A Promise to Overcome the Problem
Notes
Transcript
Introduction: Over the next few Sundays we are going to be discussing important subjects to prepare our hearts and minds for the glorious celebration of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
On Wednesday night, we met at Bethel Baptist Church, and I challenged those who were gathered from Psalm 32 and encouraged them to invite the Holy Spirit to examine their lives for any self-centered rebellion against God and to confess and forsake any sins that God and His Word might reveal to them. I also encouraged them to take some time over the next 40 days and really seek God like never before for personal revival. I want to encourage you to do the same.
As we get into today’s message we want to look at “A Promise to Overcome the Problem” from 1 Corinthians 15:50-57.
First let’s define the problem. The problem I’m referring to is the problem of DEATH and CORRUPTION. As Ministry Pass says:
Death is an uncomfortable topic: secular society tries to hide it and religions try to turn it into a welcome friend, but the Bible defines death as the greatest enemy to humanity, an enemy which Christ has defeated.
Think about that a moment: “The Bible defines death at the greatest enemy to humanity.” Death is a reality that most of us know far too well. Pictures, empty seats at the table, graveyards, funeral homes stand as stark reminders of precious individuals who were once with us.
However as believers we have a PROMISE that overcomes the ultimate problem of death! Once again I quote Ministry Pass who put it this way:
Application Point: Through faith in Jesus Christ the God-Man and in his defeat of death and resurrection, we too can be given victory over death. This gives us hope through all suffering and the motivation to begin to work for the kingdom of God now.
Let’s look together at the PROBLEM, the PROMISE and the difference the PROMISE SHOULD MAKE NOW!
First, notice...
The Problem of Corruption (vv. 50)
The Problem of Corruption (vv. 50)
I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
Immediately we are confronted with the PROBLEM. The problem is “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.”
We are all “flesh and blood” people. We all live in “perishable” bodies. Our perishable bodies CANNOT inherit the kingdom of God. The question is “WHY”? The bodies we live in are “subject to decay and decomposition, to death,” Dr. Robert Picirrilli says.
Our bodies are “full of corruption” and are not appropriate for the kingdom. Our current bodies are weak and frail. Why is this the case? It can all be traced back to the “fall” of mankind. Adam and Eve had a deep, personal, intimate relationship with their Creator, but they turned their back on Him, and plunged the human race into despair, corruption and death.
We are reminded of this in...
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
The Word of God, establishes very clearly we all have a problem.
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.
While each of us have the problem of death and corruption, every genuine believer in the Lord Jesus Christ has...
The Assurance of Victory (vv. 51-57)
The Assurance of Victory (vv. 51-57)
Paul reveals a “mystery”…He says in
Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
Those bodies in the grave will not be in the grave forever! Those bodies are not going to remain “asleep” but they are going to be “CHANGED”!
Not only are those corrupt bodies going to be changed, but they are going to be changed INSTANTANEOUSLY!
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 concept of a “moment” comes from the word from which we get our word “atom.” It refers to the “smallest possible measurement of time.”
The concept of the “twinkling of an eye” refers to the amount of time it take to “cast a glance or to flutter an eyelid.” (Leon Morris)
This verse is very similar to what Paul talks about in
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
When the last trumpet sounds SO MUCH is going to happen instantaneously. All of those who died in Christ, are going to be resurrected and will be given a new, imperishable body. Those of us who are still alive at the last trumpet will also be instantaneously changed and ALL OF US, believers who are alive at His coming and those believers who have died in the Lord will be taken up to Heaven to forever be with Him!
Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
Notice also the words Paul shares in vv. 53-54...
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.”
Do you hear that? Do you see that?
DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY!
...for all who are in Christ, death is no longer a curse. Its sting has been removed. The mockery of the grave has been silenced and now death is merely a transition from this life to the next...So death represents for the believer a gain, indeed, an extraordinary gain.
For the believer, death does not have the last word. Death has surrendered to the conquering power of the One who was resurrected... (RC Sproul)
Notice now what Paul does in vv. 55-56...
“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.
It seemed that DEATH had been victorious in the Garden of Eden. It seemed that DEATH had been victorious when Jesus died on Golgotha’s hill, but we see a different story in
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
Satan and death has taunted mankind for thousands of years, but Paul now Paul puts Satan and death in their place and reveals that the Lord Jesus Christ took the STING OF DEATH in Himself and it can no longer harm those who are HIDDEN IN HIM!
Dr. Picirrili notes:
The resurrection is the unarguable evidence that our sins have been taken away and the penalty cancelled. Death cannot hold us. The effects of sin have been cancelled. The demands of the law have been satisfied. Such victory is full and final. (Randall House, Pic)
I close this section with a reminder from the prophet Isaiah...
He will swallow up death forever;
and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces,
and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,
for the Lord has spoken.
Today we celebrate the PROMISE that takes care of the PROBLEM. We REJOICE in God’s goodness and HOPE for the future and for our loved ones who died in Christ.
But what about today? What difference do these promises and does this hope produce today?
Verse 58 gives us this answer...
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 Application for Life (v. 58)
The Application for Life (v. 58)
Someone said, “The promise of the future has meaning for today!”
As a result of God’s promises and the VICTORY CHRIST HAS SECURED FOR US OVER DEATH, HELL and the GRAVE we are called and motivated to be...
Steadfast-we should be settled in purpose and firm in commitment
Immovable-not vacillating
Abounding in the world of the Lord-cooperating with Him as He builds His church
What we do for Christ and for eternity WILL NOT BE WASTED or EMPTY! It will not be in vain.
We don’t just die like an animal, but through Christ we will live on forever and we can have an impact on time and eternity, so this promise should motivate and propel us to be even more COMMITTED to the Lord and be steadfast, immovable and abounding in the work that really matters!
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
You have a problem. The problem is that YOU have sinned and come short of God’s glory.
The problem is “the wages of sin is death.”
The problem is that you are going to DIE and you are going to face God one day.
THE PROMISE of FORGIVENESS, and SALVATION, and HOPE can be YOURS if you will call on the name of Jesus today and TRUST Him to take away your sins and give you a NEW LIFE!
If you’ve made that commitment to follow Christ and you have the HOPE of the resurrection then that should make a difference in HOW you live, WHAT you live for and WHO you live for!