WEBVTT 00:00:41.429 --> 00:00:45.909 1 Corinthians 15 verses 12 through 34. 00:00:47.909 --> 00:00:54.629 Now, if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 00:00:54.869 --> 00:00:59.590 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 00:00:59.909 --> 00:01:05.430 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith is in vain. 00:01:05.829 --> 00:01:16.549 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God, that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if it is true that the dead are not raised. 00:01:16.870 --> 00:01:20.789 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 00:01:21.030 --> 00:01:26.549 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, and you are still in your sins. 00:01:26.949 --> 00:01:30.949 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 00:01:31.189 --> 00:01:37.430 If in Christ we have hope, in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. 00:01:38.069 --> 00:01:43.909 But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 00:01:44.150 --> 00:01:49.509 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 00:01:49.750 --> 00:01:54.389 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 00:01:54.870 --> 00:01:56.550 But each in his own order. 00:01:56.789 --> 00:01:58.229 Christ the first fruits. 00:01:58.469 --> 00:02:01.030 Then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 00:02:01.509 --> 00:02:02.870 Then comes the end. 00:02:03.109 --> 00:02:09.590 When he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 00:02:09.990 --> 00:02:13.750 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 00:02:14.550 --> 00:02:16.870 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 00:02:17.750 --> 00:02:21.189 For God has put all things in subjection under his feet. 00:02:21.430 --> 00:02:28.469 But when it says all things are put in subjection, it is plain that he is accepted who put all things in subjection under him. 00:02:29.909 --> 00:02:39.189 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son Himself will also be subjected to Him, who put all things in subjection under Him, that God may be all in all. 00:02:40.789 --> 00:02:45.189 Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? 00:02:45.430 --> 00:02:50.230 If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? 00:02:50.629 --> 00:02:52.629 Why are we in danger every hour? 00:02:52.870 --> 00:03:00.069 I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day. 00:03:00.310 --> 00:03:05.030 What do I gain if I, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? 00:03:05.270 --> 00:03:09.110 If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. 00:03:09.430 --> 00:03:10.710 Do not be deceived. 00:03:10.950 --> 00:03:13.030 Bad company ruins good morals. 00:03:13.270 --> 00:03:20.069 Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning, for some have no knowledge of God. 00:03:20.310 --> 00:03:22.469 I say this to your shame. 00:03:22.710 --> 00:03:24.390 This is the word of the Lord. 00:03:39.590 --> 00:03:39.909 All right. 00:03:40.150 --> 00:03:40.789 Good morning, church. 00:03:40.870 --> 00:03:42.469 Let's pray for our service and we'll get started. 00:03:42.550 --> 00:03:44.469 God, thank you so much for the gathering this morning. 00:03:44.629 --> 00:03:46.789 Thank you for the unity that it brings. 00:03:47.030 --> 00:03:57.590 God, I pray this morning as we open your word that you would allow uh allow us to leave our distractions at the door, leave the world, and there's so many things that are pulling on us in so many different directions this morning. 00:03:57.750 --> 00:04:02.550 Allow our minds to be clear and calm, to receive the truth of your word. 00:04:02.870 --> 00:04:08.390 We're reminded of the death, the burial, and the resurrection this morning, that we come to you with nothing. 