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Let us then hear God's word from 1 Corinthians 15, beginning in verse 50. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast and movable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God endures forever. As we begin here this morning, I want us to think about a time where we've been at a funeral. and some of the thoughts that we have had while we were there. And I'm sure it's been included sadness and sorrow and maybe even some confusion or frustration or something like that. And things seem a bit out of whack. But we also can have a sense of defiance. And that's what Paul is talking about here. There is a sense in which we can taunt death, even in the face of it. Death, obviously, still bites believers. But our attitude toward it should be something very confident, very, can you say, boastful. And this is what Paul is addressing, at least in part here in this passage. Now, as we continue our study of 1 Corinthians 15 here on our Resurrection Sundays, I began this a number of years ago, and then we have done the scripture and song service, of course, so we alternate years in looking at this. and I've looked at it here now the last couple years because you recall last year we only had one service and so we looked at verses 50 to 52 last year and also you recall just a couple three years ago we decided to add a resurrection service at 11 o'clock. For years and years it was just We'd go through whatever we're going through, like Acts here, at 11 o'clock and have the resurrection service at 7.30 here, as we're doing now. But we have added the other, so we'll look at John's account here in a little while. But as we continue this look here at 1 Corinthians, let me briefly review what we have seen. In verses 1 to 11, Paul here is speaking of the historical reality of the resurrection. Christ appeared to many different people, including Paul, and so therefore the resurrection of Christ is verifiable. Then in verses 12 to 20, Paul says that there are logical conclusions if we deny the resurrection. If we say there is no resurrection, then Christ is not raised, And if Christ is not raised, then our preaching and teaching is wrong and we might as well have slept in this morning. No reason to come here. Then, in verses 20 to 28, Paul says, but Christ did rise from the dead and he has demonstrated this with authority and power and has reversed what the first Adam did. The first Adam brought death. The second Adam, Jesus, brings life. So then in verses 29 to 34, he says, if there is no resurrection, then our actions are meaningless as Christians because it's inconsistent with reality. And even the wrong practice of baptizing for the dead makes no sense if there's no resurrection. Then he turns his argument in verses 35 and following, and down through verse 44, he speaks of the body and the resurrection. Our current bodies are different. They're like seed in the ground. They're not going to be the same as our heavenly bodies, though obviously they're related. Then in verses 45 to 49, he says that we are people of the dust, but we will be people of heaven. because Christ has been raised and has now a heavenly body. So now here in this last section, verses 50 to 58, last time we talked about how the transformation of our body is necessary. No human with a fallen body and even a fallen soul can enter into heaven. But when Jesus returns, we will be changed instantly and we will then be ready for heaven. both soul and body. And so, it's really quite foolish to say that the resurrection has already occurred, as some were saying. So we pick up now in verse 53, which again it says, For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. Now if you look again at verse 50, note how similar it is. That flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption. There he says we cannot go there unless this happens. Now he's saying in verse 53 that it must happen. There must be this change. I notice how Paul basically uses some Old Testament poetry here, and some of the parallelism that he's using, and basically saying the same thing twice in each verse. And so, first he says you cannot enter heaven with a mortal body and a corrupted soul, and now he says we must be changed into an immortal body and soul. And this is because heaven cannot have sin there, and because God said so. The word here, must, is often used in the context of God's word, God's decree, and certainly we will see that here in just a moment. Now the language that he uses here gives us the imagery of changing clothes. So let's turn a moment to 2 Corinthians and chapter 5, where Paul says something similar. In fact, he'll mix some metaphors here for us. In 2 Corinthians 5 verse 1, he says, For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, this house, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation, which is from heaven. Sorry. Then verse three. If indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked, for we who are in this tent grow in being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now he who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather, to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. And so again, you see this mixed metaphor of a building as well