"But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, 24 then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death. 27 For He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. 28 When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all."
I Corinthians 15:20-28
Good Morning Beloved,
Welcome to worship with us today, we're so glad you're here.
God has given each of us free will, and within that free will, you can believe whatever you want. Whatever you happen to believe, however, makes no difference in the reality of something. As I said many times, "A lie is a lie, even if everyone believes it. And, in contrast, the truth is the truth, even if no one believes it."
What someone chooses to believe about the moon landing makes no difference! It no bearing upon the facts. For example, there are some people, who choose not to believe in the Holocaust. They write a revision of history that claims the Germans never mistreated the Jews during World War II. They claim the statistics are wrong, the photographs have all been doctored, and in essence, claim the Holocaust never happened. However, we might know a Jewish person here with a number tattooed on his arm who would say, "Whatever you may believe about the Holocaust makes no difference! It makes no difference as to the facts. I lived it, I was there!"
There are also some people, who choose not believe in the Resurrection. And, I must say, the same rule still applies. Whether or not, you choose to believe about the Resurrection makes no difference.
And, the same is true about whatever you choose to believe about the Resurrection, it makes no difference as to the facts or it's reality. Christians live between two resurrections, the resurrection of Jesus Christ and our own resurrection. Even Christs' disciples were too shocked at first to believe. His resurrection was too good to be believed. Their fear of His enemies and fear of the unknown kept them from believing.
While, I am aware that traditionally, the resurrection is preached on Easter, however, I believe that the cross and resurrection, being so critical, should never be taught only at a particular occasion. Without the cross and the resurrection, Christianity would not exist. It is any wonder why Satan works so hard to destroy the reality of its existence?
We live in a world in which there are many uncertainties. These are unprecedented, perilous times. Everything from political and corporate scandals, stocks market crashes, life is now uncertain. World peace is constantly being threatened. Terrorism on every front, now even in America. Hatred and violence, is at the forefront of social media and news outlets. Then, there's the Coronavirus, which leaves doubt as to whether or not our children or grand children will even finish grade school, much less college. Some one once said the only thing that is certain, is uncertainty itself.
And, besides all of these, there is still something else that plagues our world, our nation, and the church; and that is religious uncertainty. In the 1980's, a religious group surveyed thousand of religious leader concerning the virgin birth, the miracles of Christ, and the resurrection from the dead. Many denied all these. Others could not determine their "scripturalness" from the bible. And some close to us even doubt these spiritual truths of the scripture.
However, the apostle Paul has affirmed three important truths, the Redeemer, the redeemed, and the redemption, which we'll discuss in our study today.
Let's first bow our heads in prayer.
Heavenly Father,
Lord, we thank You for Your Word for us today, and its power and clarity. So many people would like to know the future. If they read Your Word; so incredibly rich. Thank You for what You have prepared for those that love You.
Lord, I ask that Your Spirit would reach down and touch the hearts of all who are gathered with us today, may they grasp Your truth, so that they might embrace Christ as Lord, and faithfully obey Him with great and incredible joy.
Thank You for the precious gift of grace, the gift of salvation and the gift of the resurrection.
In Christs' precious name we pray
Amen
Today's Message: All Rise - The Certainty of the Resurrection
Open with me your Bibles to the book of I Corinthians chapter 15. We have been abundantly blessed by our Lord, to be presented with this rich study of I Corinthians 15. Follow along with me as I read to you to get this text settled in our minds. I Corinthians 15:20-28.
"But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death. For He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all."
This is not about salvation. This is not about sin; sin has all been judged already in Christ. This is about an assessment of the life of a believer as to what has eternal value.