00:04:08.710 --> 00:04:13.670 God, nothing or we have nothing to offer, but you you did everything for us, God. 00:04:13.750 --> 00:04:18.949 You laid down your life willingly for us, died and rose again, conquering death and sin. 00:04:19.110 --> 00:04:27.670 God, I pray that this morning, that would be open your word, that you would speak to our brother Robert, that you would use him, that it would be a fragrant offering to you this morning. 00:04:27.990 --> 00:04:31.110 God, I pray that we would respond to the truth of your word. 00:04:31.430 --> 00:04:36.709 We would not allow pride or anything to keep us from being obedient to your word, Lord. 00:04:36.789 --> 00:04:37.750 In your name we pray. 00:04:37.990 --> 00:04:38.629 Amen. 00:04:39.829 --> 00:04:40.389 Amen. 00:04:40.629 --> 00:04:41.589 Thank you, brothers. 00:04:41.750 --> 00:04:43.670 You guys can be seated. 00:04:44.310 --> 00:04:45.990 Good morning and welcome. 00:04:46.149 --> 00:04:51.750 Let me add my welcome to whoever has greeted you, either from the platform or face to face. 00:04:51.909 --> 00:04:57.429 It's a blessing to be here to worship with you guys this morning as we gather as the body of Christ. 00:04:57.509 --> 00:04:58.149 My name's Robert. 00:04:58.229 --> 00:04:59.669 I'm one of the pastors here. 00:04:59.829 --> 00:05:09.269 And one of the things I have been, I've really enjoyed about living here, about being at Heartland, is this community, and I've shared this with you guys before. 00:05:09.349 --> 00:05:23.429 This the community of churches here, there are so many like-minded brothers, as it as when I say brothers, I mean pastors, leading faithful churches here proclaiming the good news of the gospel, that there's this camaraderie about the way that we do things. 00:05:23.669 --> 00:05:29.750 We talk about even when we welcome guests, one of the things that you'll hear us say is we want you to be a part of the local church. 00:05:29.829 --> 00:05:31.429 And if that's heartland, that's that's great. 00:05:31.509 --> 00:05:36.949 But if that's another Bible believing, Bible proclaiming, gospel proclaiming church, that's that's okay too. 00:05:37.029 --> 00:05:39.029 And that's because we're all on the same team. 00:05:39.109 --> 00:05:47.509 And an aspect of that that I've been blessed to participate in is um teaching at a another local body at Colonial Hills. 00:05:47.589 --> 00:05:52.629 For the last three years, I've taught a course on apologetics in a discipleship academy that they do. 00:05:52.709 --> 00:06:02.870 And this year, in prep for that course, one of the things that I did is I I kind of got on this rabbit hole of researching present-day realities about different world religions. 00:06:02.949 --> 00:06:06.949 And here are some numerical breakdowns I found in relation to different world religions. 00:06:07.029 --> 00:06:08.709 And these numbers come from 2025. 00:06:08.789 --> 00:06:10.149 This is from P Research. 00:06:10.310 --> 00:06:13.349 2.3 billion people around the world are Christian. 00:06:13.589 --> 00:06:16.549 2 billion people around the world are Muslim. 00:06:16.789 --> 00:06:24.069 1.9 million, or excuse me, 1.9 billion are nuns, meaning they they adhere to no religion at all. 00:06:24.229 --> 00:06:34.389 1.2 billion are Hindus, 0.3 billion are Buddhists, 0.2 billion are just a conglomeration of other religions, and 0.01 billion are Jews. 00:06:34.709 --> 00:06:43.269 And when I was thinking about that statistic in relation to today's sermon text, the thing that kept flooding my mind is why so many? 00:06:43.509 --> 00:06:59.909 Or what makes our faith, Christianity, as we refer to it, what makes it different from all those other ones I just listed, from Muslim or from Hindus or from Buddhist or from Jewish or other religions that we see on that list. 00:07:00.709 --> 00:07:13.189 And what I want to point out to you today is that today's sermon text highlights one of the core distinctives of our faith as followers of Jesus that we see in his gospel. 