as clothing. Right now we have this building, this tent, that is corruptible. But we will be changed into other clothing, a different kind of tent. Not removing our bodies, not removing them completely, but giving us something new and something different. And so, notice here how Paul is indicating to us that matter, our flesh and blood, is not inherently evil. It has been corrupted by sin. And even this matter will be perfected. And it has to be, because God is perfect. And it has to be, because God said so. And if we are to be with Him, this change must take place. Now, when Adam was made, of course, he was created to be immortal, but he sinned, and so now we are not. Our bodies die, and so we must be clothed then with this resurrection body. The first Adam, you might say, dressed us in decay, weakness, sickness, and death, but the second Adam will dress us with an incorruptible and imperishable body. It has begun now. We have new hearts. We are growing in sanctification. But the fullness, of course, will take place when Christ comes, including a new resurrected body. And so you might say, as we come back to 1 Corinthians 15, that he finishes his thought begun in verse 50. But now he transitions then to his next thought, Verse 54, so when this corruptible was put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass a saying that is written, death is swallowed up in victory. So in other words, when Jesus comes, when that trumpet sounds, when all of this takes place, then the words of Isaiah will be fulfilled. It must happen this way because God said so, and one of those places was Isaiah. Remember, as we just read in 2 Corinthians 5, Paul talked about death being swallowed. Well, now here he says it in this quotation. And so, let's turn then to Isaiah chapter 25. And let's look here now more specifically at what Paul is quoting. Now, we need to remember here, death is not normal. Yes, it has become something normal for us, obviously, throughout all history after Adam's sin, but it's not the way God intended it to be. We die because of our sin, and so death is actually an abnormal thing based on what God has done when he created all things. So, as we look here at Isaiah 25, he is quoting from that first line in verse 8, but let's go back to verse 1. As I say, every time we see something quoted in the New Testament, let's look at that passage in its context so that we can better understand, and that's especially necessary here, as I'll show you. So, verse 1 begins with a praise of Yahweh. praising him for his wonderful things, his counsels, and so forth. And then in verse 2, he talks about destroying a city. And in this city, there are foreigners there, non-Israelites, you might say, non-believers. And so there will be destruction of this city. Now, when this happens, God's going to be honored and people are going to fear him, verse three. God will also help the poor and the needy, even those, maybe a suggestion of Gentile conversion here in this city. And then in verse five, he says that these non-Israelites will be defeated, and the non-believers ultimately. So that's his primary point there. We praise Yahweh because He's going to judge the wicked, basically. Now, in verse 6, He changes from the city to the mountain. And this mountain is the mountain of Zion, which of course is also a city, and hence Augustine's City of God, City of Man distinction. And here in verse 6, He says, on this mountain, on Mount Zion, there will be great blessings. And in verse 7, he says he's going to destroy this covering, this veil. Now, what is that? Well, in light of verse 8, I think it has to refer to death. For he says, he will swallow up death forever. This veil that's covering the peoples, the nations. This veil that, if you will, Adam brought and spread over all of humanity. And then he goes on to say that he will wipe away our tears and he will rebuke the people who have opposed his people. In verse 9, then, he talks about on that day. In other words, this is the day of the Lord language, when the Messiah comes, and we've waited a long time. When He comes, there will be salvation. We will be glad and rejoice in this salvation when He comes. Then verses 10 to 12 really go together, and you see that God is going to rest His hand on this mountain, Mount Zion. There will be blessing and salvation, but Moab and really all unbelievers will be trampled and brought low, down to the dust. And so you see this contrasting idea. There will be judgment for the wicked. There will be blessing for God's people on that day. And when that day happens, death will be done away with. The veil will be taken away. Now, of course, in the Old Testament, the day of the Lord spoke really of one event. But when Jesus came, he said, wait a second, the day of the Lord is actually two events. I have come the first time and I've accomplished certain things, but I am leaving and I will come back again and the fullness of these things will be fulfilled at my second coming. And of course, some things haven't been fulfilled yet, even in part. And so these will happen when he comes back. And so Paul is quoting from this passage, speaking of the day of the Lord and basically saying, these things haven't happened yet. 1 Corinthians 15, it's when he comes, then