The Coming Victory

Main idea: The promised victory believers have in Christ ought to motivate us to unwaveringly dedicate our lives to His service.

Intro- resurrection Sunday/Easter vs the hovering, looming enemy of death summary of chapter 15 leading up to our text

(chapter 15) The Resurrection of Christ-Paul begins by establishing the importance of the resurrection of Christ to the gospel, as well as establishing the assurance we have Christ is risen. The Resurrection of the Dead-Next Paul connects Christ’s established resurrection to the resurrection of the dead. If Christ is raised, then believers will be raised, in their own time. He also calls the believers of live in light of the resurrected Christ and their future resurrection. The Resurrection Body-Paul continues digging into the resurrection, answering questions about the nature of the resurrected body. His arguments include, that in nature, life often comes from death as well as the difference in what is sown and what is becomes. Additionally in nature there are different kinds of flesh, there are different kinds of bodies. All of this supports the assertion that the resurrected body will be different, from natural to spiritual, from being of dust to being of heaven. Mystery and Victory-Paul now concludes his argument for the resurrection by addressing the coming resurrection, expounding on his statement verse 24-26. (The last enemy to be destroyed is death) From his argument from the sowing of the natural body, some might misunderstand and conclude that we will all die, so Paul addresses the coming resurrection for those who will still be alive. In that moment, the final enemy death will be swallowed up in victory. This is our foundation, this is our hope, and this is our future.

1 Corinthians 15:50–58 ESV

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

I. TRANSFORMED FOR THE KINGDOM

1 Corinthians 15:50–52 “50 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 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.”

The tension- the kingdom of God is not of this world

assertion- flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God

assertion- the perishable does not inherit the imperishable

The resolve- there is coming a moment when we will be changed (Transformed for the Kingdom)

revelation- behold I tell you a mystery

assertion- we shall all be changed

timing- at the last trumpet, immediately

assertion- the dead will be raised imperishable

assertion- we shall be changed

timing- the trumpet will sound

inherit- receive as one’s own possession, to partake in

mystery- of God: the secret counsels which govern God in dealing with the righteous, which are hidden from ungodly and wicked men but plain to the godly

(used of certain single events decreed by God having reference to his kingdom or the salvation of men)

changed- transformed (root word- another, other) verb form- become other

last trumpet- final (last in time),

II. TRUIMPHANT IN CHRIST

1 Corinthians 15:53–56 “53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 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.”

The reason- our bodies are perishable and mortal, the kingdom isn’t so we must put on these things (Triumphant in Christ)

basis- this perishable body must put on the imperishable

basis- this mortal body must put on immortality

argument- when this happens, then death will be swallowed up in victory

assertion- we participate in this victory through Jesus Christ

swallowed- literally ‘drunk down’. Paul quotes the greek translation of the Hebrew old testament

victory- triumph

sting- (personified explanation of the pain of death-like a poisonous sting that leads to death)

sin- the sting of death is sin (cause of death)

law- what law does Paul have in mind? Mosaic law? It is what he has in mind in Romans 7

Romans 7:13 (ESV) 13 Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.

Death has no bowels of compassion. His flinty heart feels for none. He spares neither young nor old. Tears cannot keep our friends for us, nor can our sighs and prayers reanimate their dust. He is an enemy indeed, and the very thought of his cruel frauds upon our love makes us weep. -Spurgeon (The Last Enemy Destroyed)

III. THANKFULLY STEADFAST IN THE PRESENT

1 Corinthians 15:57–58 “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.”

The exhortation- resurrection empowers us to labor in the Lord, fully secure in our future (Thankfully steadfast in the present)

command- be steadfast

restatement- be immovable

command- be alway abounding in the work of the Lord

reason- know that your labor is not worthless

be- become (imperative)

steadfast- immovable, settled

immovable- not able to be moved

abounding- overflowing, excelling

knowing- understanding (always)

labor- intense labour united with trouble and toil

vain- without purpose or effect

Illustration- The last enemy is death- battle of the helm’s deep in Lord of the Rings

There is a moment in the battle of helm’s deep where all hope is lost, the enemy is overwhelming the forces of good and their defeat seems inevitable, until one of the characters mention that it is almost dawn, reminding Aragon of something the white wizard Gandalf promised, look to the east on the