00:07:13.429 --> 00:07:25.029 And it's not that Jesus was a man, it's not simply that Jesus walked the earth, it's not just that Jesus died, it is that he experienced a bodily resurrection. 00:07:25.669 --> 00:07:29.029 Without Easter, the gospel is not the gospel. 00:07:29.269 --> 00:07:47.029 You see, many other world religions would agree that Jesus was a man, that he was a faithful and profitable teacher, that he lived a life and that he died, but they are missing a critical, I would say more than critical, a necessary piece of truth that he raised. 00:07:47.189 --> 00:07:54.549 As one commentator put it, he was permanently and eternally raised from the dead, having received a body that could never die. 00:07:55.029 --> 00:08:04.629 And as we see in this text, without the bodily resurrection of Jesus, our faith crumbles like a house built with no foundation. 00:08:04.789 --> 00:08:05.509 Fair warning. 00:08:05.589 --> 00:08:16.629 The first half of this text is going to be fairly awkward if you don't notice that in the text, because Paul is illustrating all of these consequences in relation to if Jesus didn't rise. 00:08:16.870 --> 00:08:21.029 So as we work through the text, Paul is going to bluntly address verse 12. 00:08:21.189 --> 00:08:24.469 Verse 12 sets the context for the entire sermon text. 00:08:24.629 --> 00:08:28.310 The Corinthians were questioning the resurrection of the dead. 00:08:28.469 --> 00:08:32.310 As to say, no one raises from the dead, even those with faith in Christ. 00:08:32.470 --> 00:08:34.149 There is no resurrection. 00:08:34.310 --> 00:08:42.950 And Paul bluntly addresses their questioning by saying, if no one raises from the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 00:08:43.110 --> 00:08:45.909 And we're going to see two consequences if that is true. 00:08:46.230 --> 00:08:48.470 Spoiler alert, let me just say that from the beginning. 00:08:48.549 --> 00:08:49.269 That's not true. 00:08:49.429 --> 00:08:52.230 But the two consequences that we see are this. 00:08:52.470 --> 00:08:54.950 Without Christ's resurrection, the gospel falls silent. 00:08:55.029 --> 00:08:59.590 And without Christ's resurrection, still sin still reigns and death still rules. 00:08:59.750 --> 00:09:04.629 And then we're also going to see the good news, the two realities, and the two realities are this. 00:09:04.789 --> 00:09:09.269 With Christ's resurrection, sin is conquered and death is dethroned. 00:09:09.509 --> 00:09:14.870 And with Christ's resurrection, suffering speaks, and it is not in vain. 00:09:14.949 --> 00:09:20.629 So let's take some time to look at the first consequence that we see in verses 13 through 16. 00:09:20.949 --> 00:09:26.789 You might remember last week, Pastor Dylan walked us through the beginning section of this chapter. 00:09:26.949 --> 00:09:35.750 And Paul so uh, with such purpose and with such intentionality and with such passion, clearly articulated the gospel, right? 00:09:35.909 --> 00:09:40.470 He knew the gospel message is worthless without the resurrection of Jesus. 00:09:40.629 --> 00:09:47.509 So he lays out the gospel message before he begins to address this question that he addresses in verse 12. 00:09:47.669 --> 00:09:53.110 Something we say around here often, I say it all the time, both in conversation with people and from the platform. 00:09:53.269 --> 00:09:58.069 We are one with Christ in his life, and we are one with Christ in his death. 00:09:58.309 --> 00:10:01.110 You hear us say something similar when we baptize. 00:10:01.269 --> 00:10:05.829 One of the things that we often say when we baptize comes straight from Romans 6, 4, and this is what it said. 00:10:06.069 --> 00:10:17.029 We were buried, therefore, with him by baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might be raised to walk in the newness of life. 00:10:17.350 --> 00:10:19.350 To walk in the newness of life. 00:10:19.509 --> 00:10:21.909 You see, we have this oneness with Christ. 