The Saints Now And Later--The Beauty Of Now And Later

Intro:

Saints in society is coming to an end

Paul writes at length because of the clear confusion

Gnostic teaching amongst others was prevalent

Non-christian, Hollywood, resurrection, story teller

Apple tree and we see the beauty and desire in resurrection

Structure:

planting crops, creation 35-41

transitions to the actual body 42-49

transitions to those alive and the current and future reality of Christ resurrection

in this he shows the beauty/pull toward resurrection 50-58

Answer me these 8 questions for the young people: I’m convinced if Paul has rediwhip he would have argued for this!

Paul uses crops and creation 35-41

Skewed view of death and after life doesn’t make people excited (first slide)

Plus death was not /God’s desire so we don’t long for it

What about Stan who had his head lopped off

Burial must come first—death which is why he uses a seed

No one is amazed by a seed but they are by a redwood

Resurrected bodies will be diverse as humanity is

Before the foundation of the world our resurrected bodies were set (not, I saw what you did with your left hand so its gone) Not choosing but chosen. Set for us right now!

2 different good bodies but one is better as intended (eliminates gnosticism) it matters what we do

Paul moves to the human body 42-49

Sown refers to the body that goes into the ground

Dishonor because death is the result of sin

The life lived can be honorable but the body is not

Every cemetery we drive by reminds us of sin and the reality that it has to be dealt with (die a million deaths)

Weakness goes in a power comes up (physical to spiritual but still a body/soma/physical being)

Change of address and bodies (stepping stone)

Chronological ordering, the origin of sin and the origin of life, the hero grew up, born again here and then, confidence in that, but death comes first,

Romans 8:11

Romans 8:11 ESV

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

eph. 1:13

Ephesians 1:13 ESV

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

1 Cor. 6:14

1 Corinthians 6:14 ESV

And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.

2 Cor. 4:14

2 Corinthians 4:14 ESV

knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.

1 Thes 4:14

1 Thessalonians 4:14 ESV

For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

2 Cor 5:5

2 Corinthians 5:5 ESV

He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

Eph 2:5-6

Ephesians 2:5–6 ESV

even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Belief and the Spirit are our guarantee

Justification and glorification—what we wear changes how we live. We live out of the reality of what is fully ours knowing we look forward to the day we experience it in its fullness with no shame, guilt, or sin. (confidence)

Those currently alive and the beauty of the resurrected bodies

Sin must be dealt with who else deaths doesn’t lose its sting

When Christ returns the dead will be resurrected first then those currently alive

Spiritual death is the ultimate sting—not physical

This day will be awesome because death will be swallowed

This is beautiful which is why Hollywood writes it and why we don’t long to die

The law is good but bad news that proves us all sinners

We prove our nature (we sin because we are sinners)

Will God deal with you on the basis of your goodness or His?

This is bad news right?

There are a few of these massive conjunctions and I love them

Grammar excites me here—all hope is lost “but”

Not a victory but “the victory” definite article

Christ dealt with our sin—the second Adam

The first Adam made a decision in a garden and about a tree

The first Adam chose sin by taking from the tree

It might appear that the second Adam (Christ) is like the first as he winces, flinches, and screams with the clank of every nailing him to the tree.

However, the first Adam chose sin to indulge and the second Adam chose to deal with our sin

The first took what he wanted but the second took the wrath and punishment our sins deserve

I love that the resurrected body of Christ has scars because they are a reminder what he did, paid for, and of his love, embrace, and acceptance. What his hands brought not what mine wrought.

The hands of the King say I made your sin mine and made you mine

I made your wrath mine and my love yours

I have made your unrighteousness mine and my righteousness yours

I made forsakenness mine and the Father’s acceptance yours

I made hell mine and heaven yours

I made death mine and my victory over it yours

This takes us back to the victory

Don’t make an idol of your freedom over sin or an idol of your failure with sin

Worship instead “the victory” over sin he made yours

Our response is “thanks be to God”

From failure with sin to victor—from law breaker to law keeper

This is the beauty of what is and what is to come not just a Hollywood fairytale but a real story!

Response

How are we to be steady and immovable?

The work of the Lord (scars and tears are for everyone)

If you are too busy for the work of the Lord check that!

Is your labor in vain? Is it eternal work? What are you doing with the time in this short life God has given you?

Ask someone about your priorities

Like a dad who buys nice jerseys for his kids because he doesn’t want deeper involvement

Kopos means toil, labor and are you doing that for your church family or for everything else?