Steadfast Immovable

Introduction

Life is the process of dying.

Many shrug off this fact in indifference.

But unless the Lord returns first, the hour … is coming … for all of us.

And then what? What after that?

Is there hope? Escape?

Is there anything with power over death?

Or does death grab on to us & hold us?

➟ ➟ ➟ 108 years later, we’re still intrigued with the story of the Titanic - the giant ship that hit an iceberg in the north Atlantic and sank, killing over 1500.

Several hundred died that night and didn’t have to.

They refused to get on the lifeboats - thinking it impossible the ship could sink - only not so long after - to find out to their terror - they miscalculated.

How many today scorn the lifeboat - the way of escape Jesus provides by grace - and wind up at the end of life - at a dead end.

➟ ➟ ➟ So again I ask… is there escape from death? Freedom?

Has anyone conquered it?

Is there any way to go into it and come out on the other side?

Has anyone ever demonstrated power over it?

And, if they have, did they make it possible for you and me to find that victory?

The answer to those questions lies in Jesus.

➟ ➟ ➟ - someone has gone into the grave and come out on the other side.

➟ ➟ ➟ - Jesus beat death. He made it possible for you to beat it too. He made it possible for you to escape and enjoy eternal, glorious life with Him.

Through Jesus, the ultimate tragedy turns into the ultimate triumph.

For those who believe on Him, trust in Him, that same triumph belongs.

For the Christian, death is not to be feared.

It is an escape into Jesus’ presence.

➟ ➟ ➟ This is the power behind .

This is a passage of praise, resulting from the fact that Jesus’ resurrection secures ours.

Over the next few minutes we’ll examine this text. As we do, I want you to think about it from the perspective of victorious faith.

We’ll examine 15.54 - our transformation.

We’ll see 15.55-56 - our triumph.

We’ll exult God in thanksgiving, 15.57.

We’ll use these facts as motivation to stand steadfast and immovable. 15.58.

- Our Transformation

➟ ➟ ➟ Note the comparisons:

➟ ➟ ➟ Perishable - imperishable

➟ ➟ ➟ Mortality - immortality

➟ ➟ ➟ death - victory

It’s a complete transformation. says we’ll be made into something we never were before.

Focus on two words: “when,” and “then.”

➟ ➟ ➟ “When” … it’s going to happen in the future.

➟ ➟ ➟ “Then” death is swallowed up in victory. How is that?

What will it be like? Best answer is to see Jesus.

He had a totally different body after the grave.

We get glimpses of this in , , , and .

Physical features are there … hands, legs, arms, all the things that make up the human body.

Nail scars, able to eat physically, and still possessed his identity … people knew who he was.

But, he could also walk through walls.

So, he had characteristics of a human body, but it was a glorified body.

When he got ready to leave … he just left … ascended, as detailed in .

Jesus received this body when he came out of the grave. We will too.

➟ ➟ ➟ says this will happen in a moment. It will happen at the moment Jesus returns.

➟ ➟ ➟ - when it happens death will be abolished.

Right now, death still has a sting.

It hurts. But someday it won’t.

Some day death will die.

But someday it won’t.

➟ ➟ ➟ : Jesus demonstrated this. Death could not hold him.

So the promise is, Jesus will return:

rip off shackles of death off our body. liberate us. clothe us with a glorious body.

We wait for the day … raised to glorification …with the sting of death removed.

We know it is coming - but we live in anticipation of resurrection.

- Our Triumph

➟ ➟ ➟ 15.55 - Paul projects himself into the future. He sees death as a conquered enemy.

He taunts it.

Jesus has beat it. This has enabled Paul to beat it.

He may have to wait on it, but the promise is so certain he can rest in it.

This is Paul’s present attitude toward a future event. He’s moving with great anticipation.

What is reality for us in the future, is ours now to enjoy by way of promise.

This has the power to change our attitude in the present.

➟ ➟ ➟ 15.56 - Do you see our three enemies here?

Law, sin, and death.

