Resurrection Confidence

English Standard Version Chapter 15

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.

Intro

Following Roy’s advent series in Revelation about our Lord’s second advent- we return to our series in 1 Corinthians and remarkably our text flows directly from what we had been looking at in Revelation about our ultimate reality in a new heaven and new earth.

Knowing the end of the movie makes movie watching enjoyable. Beth - Quiet Place - vs. me Mission Impossible

Knowing the end of our story makes all the difference in life!

In short our passage tells us - for believers in Jesus - there is a new life with new bodies awaiting us at our Resurrection.

Not surprisingly, our world both mocks and marvels at our hope in the Resurrection. They have always done so-

Not surprisingly, our world both mocks and marvels at our hope in the Resurrection. They have always done so-

Look back at vs 35 where Paul But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” - you see even back in the first century the Greeks in Corinth would mock the Christians for their belief that the body would be resurrected. Sarcastically, they heckled the Christians in Corinth. Not much has changed as today, those blinded by the God of this age, can not comprehend a supernatural future reality and the mocking continues as it has in every generation.

Paul responds to their heckling question “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” with a statement that sets the stage for our text - when he wrote in verse 36 You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain.

So this morning we are going to look at three pictures of the Resurrection - so if you are taking notes write these down:

Resurrection Condition in verses 50

Resurrection Conquest in verses 51-57

Resurrection Confidence in verse 58

Resurrection Condition verse 50

So as we look at our text - Paul starts out calling out to his readers - calling out to you and me - to pay attention - I tell you this brothers - I am about to tell you about the meaning of life - nothing could be more important - listen up.

So as we look at our text - Paul starts out calling out to his readers - calling out to you and me - to pay attention - I tell you this brothers - I am about to tell you about the meaning of life - nothing could be more important - listen up.

And you can’t figure out the meaning of life until you have an answer for death because we’re here for such a short time.

Larry Ellison, the eccentric co-founder of software conglomerate Oracle, “I don’t understand how someone can be here, then not be here,” he says. You see he doesn’t have an answer for death.

So let me ask you- do you have an answer for death?

So let me ask you- do you have an answer for death?

As you face your own mortality - we are faced with the question - so what works in this situation?

English Standard Version Chapter 15

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

How doe we get victory over death through Jesus? Because he concurred death. He showed his power and authority over death by raising people from the dead, and then ultimately by dying in our place - facing a death of separation from God the Father - taking judgement

he brought us forgiveness

So as we’ve seen the condition for resurrection is death.

Look back at vs 35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” 36 You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain.

Some try denial- it’s like the classic Hallmark Sympathy Cards which try to comfort by saying - that your says things like: “those whom we have loved never really go away.” But that’s a lie. That’s the whole problem. Death separates us from loving relationships. Our world loves avoiding or denying the problem of our mortality because it terrifies them.

really go away.” But that’s a lie. That’s the whole problem.

Some try good ol fashioned effort - the thinking - much like those at the tower of Babel - is if I can solve the worlds problems with my intellect and innovation - I can solve the problem of death. So Larry Ellison along with several other billionaires donates vast sums of dollars to life-extension therapies every year. In January of last year Forbes magazine a good number of the super-rich are putting substantial resources into finding solutions to death. In fact they formed a company - with seed money from Google - called - California Life Company - Calico. They are trying to solve the problem of aging and death.

Our passage takes those solutions directly on by telling us the only hope for aging and death is Resurrection. Life after death. Life in the Kingdom of God. And our passage lists what doesn’t work as Paul reminds us of some basic truths :

English Standard Version Chapter 15

flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

- Flesh and Blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God- by flesh and blood Paul is referring to our bodies. No matter how hard you work, no matter to what extreme extent you go to please God or help others - no matter if you go to church or give to charity, no matter if you give food to the homeless, or even treat your brother or sister decently - even if in our day and age you recycle and don’t leave a carbon footprint - or if you poor billions into trying to defy death- you cannot make it to heaven. Why? Because the kingdom of God is too glorious to be earned. You can’t even put a down payment on it.

Paul goes on - the reason we can’t put a down payment is that we can not even get the right currency- In fact, it can’t be bought it can only be inherited by a member of the family. You need to be a part of the family. You need this union with Christ - to be in Christ and Christ to be in you.

- nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable - each day we are reminded that this life is perishable. This past year the stark reality of the perishability of our bodies hit home with my parents. My Dad died and went to Glory and my Mom entered an Alzheimer’s home. Verse 42 describes our perishability with the terms dishonorable and weak. In the Greek our dishonor carries the meaning of shame and losing ones rights. That is exactly what I saw this past year with my parents as they aged - sitting with my Dad in the weeks before he died we watched as each day he lost the right to his body and it increasing withered away- it was weak, and dishonorable - it was perishable. Meanwhile my Mom was losing the right to her brain - she also is perishable. We all are. Don’t put your hope in this life - if you are young don’t put your hope in staying young. We will all watch while our parents age and die and then someday we will face that as well.

dishonor - losing ones rights

nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable

dishonor - losing ones rights

Jesus taught this very principle in our Gospel reading this afternoon in Matthew 6:

English Standard Version Chapter 6

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

To find out where your heart is - where you are investing your treasure - ask yourself - what if I lost it would make life not worth living? or If only I had this - a certain job, relationship, amount of money - whatever - then life would be worth living. And if your treasure is perishable - and by the way it may be very good things like providing for and caring for others however it can’t pay for eternal life - it is the wrong currency.

