll tell you, there’s coming a day more glorious than any other day in your entire life, when Jesus steps out of the Glory… we’re going to leap, and dance, and shout, and praise God. And, we’re going to mock the enemy, and we’re going to say, “Oh death, where is your sting? Grave, where is your victory?”

Then, he says—listen: “The sting of death is sin”—it’s sin that causes us to die. Sin has a stinger in it that causes death—“and the strength of sin is the law”—“the law” (1 Corinthians 15:56). God's holy law says that sin must be punished. But the Lord Jesus Christ, our glorious Savior of whom we speak, came in and fought with death, death wounded him. But Jesus is risen!

And, as I said before, Jesus Christ took the sting out of death, and Jesus Christ paid the full penalty of the law; and Jesus fulfilled the law. So when He comes, those who died and went to the grave will say, "Ha ha, ha, grave, where is your victory?" And, those of us who never died - will say, "O death, where is your sting?"

A mother and her two children were in the park… They were having a wonderful time until one of those big old bumblebees came, and lighted on little brother, and stung the little boy. He began to cry and scream like any child would, and a big swelling place came up there on his arm. And, that bee was still buzzing around and buzzing around, and the little girl was petrified. And, the mother said, “Darling, darling—wait a minute.” As she was wiping brother’s tears away, she said, “Look darling, look down here on brother’s arm.” And, right in the middle of that swelling was that bumblebee’s stinger. “You know, a bee can only sting once—did you know that?—cause he leaves his stinger. You see that, darling? Sweetheart, he can buzz; he can fight you. But sweetheart, he can’t hurt you. He left his sting in your brother’s —he left his sting in brother.”

And, I want to tell you, friend, death may buzz around you, and death may frighten you; but our elder Brother, the Lord Jesus, bears that sting. Thank God. Jesus took the sting out of death.

And Jesus defeated the power of death to keep us forever, Jesus took the power of death to kill all people, and Jesus destroyed the kingdom of death forever.

Jesus Christ Reigns! Not death, OUR GOD reigns!

Now—now listen: what he says, “58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”(1 Corinthians 15:58). That’s the last verse—verse 58.

It pays to serve Jesus, it pays everyday.

It pays every step of the way (Frank C. Huston).

Friend, if you are following Satan, I’m going to tell you, you are following a loser. You’re going to die and go to Hell. But, if you’re following Jesus, you’ll live forever because He has become the death of death.

Conclusion

Let’s bow our heads in prayer. Heads are bowed, and eyes are closed. Listen very carefully what I will read to you. 11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Rev.20.11-15)

How many of you would say, “Pastor, that by the grace of God and the guarantee of the Word, I am absolutely, totally sure that my name is already written in the book of life. How many here has this Certainty? “Pastor, If I died today, by the grace of God and according to the Word of God, I know for sure I would go straight to Heaven?” How many here has this Certainty?

Now, if you cannot answer this question positively for yourself, but with all of your heart you want to have your sins forgiven, you feel spiritually bankrupt, but you sincerely want to have your name written in the Book of life. You can! Heaven's doors are still open for you. There is an angel in heaven with a pen in his hand, ready to write your name in the Book of life. What do you need to do to get him to write your name in the Book of Life? Do what the Bible says:

Hear the Word of God - Romans 10: 9-10: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.

I want you to pray like this: “Dear God, I know that You love me and want to save me. Jesus, You died to save me and promised to save me if I would trust You. I do trust You, Jesus. I believe You’re the Son of God. I believe You paid for my sin with Your blood on the cross. I believe that God raised You from the dead, and I receive You now as my Lord and Savior. And, I’ll believe in my heart, and I will confess it with my mouth. I’ll not be ashamed of You, because You died for me. Thank You for saving me. Amen.”