The first thing the apostle Paul affirms is the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Many theories are advocated today concerning this vital doctrine of the New Testament. There are some people, who would have us to believe several "false doctrines" concerning Christ’s resurrection. Many of you are likely aware of them, so I'll mention only a few, he just swooned away, but did not die; his disciples stole the body; the women went to the wrong tomb; and finally, he was raised spiritually, but his body has been turned into gases and is being preserved somewhere as a memorial unto God. However, Paul, declared in I Corinthians 15:20: "But now Christ has been raised from the dead..." If there be no resurrection: "then we are men most miserable and yet in our sins."
The second thing, Paul affirms is that Christ is NOW REIGNING over his kingdom. And all of us are worthy subjects in the kingdom of Christ. He says in I Corinthians 15:25-26: "For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death."
I believe that its rather important to note, that Christ reigns now and until he comes to abolish death. Not He will reign when he comes! Christ was raised: for our justification; to declare His Sonship; to sit on David's throne; and to reign over his kingdom, "as king of Kings and lord of Lords," until death shall be destroyed; when Jesus returns to claim his own - "the redeemed from the earth."
Lastly, Paul affirms that Christ is returning. At His return, there will be a resurrection of the saints. He says: "For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming..." When he comes Paul says: "then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father" Not set it up. When he comes: "when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power." Not take it up. I Corinthians 15:21-24
The beloved Apostle in this text states that Christ had indeed been raised from the dead. He says in I Corinthians 15:20: "But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep" Christ’s resurrection was the subject of his teaching to his apostles for nearly 3½ years.
Matthew 16:21 says, "From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day." Paul says in Romans 4:25 "He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification." In Romans 1:3-4, Paul says: "concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord."
The message of the resurrection of Christ was the subject of the apostles’ preaching. I Corinthians 15:1-2;12-19. Peter on Pentecost in Acts 2:29-36. Paul’s preaching, in Acts 17:19-34 "Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.” Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but others said, “We shall hear you again concerning this."
Beloved, the resurrection of Christ is an established fact in history, as well as His death, and His life. How can any accept His life and death, which we learn from scripture; and yet deny His resurrection which also we learn from scripture? I believe, that the church has lost the importance of apostolic preaching concerning the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The message of the resurrection of Christ was the subject of prophecy. I Corinthians 15:3-4 Notice also, Deuteronomy 18:15-19; Isaiah 53; Psalm 2, 16, 22, 110, Daniel 12, and Zechariah 13:7. All of these references make mention of His death, burial and resurrection. Paul says: "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures."
The resurrection of Christ was the subject of proven eyewitness testimony. I Corinthians 15:5-11 "And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve...And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time." Acts 1, 2, 9; 22; and 26. Eye witness testimony in court!
Theories concerning the resurrection. Comments from the Passover Plot. Resurrection was spiritual but not physical. John 2:19-21. They seen him after his resurrection. Luke 24:36-49. The apostles saw his body, with the holes in his hands, and in his side. John 20:24-31. Acts 1:1-3 "The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen. To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proof...."
It was the body of Christ, the same, which had hanged on the tree, which was buried, that was raised from the dead. Body turned into gases being preserved as a memorial before God. The body was provided to give the apostles faith. More than that, if they are correct. The body was a fake, they were deceived by Christ; and bared witness of a lie. And worst, they suffered persecutions and death for their faith; and countless billions now believe a lie, which has the sanction of God, and commission of Christ. Read Philippians 3:20-21; I John 3:1-2, I Corinthians 15:50-58.
The theory His body was stolen by the disciples. Is simply not true. These men were frightened and were in hiding for fear of the Jews. In John 20:19, it says, "So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you."
They had forsaken him, Mark 14:50; They denied knowledge of him. Surely these men did not steal the body. Evidence at the tomb does not bear witness that the body had been stolen. Notice: The linen cloth. John 19:40; 20:5-7; 11:44; and Luke 24:12-13. Swooned away. Did not really die, he just appeared that way. However he was beaten, drug a cross to Calvary, and was nailed to it; he hung there for more than 6 hours; a soldier pierced his side; yet Jesus somehow, only pretended to be dead.
Are you kidding me?
