02 07 11 26 - Death As It Should Be
Death as it should be
1 Corinthians 11:26
Intro:
· We all get inspired by stories of heroic deaths
o Soldiers — Body Guards — Parents
o Stories about someone who died to save the life of another
§ If you’re going to die, that would be the way to go
· For the last month – Life As It Should Be
· Observing the Lord’s Supper this morning
o Verse 26 – this is about remembering Christ’s death
o Hit me! – This is DEATH as it should be
· Death is not generally thought of as something pleasant
o But as we look at the death of Christ this morning, pleasant is not what I’m after – exciting – inspiring – praiseworthy – these are more the ideas we should have today!
· If Christ had not experienced death as it should be, then you and I could not experience life as it should be
· Will this just be information? Depends on your response
o 2 Corinthians 5:15 - and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
o Gratitude — soberness — dedication to living for Christ
I. Purposeful
A. Illustration
1. I think most of us would be able to endure something difficult if we knew there was a purpose to it.
a. @ Surgery — Exercise — Saving for a big purchase
2. What makes those activities worthwhile? There is a greater purpose
B. Verse
1. 1 Peter 3:18 - For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God
C. Application
1. Not as an example —— not by accident
2. Christ died to bring us to God
3. Gospel
a. We Are All Sinners
(1) Romans 3:23 - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
b. Sin Separates us from God
(1) Psalm 5:4 - For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, nor shall evil dwell with You.
c. God Wants Us to Enjoy Him
(1) 2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not...willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
(2) Revelation 21:3-4 - 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (ESV)
d. God sent Jesus to pay for our sin so we could enjoy Him
(1) John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son...
(2) Romans 5:8 - but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (ESV)
e. Receive what Jesus did for you
(1) Acts 16:31 - Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved
4. Let’s not forget that the whole time Jesus was here, He was moving toward the Cross
a. He died on purpose – for you and me!
II. Sacrificial
A. Illustration
1. What makes a sacrifice a sacrifice
a. How much does it cost?
b. @ Donating blood — Giving a kidney — Dying so someone can live
B. Verse
1. John 10:15 - I lay down My life for the sheep.
C. Application
1. Jesus gave His very life – everything He had
2. AND He did it for people who at the time didn’t care
a. Romans 5:6 - Christ died for the ungodly.
(1) Next verses - called “sinners,” “enemies”
3. It’s one thing to sacrifice yourself for a family member or close friend
a. But to do it for an enemy!
b. So that we could become His friend
4. As we observe the Lord’s Supper – let’s remember that Christ personally sacrificed His life for each of us.
III. Voluntary
A. Illustration
1. @ Willie Apiatu – our VC winner
a. Highest award for bravery
(1) Because he was running away from the battle?
(2) Because the Lt. ordered him to carry wounded soldiers?
(3) Because he WILLINGLY risked his life to save the lives of others.
2. We don’t consider people to be heroes if they are forced to be one
a. It’s the guy who willingly runs into a burning building that shows he is a hero
B. Verse
1. John 10:17-18 - ...I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. (ESV)
C. Application
1. When we as humans turned our back on God, God did not owe us anything
2. There was no contract that required Jesus to die for us
3. He willingly did that for us
IV. Effective
A. Illustration
1. @ This week a 28-year old father was on a wharf in Australia with his two sons ages 15 months and 4 years.
a. The boys fell 5 metres into the water and the dad jumped in to save them
b. The dad got into trouble and another man jumped in to save them all
c. Lifeguards were notified and they managed to pull all four out of the water
d. Unfortunately, the dad and his two boys drowned.
2. A tragic story
a. No one will be celebrating
b. Although the last man was heroic, he was not effective
3. How much better if all had lived
a. What a great story that would have been!
B. Verse
1. Colossians 1:21-22 - 21This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. 22Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. (NLT)
C. Application
1. Christ’s death accomplished what it was designed for
a. He paid the penalty for our sin
2. When you accept that payment for your sin – trusting in Christ – all kinds of good things happen
a. Your are reconciled to God
(1) You are no longer His enemy
(2) God loves everyone – YES –
(a) but by ignoring Christ’s death for you, you are thumbing your nose up at God
(b) God is patient – YES
i. But one day that patience will run out and you will spend the rest of eternity suffering His wrath
(3) Once you accept Christ as Saviour – no longer have to worry about that wrath EVER!
b. You are brought into God’s presence
(1) Before salvation –only prayer God obligated to hear is “Lord, save me!”
(2) After salvation – He invites us into His presence
(a) Hebrews 4:16 - So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. (NLT)
c. You are made holy and blameless in God’s sight
(1) No guilt – no condemnation – no shame
(2) God looks at us and without reservation accepts us
3. Christ’s death was completely effective in bringing us to God!
V. Defeatable
A. Illustration
1. @ Some TV shows
a. Suggestion of the hero’s death
b. There’s a few moments of uncertainty
c. Then nothing. You realize that the person actually was killed off
d. Depressing
2. It’s much better, isn’t it, when the hero, someone avoids death
B. Verse
1. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 - 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures (ESV)
C. Application
1. This is very important
a. Because if Christ did not rise from the dead then He was only a man and not the Son of God
b. 1 Corinthians 15:17 - And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is useless; you are still in your sins. (NET)
2. 1 Corinthians 15:20 - But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead (ESV)
3. And since He has been raised from the dead, those who have accepted His death has payment for sin will also be raised from the dead
a. Romans 6:5 – For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. (ESV)
4. With the Lord’s Supper, we remember the death of Christ
a. By celebrating the lord’s Supper on Sunday, we remember His Resurrection
b. 1 Corinthians 15:57 - But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)
VI. Memorable
A. Illustration
1. @ All around the world there are
a. Holidays — Cemeteries — Associations — Ceremonies
b. Designed to remember those who died in war
2. Why? ——“Lest we forget”
3. Forget what?
a. Forget the price that was paid for freedom
b. Take for granted the freedom that we have
c. Not live to the full potential of that freedom
B. Verse
1. 1 Corinthians 11:24-25 - 24and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” (NKJV)
C. Application
1. We need to remember the price that was paid for our spiritual freedom
2. We cannot take that freedom for granted
a. Living a haphazard Christian walk
b. Obeying the Word when we feel like it or when it is easy
c. Ignoring the spiritual needs of those around us
3. We must live to the full potential of what Christ earned for us
a. Romans 6:6 - We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. (NLT)
b. We are not slaves to sin; we can walk in a victorious manner!
Conc:
· We’ve spent the last four weeks talking about life as it should be
o We should live to worship God
o We should fully depend on Him
o We should experience His reality
· All of that is possible because for us to have life as it should be, Christ experienced death as it should be
o Let’s remember that as we observe the Lord’s Supper.
o Gratitude — soberness — dedication to living for Christ