00:10:21.990 --> 00:10:31.509 And because of the oneness with Christ, if Christ didn't experience a bodily resurrection, then neither will we. 00:10:31.829 --> 00:10:33.189 The inverse is true as well. 00:10:33.350 --> 00:10:40.149 If there is no bodily resurrection of man, then there was no bodily resurrection of Christ. 00:10:40.470 --> 00:10:44.389 And if that is true, the gospel is worthless. 00:10:46.069 --> 00:10:53.429 If Jesus is still in the tomb, there's no point for me to stand before you and to preach this morning. 00:10:54.149 --> 00:10:56.870 Because there would be no good news to preach. 00:10:57.669 --> 00:11:04.789 If Jesus was still in the tomb, the gospel message that we cling our life to has no foundation. 00:11:05.110 --> 00:11:09.829 If Jesus is still in the tomb, there would be no point for Paul to write this text. 00:11:11.029 --> 00:11:14.629 If Jesus was still in the tomb, there would be no point to the New Testament. 00:11:16.709 --> 00:11:29.750 If Jesus was still in the tomb, there would be no point to Acts 1.8, which says that you will receive my power, will become upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in Judea and in Samaria and to the ends of the earth. 00:11:29.909 --> 00:11:32.549 If Jesus is still in the tomb, there is no great commission. 00:11:33.829 --> 00:11:34.470 Why? 00:11:34.870 --> 00:11:39.029 Because if Jesus is still in the tomb, there is no gospel. 00:11:46.470 --> 00:12:00.069 That's why it's so incredibly important for us to hold fast to the divinity of Jesus, to the bodily resurrection of Jesus, to the ascension of Jesus, where he is seated at the right hand of the Father. 00:12:00.549 --> 00:12:07.509 Christianity is different than all those other religions I mentioned at the top of the sermon because the tomb is empty. 00:12:09.269 --> 00:12:14.230 One great apologetic in this sphere is to look at the life of the disciples post-Jesus. 00:12:14.389 --> 00:12:25.990 I don't know if you've ever done that, but do you think that the apostles would have kept after it, kept going if the grave held their purpose? 00:12:26.870 --> 00:12:33.750 If the grave held Jesus, do you think the disciples would have continued to carry out the great commission they were given? 00:12:33.990 --> 00:12:34.230 No. 00:12:34.389 --> 00:12:35.669 And two simple reasons. 00:12:35.909 --> 00:12:39.990 One, if death would have conquered the Messiah, he wouldn't have been the Messiah. 00:12:40.309 --> 00:12:43.429 And two, they wouldn't have been given the Great Commission. 00:12:43.909 --> 00:12:49.669 The Great Commission was given after the resurrection of Jesus, just before his ascension. 00:12:50.309 --> 00:12:52.470 You read about that in Matthew 28. 00:12:52.870 --> 00:13:02.789 And that how and the where of the disciples simply, just those two things, the how and the where of the disciples give evidence to the bodily resurrection of Jesus. 00:13:03.429 --> 00:13:09.669 The how they died by horrific means, even crucifixion. 00:13:10.230 --> 00:13:18.149 They died from Ethiopia to Rome as they took the gospel to all nations, just like they were commanded to do. 00:13:18.309 --> 00:13:27.909 Paul in verse 15 and 16 of today's sermon text, we are even found to be misrepresenting God because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise. 00:13:27.990 --> 00:13:34.230 If it is true that the dead are not raised, for if the dead are not raised, not even Christ had been raised. 00:13:34.709 --> 00:13:47.829 The word in verse 15 that you see there in verse 15, misrepresenting in your text, if you're not reading out the ESV, one of the ways it's often translated is false witness. 00:13:48.069 --> 00:14:04.309 When you look at the original word there, it's pseudo-martyr, martyr referring to witness, what is being communicated in this, if Christ didn't raise from the death, then all of us who testified about Christ, all of us, even Paul himself, that's what he's saying. 