Then at just the right time, Jesus burst the linen cloths, threw the stone that would block the entrance to the tomb, and over powered the guards and having been wounded, he fled on foot. I don't know about any of you, however, it takes more faith to believe this concocted impossible story than the truth in the written testimony of the scriptures: He was dead, He was buried and He was raised from the dead!
John 20:1 says, "Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb."
If this be so, then the officials sealed the wrong tomb; the soldiers guarded the wrong tomb; the angels rolled away the stone at the wrong tomb; the disciples inspected the wrong tomb, and God did not know where his Son was buried. How foolish. But why was Jesus raised? "For our justification; to declare his Sonship; to sit on David’s throne; and to begin reigning over his kingdom."
Matthew 27:59-61, "And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away. And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the grave."
And in Mark 15:42-47, "When evening had already come, because it was the preparation day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the Council, who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God; and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate wondered if He was dead by this time, and summoning the centurion, he questioned him as to whether He was already dead. And ascertaining this from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. Joseph bought a linen cloth, took Him down, wrapped Him in the linen cloth and laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were looking on to see where He was laid."
Christ was not the first to rise from the dead. People in the Old Testament rose from the dead. Enoch didn’t die, Elijah didn’t die, but there were a few people who did and were raised. But they later died again. However, in the case of Jesus, He rose never to die again, and He is the first fruits of our harvest; we will also rise, never to die again!
That's why Paul says in Philippians 3:21, "who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself."
Christ’s reign is NOW. The second certainty that each Christian can know is that Christ is reigning over his kingdom. The angel of the Lord announced to Mary Jesus’ reign over his kingdom. Luke 1:32-33 "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end." Here the angel pronounces that Jesus shall be given the throne of his father David, and will reign over the house of Jacob forever. When did Jesus receive his throne and begin his reign? It seems to me if we can answer that, then the question of His reign has been settled.
Peter states in his sermon on the day of Pentecost that Christ was raised to sit on David’s throne. Quickly turn with me to Acts 2:29, allow me to read that to you "Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day."
In Acts 2:29-36, Peter said that Jesus was "RAISED TO SIT ON DAVID'S THRONE." Therefore, he began his reign after he took his seat on David's throne.
Christ 's kingdom is spiritual. In John 18:36 "Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm."
Daniel spoke of that kingdom, in Daniel 2:44 "In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever."
Jesus promised that the kingdom would appear in the apostle’s lifetime. In Mark 9:1,"And Jesus was saying to them, “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power."
And, also Acts 1:6-7, "So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;"
The apostles sought it before Christ ascension. Kingdom preached after Pentecost as existing.
In Acts 8:12, "But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike." Paul taught the kingdom of God.
Colossians 1:13 "For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son" Also, the Apostle John claimed membership in the kingdom of God."
Revelation 1:9 says, "I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus."
Paul says to the Ephesians 1:20-23, "which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all."
Matthew 28:18 says, "And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth" Notice God raised him, set him at his own right hand, put all things under his feet.
And, I'm sure we all remember Peter, who said in Acts 2:34-36, "For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.’ Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified."
Revelation 19:6-16, I Timothy 6:13-16: He is both: Lord and Christ. He is both: Son and God.
However, perhaps the greatest line about the Resurrection comes from the famous preacher of another age, J. S. Whale, who said, "The Gospels do not explain the Resurrection; the Resurrection explains the Gospels."
Beloved, if anyone would read the Gospels and the book of Acts, you cannot help but see that the Resurrection is the foundation underlying everything those disciples did. They were consumed with an amazing truth – the Resurrection of Christ. The truth of the Resurrection is the only thing that can explain the extraordinary behavior of those simple followers of Christ! Again, the Gospels do not explain the Resurrection; the Resurrection explains the Gospels."
In II Peter 3:9-10, Peter says, "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up."
Beloved, are you ready for Christ's return? We're living in the last days; Christ has prolonged His return in order to give all men time to repent..
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
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