Jesus- The Greatest Superhero (1 Corinthians 15:50-58)

ILLUSTRATION: Who is your favorite Superhero? Who is the strongest superhero in Marvel? What about DC? Who is the strongest ever?

MIT: Jesus is the only Superhero strong enough to defeat the worst villains of all- sin and death

Whenever there is a villain attacking a city, the people start crying out for help, and then the superhero comes to the rescue. Today we are talking about prayer. Prayer is when we ask the greatest Superhero for help, but it also is just when we want to talk to Him, or just be with Him. we shouldn’t just pray when we are scared, but even when we are joyful. In this passage, Jesus is seen as the greatest and strongest and only Savior. He is the only One we can pray to and there could be no one better.

MIM: Jesus Will Save Us From These Terrible Villains

How will Jesus save us?

1) We will be transformed (1 Cor 15:50-52)

Explanation:

Verse 50- Our sinful corrupt nature keeps us out of heaven. Sin brings death

Verse 51- Not everyone will die. Doesn’t everyone die though? Yes, that is, unless Jesus returns in our lifetime. “Sleeping” is a popular illustration for death because after sleeping, you get up. The same is true for those who die.

Verse 52- This will happen extremely fast, like a blink of the eye, when the trumpet sounds.

Isaiah 27:13- “And in that day a great trumpet will be blown, and those who were lost in the land of Assyria and those who were driven out to the land of Egypt will come and worship the LORD on the holy mountain at Jerusalem. “

1 Thessalonians 4:16- “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.”

Matthew 24:31- “And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

Illustration:

Think of the Flash. People never saw him coming because he was so fast. Keep in mind that when Jesus comes back, He will change us extremely fast. It won’t be a process, but it will be in an instant. We will be transformed from sin.

Application:

Think about how amazing it will be to not have sin anymore. Until that day comes, God is actively working in our life in the process of sanctification. He is pushing back sin and bringing in His righteousness in us.

2) We will be immortal (1 Cor 15:53)

Explanation:

Verse 53- When we are transformed, we will also be immortal. Not only will we not sin, we will not die either.

Think back to the Garden of Eden. They were once perfect, until sin entered in. Death came as a result. Our perfect God died in our place and rose from the dead. Jesus reversed sin and death and made them to a 180.

3) We will be victorious (1 Cor 15:54-58)

Explanation:

Verses 54b-55 are like a victory chant or taunt towards the defeat of the enemy

Verse 54- reference to Isaiah 26:8, “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.”

Verse 55- reference to Hosea 13:14, “I shall ransom them from the power of Sheol; I shall redeem them from Death. O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion is hidden from my eyes.”

Verse 56- Sting of death is sin. Sin brings judgment. Power of sin is the law.

Illustration: Hobbit movie. Bilbo Baggins’ dagger is called “Sting.” Sin is the “sting” of death, bringing people to hell.

Verse 57- God brings us the victory through the death and resurrection of Jesus!

Verse 58- Our confidence in serving Christ and praying to Christ is due to the fact that Jesus is the Almighty victorious Savior. This is why we pray and should pray without ceasing.

Application:

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, 17 pray constantly, 18 give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.”