00:14:04.470 --> 00:14:08.709 All of us who testified about Christ, who gave witness, would be liars. 00:14:13.110 --> 00:14:17.029 This takes us to a place that can be concerning, right? 00:14:17.590 --> 00:14:24.389 If Jesus Christ didn't experience a bodily resurrection, then was he who he said he was? 00:14:25.350 --> 00:14:27.029 Was he who he said he was? 00:14:27.509 --> 00:14:29.750 After all, you might remember this. 00:14:29.990 --> 00:14:35.829 Jesus declared that he would be destroyed and then he would rise up in three days. 00:14:36.149 --> 00:14:39.669 You don't have to flip there, but John 2, 19 through 21, we see this. 00:14:39.829 --> 00:14:45.350 Jesus answered them, destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 00:14:45.590 --> 00:14:51.189 The Jews then said, It has taken 46 years to build this temple, and you will raise it up in three days. 00:14:51.429 --> 00:14:54.470 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 00:14:55.029 --> 00:15:10.949 If he could raise the widow's son in Luke 7, if he could raise Jairus' daughter in Mark 5, if he could raise Lazarus after he'd been dead for over 72 hours for four days, but he couldn't raise himself, then guess what? 00:15:11.509 --> 00:15:13.269 He couldn't have been the Messiah. 00:15:14.709 --> 00:15:15.829 That's the first consequence. 00:15:15.990 --> 00:15:23.829 The second consequence, if Jesus didn't raise us this without Christ's resurrection, still sin still reigns and death still rules. 00:15:24.629 --> 00:15:29.029 Paul goes on to push even harder on the Corinthians. 00:15:29.750 --> 00:15:30.709 Push even harder. 00:15:30.789 --> 00:15:39.029 If Jesus was not who he says he was, if he was not raised from the dead, then the object of your faith ceases to be. 00:15:40.549 --> 00:15:43.509 Faith is foolish, is how it's phrased in verse 17. 00:15:43.669 --> 00:15:46.149 If Jesus didn't rise, then faith is foolish. 00:15:46.389 --> 00:15:50.709 You see, the author and perfecter of our faith, according to God's word, is who? 00:15:50.949 --> 00:15:52.870 It is Jesus Christ. 00:15:53.429 --> 00:15:54.789 Let me ask you this question. 00:15:54.949 --> 00:15:57.350 What is something without its author? 00:15:57.829 --> 00:16:01.110 I want you to think about whatever your favorite book is. 00:16:01.990 --> 00:16:03.110 I'll just use an example. 00:16:03.269 --> 00:16:07.990 The lion, the witch in the wardrobe would not be the lion, the witch in the wardrobe without C.S. 00:16:08.069 --> 00:16:08.709 Lewis. 00:16:10.709 --> 00:16:19.429 Another way to illustrate this faith in something is nothing without the something existing at the level your faith tells you it exists. 00:16:20.069 --> 00:16:23.029 I know that's a tongue twister, but think about this way. 00:16:23.189 --> 00:16:27.429 I was talking to some guys in the four-year beforehand, and I told them about this illustration. 00:16:27.750 --> 00:16:39.829 All the faith in the world, if you walk out to your car today, all the faith in the world that you have in your car, if someone stole your wheels and put it on blocks, is not going to get you anywhere. 00:16:40.470 --> 00:16:44.789 A car without wheels, I don't care how much faith you have in it, isn't taking you anywhere. 00:16:46.230 --> 00:16:47.669 Another way to say that. 00:16:47.829 --> 00:16:57.750 If you're gonna go to the airport today and you're gonna fly out and you get on your airplane and it has no wings, I don't care how much faith you have in that airplane, it is not getting off the ground. 00:17:00.309 --> 00:17:07.590 If our faith was in a man that stayed in the tomb, it would have no more significance than a man that stayed in the tomb. 00:17:09.750 --> 00:17:12.230 We have been saved by grace through faith. 00:17:12.390 --> 00:17:17.750 If Jesus didn't conquer both sin and death, then there would be no grace. 