The Final Victory: Resurrection and New Creation

Where We’ve Been.

Good morning and welcome everyone again to iglesia bautista Horeb. thank you for joinging us in person and online. My name is Miguel Flores and I am the Worship Leader for the English Ministry here. I was blessed to have my wife sub in for me today and I got to worship and not lead. i love It!

We have been on quite a journey as of late. Please open your bibles to 1Corinthians 15:20, and also Revelation 21. We will have a double portion of scripture today.

I will say this is probably one of the longer sermon series we’ve had since we started, even though we stopped for a week to celebrate the amazing women in our lives that make up our mothers, whether biological or not.

In the beginning of the series we were going to do something totally different from what we ended up actually starting with, But where the Spirit prompts is where we go. Over these weeks we’ve learned of the foundation and nature of the resurrection and resurrected body; how the resurrection is our hope; how to live in light of the resurrection and how the resurrection should be a driving force of the mission of the church. The goal for this entire series was to learn and teach out the doctrine of the resurrection of Christ and of the believer and to shine a light on how we can apply that hope filled truth to everyday life. This final week will be no different as we consider the resurrection and the new creation.

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 15:20–28

1 Corinthians 15:20–28 ESV

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

In the heart of his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul engages with a fundamental question: What is the significance of Christ’s resurrection? He begins by affirming, "But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." This statement is packed with theological richness. The metaphor of "firstfruits" has deep Old Testament roots, signifying the first portion of a harvest that is both a sample and a guarantee of the harvest yet to come. In the same way, Christ’s resurrection is the first, guaranteeing and sanctifying the resurrection of all who belong to him.

Paul then outlines a sequence of resurrection events that are as profound as they are pivotal. He tells us that each will rise in their own order: Christ the firstfruits; then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ. This sequential unfolding ties our hope directly to Christ’s return, marking a moment when the transformation from mortality to immortality will take place for all believers.

Following this, Paul speaks of the end, when Christ will destroy every rule, every authority and power. This is a cosmic victory, signaling the absolute sovereignty of Christ over all powers, both spiritual and temporal. The most striking of these conquests is the defeat of death itself—described as the last enemy. This is significant because death is the ultimate consequence of sin and the final barrier to eternal fellowship with God.

Reflection on Revelation 21:1-5

In exploring Revelation 21:1-5, we transition from the theological implications of Christ's victory over death and His submission to the Father to the profound vision given to John of the new heaven and new earth. This passage beautifully encapsulates the culmination of all God's promises—where the echoes of past sorrows are silenced by the realities of eternal joy and fellowship with God. Let's delve into this transformative vision.

Revelation 21:1–5 ESV

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

The scene opens dramatically in Revelation 21, where we witness total renewal: "the first heaven and the first earth had passed away," indicating not just a refurbishment but a thorough transformation, free from the blemish of sin or its consequences. The notable absence of the sea, often emblematic of chaos and evil in scriptural symbolism, highlights the complete peace and order of this new creation.

We are then introduced to the awe-inspiring vision of the New Jerusalem descending from heaven, resplendent like a bride beautifully adorned for her bridegroom. This imagery is laden with deep symbolism: it represents the church, the Bride of Christ, meticulously prepared and made beautiful for everlasting communion with God. This city emerges not merely as a place of residence but as a profound symbol of the unbreakable and intimate bond between God and His people.

In a powerful declaration, verse 3 announces, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man." This pronouncement fulfills numerous scriptural prophecies and encapsulates the ultimate aim of redemption—God’s presence with His people, which is the wellspring of eternal joy and security. It marks a reversal of the estrangement brought about by sin, harking back to the idyllic fellowship of Eden where God walked with Adam and Eve.

The scripture continues, "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes..." This promise profoundly reassures us, signaling an end to all forms of suffering—death, mourning, crying, and pain are no more. These assurances speak directly to the deepest pains of human existence, offering solace that the scars of our fallen world will be completely healed.

Next, the sovereign declaration from the throne, "Behold, I am making all things new," asserts the active and ongoing process of creation and renewal by God. This promise spans beyond the mere physical to encompass spiritual regeneration. It captures the essence of the Gospel’s hope: we are not only recreated in Christ but are also destined for a new existence where every trace of our former sin-stained nature is completely obliterated. For some it’s grief, for some its mental illness, physical pain, emotional pain, for me it’s uncertainty. To be super vulnerable I’ve been struggling with that in this season of my life. It’s hard not to see where I’m going, but beautiful to trust. The beauty of it all is that I’ve been able to experience peace knowing that even in my uncertainty God is sovereign and faithful and what he has said will pass, will come to pass.

John then is told to write that down. If any of you are old enough to remember Vanwilder, that is exactly how I heard it, “write that down…” For believers, this is not just a distant, mystical hope but a guaranteed future, anchoring our faith and actions in the present world. This echoes the sentiment we se in 1 corinthians about the first fruits, signifying the first portion of a harvest that is both a sample and a guarantee of the harvest yet to come. Here we further see the guarantee written in the blood of christ for the believer.

Head and Heart

Revelation 21:6–8 ESV

And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

1 Corinthians 15:50–58 ESV

I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 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. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 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.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 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.

These last chunks are great! big enough to be on their own. But we’ll keep going and if we have to we’ll bite into the Spanish service time. Just kidding, don’t be sad y’all, I know you really wanted to go for another hour. hahah.

But in all seriousness, in the last portion of revelation and in our reading in corinthians we see two parallels, hope in abundant life and admonition. v.50 of 1 cor gives it straight as does revelation 21:8. we see laid out clearly what or who will not inherit this abundant life.

Revelation 21:8 ESV

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

1 Corinthians 15:50 ESV

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

And these are hard things to hear. There’s a saying for believers, that we live twice in this life and the next. But those outside of christ die twice. And the second death is far worse. Unbeliever this is route you take. I’m not trying to scare you, but I want you to see the sweetness of God’s grace next to promise of his punishment. As he is gracious he also righteous judge, but put your faith, confidence and trust in christ today and know his amazing grace.

"The gospel is not a doctrine of the tongue, but of life. It cannot be grasped by reason and memory only, but it is fully understood when it possesses the whole soul and penetrates to the inner recesses of the heart." -John Calvin

Believer, we pray that you’ve learned enough of the doctrine of the resurrection of Christ and of the believer to shine a light on how we can apply that hope filled truth to everyday life. Cause Theology is not meant to stay in our heads but to transform our hearts to christ’s heart. I don’t know if y’all knew anything about jesus, but he loved people. So much that he would sacrifice himself so they could have eternal life. theology isn’t meant to puff up but breakdown and spread out.

1 Corinthians 15:57–58 ESV

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 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.

We are to be givers of hope and agents of change. Do y’all know what an agent does? Points to the talent. Brothers and sisters, lets live out our theology and point to our resurrection hope, our new life, the source and summit of our faith, Jesus christ.

In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song; This Cornerstone, this solid Ground, Firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace, When fears are stilled, when strivings cease! My Comforter, my All in All, Here in the love of Christ I stand.