But our passage says that Death is the Condition of Resurrection.

Why is death the condition for resurrection?

Why is death the condition for resurrection?

English Standard Version Chapter 15

flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

Paul says in verse 36 says What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. He then uses the illustration of a seed.

English Standard Version Chapter 15

37 And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel

Unless a seed dies and is buried - it will not grow. Death is the condition of resurrection. That leads to our next picture:

18th century some Christians referred to church cemeteries as God’s acre.

Death severs loving relationships (Dad)

Depression, Debt, Divorce,

English Standard Version Chapter 15

flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

- Flesh and Blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God- by flesh and blood Paul is referring to our bodies. No matter how hard you work, no matter to what extreme extent you go to please God or help others - no matter if you go to church or give to charity, no matter if you give food to the homeless, or even treat your brother or sister decently - even if in our day and age you recycle and don’t leave a carbon footprint - you cannot make it to heaven. Why? Because the kingdom of God is too glorious to be earned. You can’t even put a down payment on it. In fact the problem is much worse that that -

Paul goes on - the reason we can’t put a down payment is that we can not even get the right currency-

nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable

Larry Ellison, the eccentric co-founder of software conglomerate Oracle, donates hundreds of thousands of dollars to life-extension therapies every year. “I don’t understand how someone can be here, then not be here,” he says.

18th century some Christians referred to church cemeteries as God’s acre.

Resurrection Conquest verses 51-57

Resurrection Conquest

Can you answer these questions? Can I face death and be at peace? Can I no longer fear death? Can I know the outcome of my death? The answer is yes, yes yes because our passage:

English Standard Version Chapter 15

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

How doe we get victory over death through Jesus? Because he conquered death. He showed his power and authority over death by raising people from the dead, and then ultimately by dying in our place - facing a death of separation from God the Father - taking our judgement on himself and then conquering death in his resurrection. When you are united to Christ in his death and Resurrection you share in Christ’s victory over death, you share in Christ’s victory over sin, you share Resurrection Conquest. When you become a Christian- something supernatural takes place to your seed.

English Standard Version Chapter 15

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.

When a seed dies - it comes back to life - and unless you knew the natural processes at work you would not recognize it as the same being. For instance -

Roy’s seed - becomes a Palm Tree

Sequoia Acorn - becomes a Giant Sequoia !

In a similar vein - for a believer when you die - you don’t fear death. Christian’s have conquered death. Look at verses 51-56

What will Resurrection conquest it look like

Why this can be true - 56

What will Resurrection conquest it look like

What will Resurrection conquest it look like

English Standard Version Chapter 15

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.

As we look at Resurrection Conquest - let’s look at

What will Resurrection conquest it look like

Why this can be true - 56

How is this possible?-

Glorious future for those who trust in trust -over the past several weeks - Roy has painted a picture of our future reality in the new heaven and new earth. Where there will be no tears, no fear, no pain, no grief, no terror of natural disaster, no sin and no temple because God himself will be in the person of God himself - He will be there our greatest longing fulfilled. Creation will be restored along with cultures and nations, the tree of life will give ever present healing, creativity will be unmatched and most of all we will know the smiling face of God.

Glorious future for those who trust in trust -over the past several weeks - Roy has painted a picture

Now our passage tell what takes place to Christians at the Resurrection.

Over the past several weeks - Roy

Just like natural seeds die and give birth to full plants - our natural bodies rest in the grave as in our beds awaiting the Resurrection. When the Ressurection takes place:

We will all be changed - instantly - no need to wait for this seed to grow

Our perishable - shameful - out of control bodies will be transformed into imperishable, glorious and glorifying bodies

Our bodies which are mortal and break down will be replaced by immortal bodies which will not ache, break or fail us in any way.

This takes place because the perishable - must take on the imperishable and our mortal bodies will take on the immortal. Our earthly seed will give birth to our heavenly reality. In other words, individual believers must be clothed by God with incorruption and immortality. They cannot dress themselves with these qualities but must wait for God to do this for them. 18th Century Christians would often refer the church graveyard as God’s Acre - the place from which he would harvest our heavenly bodies.

Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the First Epistle to the Corinthians (Vol. 18, p. 583). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House. 18th Century Christians would often refer the church graveyard as God’s Acre - the place from which he would harvest our heavenly bodies.

Just as specific seeds give birth to specific plants - I can’t plant an apple seed and get an orange tree -so your earthly body -will give birth to a specific heavenly body - we will not be walking around like look alike storm troopers. We will all be gloriously different from our current bodies but absolutely recognizeable. You will be able to say, “Yep, that’s Kevin”

As we are awaiting the harvest of our new bodies we know it will come true because Verse 20 tells us that Jesus is the firstfruit and verse 22 tells us that through him we will be made alive.