these things will be fulfilled. And so he will swallow up death forever. Notice here in verse eight, it's God who is doing this. God is the one who will make it happen. And when it does happen, there will be blessings for Mount Zion. Death will be over. No more tears. This veil removed, the long wait is over, and the wicked will be judged. So here's the basic point of this chapter, and this is the promise that Paul is referring to. Now more specifically, obviously this first line in verse 8 is different than what Paul says in 1 Corinthians. Alright, death is swallowed up in victory, he says, here it says, he, meaning God, will swallow up death forever. The difference is obvious. The Septuagint doesn't help us any. In fact, it's rather confusing. In the New Testament, God's not the subject, but the verb now is passive. Death is swallowed, and then Paul adds this prepositional phrase. But do you see how it really fits the whole point of the chapter of Isaiah 25? death is swallowed up by God, and victory when the Messiah comes conquering this city and these evil people and bringing blessings to the people of God. Paul really is not quoting here, he's paraphrasing to really capture the whole idea of the chapter here in Isaiah. And so here's one of those times where it's not strictly a quotation but more of a paraphrase. And so death was conquered at Christ's first coming. We're celebrating that. He rose from the dead. But not fully. And not yet for us. That will happen at his return. So then, let's come back to 1 Corinthians 15. Paul's not done quoting. Remember, it must happen because Isaiah said so, and these things must happen because, verse 55, Hosea said so. and here it says, O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? Now, first of all, if you have another translation, you're going to see something different there. You won't see death and Hades, you'll probably see death and death, and then the lines are probably reversed, where victory is in the first line and sting is in the second line, but just some variety of the manuscripts doesn't really change the meaning any. But here's what he says. Now let's come back to Hosea and do the same thing now with Hosea as we did with Isaiah. What is Paul thinking of when he refers to this passage? Specifically, it's right there in the middle of verse 14, right? And notice how the Hebrew says, O death, I will be your plagues. O grave, I will be your destruction. And so clearly you have death and grave, or Hades here, in the Hebrew. Now, let's look at it in its context. Verse one then. Ephraim started well. They started well, but then they turned to Baal. And so verse two, they sinned more and more with Baal. And in verse 3, therefore, they're just going to fade away. They'll be blown away like smoke and chaff. They're going to fade away like the early dew and morning cloud. Verse 4, Yahweh is the only true God, not Baal. Yahweh is their Savior, not anybody else. It was Yahweh who entered into relationship with Israel in Egypt. And then verse 5, He loved them in the wilderness. And yet, in verse 6, after all that, when Ephraim was content, satisfied, filled, they turned away from the Lord. They forgot Him. And so verses 7 and 8, then, Yahweh's going to act like these wild animals. The lion, and the leopard, and the bear, and the wild beast. Yahweh's going to destroy them, is the point. He's going to judge them. Verse 9, Israel is destroyed, Yahweh is their only help. He is their only hope in the midst of this. And so in verse 10, Yahweh is our king, not some human, not anybody else. And notice how the end of verse 10 tells us about how they asked for a king and a prince, right? 1 Samuel 8, referring to that. So verse 11, I gave you a king, In my anger, in judgment, this was sinful, so I punished you by giving you a king. But then he says, I took him away in my wrath. Now this is a reference then to the Northern Kingdom going into exile. Hosea wrote in the final years before the Northern Kingdom went to Assyria. And so he's speaking of them getting blown away, right? Like this chaff and fading away because they're going to go into exile in just a matter of very few years. So again, Yahweh is the true King. So verse 12, sin is waiting to be judged. It's bound up. So right, this exile is going to happen at any time. Verse 13, pains will come like in childbirth. And then verse 14, our first word of hope. We've had the history of Yahweh's doings, but here now a word of hope in the midst of all this judgment, even for the northern kingdom. And so he says, verse 14, I will ransom them from the power of the grave. I will redeem them from death, right? Something in the future. And then, what Paul references, O death, I will be your plague. O grave, I will be your destruction. Pity is hidden from my eyes. I will not pity the grave. I will not pity death. I will truly destroy them, he says. So verse 15, though he is fruitful, now you remember Ephraim, the name Ephraim means fruitfulness or fruitful. And so he's playing on this word. Though Ephraim is fruitful among his brethren, I will dry them up, he says. So we're returning now to this theme of judgment. And in verse 16, he refers to Samaria, which had become the capital city of the northern kingdom. So Samaria, it might