Let’s talk about law for a second.

- Paul says law is good & holy. Law says, “here is God’s standard.”

While law is good, in this way, it becomes our enemy after we break it, because it says, “you break God’s standard, you die for your sin.”

➟ ➟ ➟ - the death of Jesus satisfied the law’s claim. He paid the price.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us — for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.”

Jesus paid our penalty for violating God’s law.

We accept this, or come to realize it when we surrender or die to Christ during baptism. This is the occasion where the demand of law is satisfied, and the desired result is obtained:

➟ ➟ ➟ b: you are not under law, you are under grace.

Christ paid the price for you. Law required death, you died in Christ.

So, that enemy has been taken care of.

Let’s talk about sin...

- wages of sin are death.

➟ ➟ ➟ a - sin will no longer have dominion over you.

You died in Christ. Your sin has been taken care of.

So you died to the system of law when Christ came and took the death you deserved.

You died to sin when Christ took your sin on His body and went to the cross. That wages due you were upon Him.

➟ ➟ ➟

So, there’s only one enemy left - death itself.

Someday you and I will die to death.

Even if we die physically, we will come back out of the grave.

Death is already a defeated enemy.

Jesus defeated it at the cross and at the tomb.

It will be destroyed.

➟ ➟ ➟ It’s a promise - 15.26: the last enemy to be destroyed is death.

We’re just waiting on that to take place.

- Thanksgiving

➟ ➟ ➟ 15.57 - Who do we thank?

First, God the Father … who devised the plan of our redemption.

Next, the Lord Jesus Christ … who literally carried out the plan through real, literal historical events that happened in Palestine 2000 years ago.

By His work, Jesus took care of law, sin, and death.

Thanks be to God!

Now, we have no fear of death.

Jesus conquered it. It has no more hold on us.

What is death … it is nothing more than the opening of the door to our being with Christ.

➟ ➟ ➟ - this is why Paul writes what he does here.

1.23 - note where he says his spirit is going to go once his body is in the grave?

He wants to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.

- Therefore...

➟ ➟ ➟ 15.58 - be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing your labor is not in vain.

We know he’s coming back.

We know we’re going to have glorified bodies.

We know the reward is coming.

We know our labor is not in vain.

When you really live in light of these facts, you get busy in the work of the Lord. It changes who you are.

➟ ➟ ➟ - it changes the way you live. Everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

3.4 - everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.

3.6a - no one who abides in him keeps on sinning...

3.7b - whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.

➟ ➟ ➟ 15.58 - be steadfast.

Don’t lose sight of your purpose.

Stay on target.

➟ ➟ ➟ 15.58 - be immovable.

Don’t get distracted.

Move with tireless faithfulness, working for Christ.

➟ ➟ ➟ 15.58 - always abounding.

doing more than you ought by human standards.

➟ ➟ ➟ 15.58 - your labor is not in vain.

Your time serving Jesus is never wasted.

Conclusion

Faith is not just a system of commands and doctrines that we must adhere to with precision obedience.

It’s about a relationship with God … where I rest in His promises … and the fruit of that is my abounding, thankful response of a changed life … trusting with all our heart in the truth of His word.

over the next few weeks we’re going to be speaking of these things more in depth. It’s important you understand the context of Paul’s writing here though.

Do you have the type of hope Paul is talking about?

The exhilaration and excitement and confidence he has?

One by one Jesus destroyed our enemies for us so that we can be reunited with God.

The penalty of law? gone.

The penalty of sin? destroyed.

Death? We have no fear. Instead we have faith.

➟ ➟ ➟ - faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

This is victorious faith. This is what faith is all about.

➟ ➟ ➟ One day our countdown will end. We will die. We’ll step into the other side. We’ll go on living.

What will you see when you wake up in eternity?

Are you ready?

It’s about a relationship with God … where I rest in His promises … and the fruit of that is my abounding, thankful response of a changed life … trusting with all our heart in the truth of His word.