As we are awaiting the harvest of our new bodies we know it will come true because Verse 20 tells us that Jesus is the firstfruit and verse 22 tells us that through him we will be made alive.

So how is this possible? It is possible because “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

So how is this possible? It is possible because “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

So how is this possible? It is possible because “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

English Standard Version Chapter 15

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

Death has been conquered by Christ’s death and Resurrection. Therefore the power of death over you is going away and will be completely gone at the Resurrection. But our victory over death is not just for the future it also is at work today. Here in our passage we have a short but powerful explanation of how sin, the law and death go together. Look at verses 56-57:

What will Resurrection conquest it look like

How doe we get victory over death through Jesus? Because he conquered death. He showed his power and authority over death by raising people from the dead, and then ultimately by dying in our place - facing a death of separation from God the Father - taking judgement

he brought us forgiveness

Why this can be true - 56

So as we’ve seen the condition for resurrection is death.

English Standard Version Chapter 15

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.

Baker New Testament Commentary: 1 Corinthians b. Celebration (15:54–57)

In a single verse Paul expresses the doctrine of sin, the law, and death. What is this sting of death? Paul answers: sin. And what is the power of sin? Paul says: the law. So, what is the relation of sin, the law, and death? Sin is the cause of death, and knowledge of sin comes through the law. In brief, the law has a causative function. It brings to light sin committed against God. It gives sin its power, that without the law is dead (Rom. 7:8). The law, which is good, arouses sinful passions (Rom. 7:5), and as such empowers sin. The law convicts and condemns the sinner to death. Thus the law is an instrument of death because the sinner is unable to fulfill its demands. John Calvin observes, “Death has no other weapon except sin, with which to wound us, since death comes from the wrath of God. But God is angry only with our sins; do away with sin then, and death will not be able to harm us any more.… It is the Law of God that gives that sting its deadly power.”

The sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law. Follow me here:

Sin is the cause of death. The wages of sin is death. Death entered the world through one man because Adam sinned. Sin is raising our fists against the only King of the Universe and our declaring our autonomy against him - declaring ourselves kings and queens in outright rebellion . This rebellion deserves death.

In

Baker New Testament Commentary: 1 Corinthians b. Celebration (15:54–57)

Sin is the cause of death, and knowledge of sin comes through the law.

The power of sin is the law. The law of God actually reveals how bad our rebellion actually is. The more we study it the more it shows how we can’t keep it and how we have sinned. Why does the world hate the law of God - because it is convicting.

A couple of months ago I got a ticket in the mail. A very expensive ticket for running a red light. I didn’t even know I had run it. The camera caught me and revealed my law breaking. God’s law catches us and reveals our law breaking.

So death, both physical and spiritual is a rightful application of God’s wrath. He calls us to repent and turn to him and receive the victory in Christ.

So with victory in Christ: look how these have changed:

Because Jesus has taken my sign on himself and died on the cross. Sin no longer is the cause of death. I have life in Christ.

And because Jesus has kept the law perfectly for me, I don’t have to avoid it fearful of what it will reveal, instead I can cherish God’s law because 1) it shows me just how gracious God is to me all the time and 2) it shows me how I can honor God as his child. This leads to

Resurrection Confidence

Death has been swallowed up victory, Death has lost it’s sting.

The world is terrified of death, and then approaches life in a desperate attempt get what you can now.

For centuries that has been repeated in sayings such as Eat, Drink and be Merry for tomorrow you die. The website promoting extramarital affairs Ashley Madison - has a tagline - Life Is Short - Have An Affair.

So whether it is billionaires putting millions into trying to keep their mortal, dishonorable bodies from dying, for following your bliss because you don’t believe that God is really real, our world sends out the message constantly that we should get what we want now.

So whether it is billionaires putting millions into trying to keep their mortal, dishonorable bodies from dying, for following your bliss because you don’t believe that God is really real, our world sends out the message constantly that we should get what we want now.

But just as knowing the end of a movie can help me not panic during the middle of an dangerous stunt - so knowing our future can have us live with Resurrection Confidence.

But just as knowing the end of a movie can help me not panic during the middle of an dangerous stunt - so knowing our future can have us live with Resurrection Confidence.

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.

In a world that is not anchored, and changes it’s views by the hour. We can live differently. Invest in the work of the Lord which in the context of our chapter is gospel proclamation in evangelism and in planting churches. This is God’s work that will stand the test of time.

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.

Let’s be honest the clock ticking forward is a constant reminder that life is short - but Jesus tells us because God is our Father and our future is in his hands we can live with Resurrection Confidence and without anxiety.

Let’s be honest the clock ticking forward is a constant reminder that life is short - but Jesus tells us to then make our investments wisely.

English Standard Version Chapter 15

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.

Death severs loving relationships (Dad)

English Standard Version Chapter 6

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Depression, Debt, Divorce,