be like saying Harrisburg, or Washington DC, or something like that, is held guilty. She's going to be judged. and cruelly destroyed. That's how the verse ends. So the whole point of the chapter is judgment on the Northern Kingdom. Yahweh is their only hope and he gives them a glimmer of hope here in verse 14. I will be, he says there in verse 14. Now, let's continue into chapter 14. Verses 1 to 3 here expand on the hope found in chapter 13, verse 14. Verses 1 to 3, he talks about calling them to repentance, turning to the Lord and turning away from their sin, away from their gods. And in verse 4, when they do, there will be healing and blessing. He will love them freely. His anger will be turned aside. Verse 5, now instead of the dew just burning off, I will be like the dew to Israel. There's going to be all these blessings. There will be fruitfulness, verses five to seven. And even in verse eight, Ephraim's not going to want their idols anymore. And note how it ends, your fruit is found in me. Again, all this play on word with Ephraim. And so verse nine, it ends by saying, are you listening? Are you paying attention to what I'm saying? a fitting end to the book of Hosea. So, here is the point. Judgment, yes, but blessing to come. So, as for the quotation here specifically, obviously, again, we see a difference. The Hebrew says, I will be. Paul says, where? And that's because the Septuagint says, where? when they translate it into Greek, the word for I will be and the word for where is actually very similar in the Hebrew. So they probably just misunderstood it. But, now that's what we have in the scriptures. Paul says it that way. And so, in Hosea, he is saying here, God will judge death. God will bring death and Hades to an end. Now, Paul says here, if we come back to 1 Corinthians, hey, ha ha ha, death. Do you see the taunt that comes out with this question? Where is your sting? Where is your victory? Where is your destruction? Where are you, death and Hades and grave and so on and so forth? It's a defiant sneer, you might say, a taunt here on Paul's part. And Paul says this because God's going to destroy it. When? Sometime in the future. I will do this, Hosea 13 verse 14. He will do it, Hosea chapter 14. But as we put this together with Isaiah 25, it's not happening at the first coming of Christ, at least not in its fullness, and not what Paul's emphasizing here in 1 Corinthians 15, but it will take place when Christ comes back. And so when he returns, Not even death can withstand Christ. If death couldn't withstand Christ at His first coming in the resurrection, how is death going to withstand Christ when He comes back to take us to glory? So, similar to Isaiah 25, Paul is kind of loosely quoting, though the Septuagint is influencing things here in this case. But here's his point. When Jesus comes, when the mortal puts on immortality, then these passages will be fulfilled. These promises will be fulfilled. All right, as always, we could say so much more on these things, but let's look now at verse 56. The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. All right, this in some ways seems out of place, but think of Paul's logic here now. Remember what he says in Romans chapter 6, the wages of sin is death. The reason why we die is because of sin, not because of old age, not because of illnesses, not because of an accident or any other reason. The reason why we die ultimately is because we are sinners. And so that's his first point. The sting of death is sin. Sin leads to death. And then he says, the strength of sin is the law, and what he means here is that the law arouses sin in us. Let's turn a moment to Romans chapter 7, for Paul says the same thing here. In Romans 7, beginning in verse 5, Note what he says, for when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. So you see that. Sin, the law arouses sin, it leads to death. Now he continues, verse 6, "...for now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter." Now this is kind of like his theme verse here. He's going to develop the first part in chapter 7, and in the second part of the verse he's going to develop in chapter 8, newness in the Spirit. Verse 7, he develops the first part. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Now here's one of those times where Paul says something as strongly as you possibly can in Greek. Certainly not. Absolutely not. Don't even think that. That makes absolutely no sense. The law is not sin. I would not have known sin except through the law, for I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, You shall not covet. But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law, sin was dead. I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. and the commandment which was to bring life I found to bring death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me. Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good." So Paul's speaking, you might say, in extreme terms here. He wasn't fully alive, right? We're dead in our sins, but you see his point. Hey, the law is not bad. That's why he says in verse 12, you know, don't take my words too far here, but the law did produce sin in me. It aroused it in me because I'm a sinner. So verse 13, has then what is good become death to me? Again, strongly worded here, certainly not, meaning the law, right? But sin, that it might appear sin was producing death in me through what is good, that is the law, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. All right, we can keep reading here, but do you see his point? The law is good. I am a sinner, and so therefore the law produces in me sin. The law can't change my heart, but it arouses sin in me as a sinner, and so that's why I die. Now, when we're saved, though, that changes. If you look at Romans 8, verse 1, there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death." Because we now have the Spirit, back to chapter 7 verse 6, we have this newness. The law no longer condemns us. The law now for the believer actually encourages us to righteousness. Now, we have the rest of chapter 7 saying it's a battle until we get to heaven. Okay? Who's going to deliver me, he says, verse 24. Well, Jesus does. We have the spirit now, but we still have this battle. We still sometimes have the law arousing sin in us, but the law in other times and in other ways encouraging righteousness. And so that's what he goes on to say. But here's his point, and so as we come back to 1 Corinthians and chapter 15, verse 56, this is what Paul is saying. I am a sinner, I am corruptible, I am perishable, and so therefore the law has produced sin in me, and that is why I die. Verse 57, though. but thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. This is now different. Through the resurrection of Christ, even at his first coming, I am different now. I am not a sinner. I have a new heart. The law no longer is my enemy. The law is now my friend. The law is now my delight. I have victory over sin because Jesus lived a perfect life keeping the law for us. And now this law encourages me because of these things. Jesus died on the cross taking our punishment and so therefore we are no longer condemned. But Jesus then rose from the dead. proclaiming that He is sinless, proclaiming that He died for our sin and not His own sin, and thus in His resurrection He defeated death, guaranteeing eternal life for us forever. And so the death that we face still stings, but not so bad. You see how Paul is Speaking of the ultimate, the return of Christ, okay, through verse 55. Now here in verses 56 to 58 he returns us to the present, you might say, and to what Christ's resurrection accomplishes for us now. It's not just something that we look forward to, it's something that we experience now. And so we thank God. We praise God because Jesus' resurrection guarantees death's destruction in all of its fullness. And so here's our point. Two thoughts. First of all, we should thumb our noses at death. When you go to a funeral, do this. Yes, we're sad because our loved one's not here anymore. but we should be defiant in the face of death. We should be saying, this isn't going to claim me ultimately because of what Christ has done for us. When we go to graveyards, don't be spooked by it. Even rejoice because death is not the final answer. What happens for the believer is we just cease living. Remember what we read in 2 Corinthians chapter 5, right? To live is Christ, to die is gain, he says. We live now for Christ, we die, hey, that's even better. Death is just merely a passing now from one life to the next. It's not filled with dread and horror because Christ has come and He has been raised from the dead. And so, yes, the fullness of that will be when He comes back, but we enjoy the fruit of that even now. Our souls immediately go to God when we die. Our bodies do go into the ground. Yes, they turn back to dust. but our souls immediately pass into God's presence. The victory that Christ has achieved is for us, and so therefore, hey, defy death. Now this doesn't mean, you know, all these crazy things that people are going to try to do to defy death, like going to the gym and wearing makeup and, you know, taking medicine and, you know, that kind of thing, but anyway. defy death because Jesus rose from the dead. Now notice how he ends verse 57 with the full name of Christ. He doesn't just say through our Lord Christ or our Lord Jesus Christ even, but our Lord Jesus Christ. The full name to highlight his majesty, to highlight his power, to highlight the greatness of Christ. He came and he defeated Satan. He crushed the head of the serpent. He came and defeated sin by obeying completely and taking the curses that we deserve. He defeated death by rising from the dead. And you could even say he defeated the law by keeping it perfectly for us. Satan is now chained. The sting of death isn't so poisonous. And in fact, death is impotent. Yes, we experience it. but it doesn't have the same power. Again, it's just a passing from one life to the next. And let's turn then a moment to Revelation chapter 20. The reason why we can have this defiance is also because the conquering that Jesus did now will have its fullness when he comes back. On Revelation 20, no, verse 10 it says, the devil who deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. If you look back at chapter 19 and verse 20, note the end of the verse, speaking of the beast and the false prophet, these two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. So the false state, the false church, Satan himself will be cast into the lake of fire. And then if you look at chapter 20 and verse 14, then death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. So Satan, the false state, the false church, death, the grave, and all unbelievers, that city that will be ruined, Isaiah 25, all of them will be cast into the lake of fire. All of them will be judged fully when Christ comes back. And so since this is true, His first coming and His second coming conquer death, let's thumb our nose at death. As you come back to 1 Corinthians 15, One more thing here in verse 57, when he says, thanks be to God who gives us the victory, that is showing a continuous action. He is giving us the victory. The process has begun. The law is our companion now unto righteousness. Our old man is gradually less controlling and death is not a foe to us, but you might even say a friend because it takes us right to glory. Satan, we can now resist, and so on and so forth. And so it has begun. And so verse 58 then, therefore, in light of everything he has said in this chapter, and even in light of what I just said, And notice he says, my beloved brethren, notice affection, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. This is not an afterthought for Paul. For Paul, all of our doctrines have very practical application. If you don't apply your doctrine, you don't understand your doctrine yet. Now granted, we're going to be imperfect in applying it, but you see the point. It's not just up in our heads. But it has to be in our head if we're going to apply it rightly. So after all 57 verses, Paul is saying, here's the point, those who deny the resurrection are living as they please. But because of the resurrection, we must abound in righteousness. We must be immovable. We must be steadfast in doing the work of the Lord. Since the resurrection is real, and Christ has guaranteed immortality in our heavenly bodies, since the victory has already begun, our means of godly living is assured. And the efforts that we do are not in vain, because it prepares us for glory. It indicates that our victory has started, so let's be steadfast. Let's be immovable in doing the work of Christ. Let's keep the law now because it's not opposed to us. The resurrection motivates us to do these things. It emboldens us because our enemies are defeated. We can thumb our nose at death. We can thumb our nose at Satan. We can thumb our nose at the world and our old man. Not because we are being brash and arrogant and boastful. but because of what Christ has done. When that world comes against us, and it is becoming very, very hostile in our country. I just was reading about what they're doing to Christians in China now. That's even getting worse. But when they come against us, we don't need to fear, because they've been defeated already because of Christ. And we can Taunt them. Don't be rude, don't be mean, but you see the point. This is what Paul is saying. So we may suffer, we may fall and fail at times, but we have the victory through Christ. So let's live that way. Heaven awaits us. Full victory is assured. And so live daily in this victory. Live daily defying death without fear. and without any reserve." So here then very briefly is his point in these verses and may we remember this here on this morning of celebrating the resurrection of Christ and oh what an amazing thing that is but we certainly look forward to his return in the fullness of these things for us as people. Let's pray together. Our Father and our God, we thank you again for your word. We thank you for what you teach us here. We are thankful, Lord, that your word has been fulfilled in Christ in many ways. But we also know that it has yet to be fulfilled. For that, we eagerly wait. We pray, Lord, that you would strengthen us in this, that you would help us to understand these things, and that you would remind us of the victory that we already have in Christ, that our enemies would not intimidate us, that those who are hostile against us would not cause us to cower in fear, but that we would stand boldly and that we would remember that all of our enemies have been defeated by Christ and fully will be defeated when He comes back. And so, Lord, may this then encourage us unto godly living now. May it encourage us to be righteous and holy, keeping your law in our daily activities, and even in the face of opposition, like Paul has done, as we've talked about. And so Lord, we pray that you would be merciful in these ways, and that you would, as it were, screw on our heads right, so that we're thinking rightly about these things, that we might then live according to your word, according to these truths. We thank you again, our Lord Jesus, for your perfect life, your atoning death, and your resurrection from the dead, to ensure victory for us, your people. We pray, Lord, that you would return here soon and that you would instill in us a strength by your spirit to be able to live according to these truths. And so we pray this then in Jesus' name, amen.
Taunting Death
Série Sunrise Service
Identifiant du sermon | 4621172163265 |
Durée | 46:45 |
Date | |
Catégorie | Service du dimanche |
Texte biblique | 1 Corinthiens 15:53-58 |
Langue | anglais |
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