00:17:20.710 --> 00:17:24.710 Which Paul is communicating in the statement that we see in this passage. 00:17:24.950 --> 00:17:27.029 You are still in your sins. 00:17:27.430 --> 00:17:38.950 If Christ didn't raise from the dead, you are still in your sins, which means without the resurrection, sin is on the throne of your life, and you are still dead in your trespasses and sin. 00:17:39.110 --> 00:17:46.070 You are spiritually lost, you are spiritually dead, and so is everyone else who fell asleep, is the language he uses here. 00:17:47.910 --> 00:17:54.390 Think about this way: if Jesus didn't rise, then hell would be busting at the seams. 00:17:57.670 --> 00:17:59.430 Let that sink in for a minute. 00:18:00.870 --> 00:18:05.990 There would be no one enjoying the exaltation of our Lord. 00:18:07.269 --> 00:18:12.630 Falling asleep, as we read in verse 18, is often you refer to as physical death. 00:18:12.710 --> 00:18:19.990 And Paul uses that language to emphasize the reality of the redeemed person, the coming resurrection of the redeemed person. 00:18:21.350 --> 00:18:26.550 But without the bodily resurrection of Jesus, he's telling the Corinthians, hold up a minute. 00:18:26.790 --> 00:18:31.430 All those who pass before you, they're not asleep, they are dead. 00:18:32.070 --> 00:18:36.070 They have succumbed to the sting of sin and death. 00:18:36.310 --> 00:18:39.509 They're not sleeping, they're dead. 00:18:41.350 --> 00:18:43.509 Paul seems to take this pretty seriously. 00:18:43.830 --> 00:18:49.110 And as you can see in verses 12 through 19, they are not easy verses. 00:18:49.269 --> 00:18:50.390 They are difficult. 00:18:50.550 --> 00:18:55.269 They're not difficult to comprehend, they're not difficult to understand, they're not difficult to apply. 00:18:55.670 --> 00:18:57.110 The meaning of the text is simple. 00:18:57.269 --> 00:19:02.710 If Jesus didn't experience the bodily resurrection, Christianity as we know it doesn't actually exist. 00:19:03.190 --> 00:19:06.390 That's what Paul is communicating to the Corinthians. 00:19:06.630 --> 00:19:13.750 If Jesus is still physically dead, another way to say that, if Jesus is still physically dead, then we are all still spiritually dead. 00:19:15.509 --> 00:19:19.910 Paul presented opposition to those false claims. 00:19:20.070 --> 00:19:24.390 But he also knew this is where I want you to make sure you don't miss this. 00:19:24.550 --> 00:19:28.630 He also knew that the bodily resurrection of Jesus did happen. 00:19:28.790 --> 00:19:32.870 He knew without a doubt that the bodily resurrection of Jesus did happen. 00:19:32.950 --> 00:19:34.790 And we see that in verse 20. 00:19:34.950 --> 00:19:44.710 He goes from pointing out the consequences if Jesus didn't rise to pointing out the blessed assurance of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus in verse 20. 00:19:44.950 --> 00:19:46.230 I want to be clear. 00:19:46.470 --> 00:19:49.190 In case you haven't heard me say this yet, I want to be clear. 00:19:49.269 --> 00:19:56.950 The first two points of this sermon that we see in the first half of this text are if this, then that, right? 00:19:57.030 --> 00:19:59.030 They are purely hypothetical. 00:19:59.269 --> 00:20:03.430 In no way am I, or in no way is Paul claiming that Jesus didn't rise from the dead. 00:20:03.509 --> 00:20:05.269 They are purely hypothetical. 00:20:05.430 --> 00:20:07.269 We must not forget that. 00:20:09.910 --> 00:20:21.350 He is saying those things in response to what we see in verse 12 that some of the Corinthians, for whatever reason, were claiming or struggling with that there is a resurrection of the dead that takes place. 00:20:21.590 --> 00:20:23.430 And Paul addresses that bluntly. 00:20:23.590 --> 00:20:26.870 If there is no resurrection of the dead, there is no resurrection of Christ. 00:20:27.030 --> 00:20:35.910 And since we are one with Christ, if there is no resurrection of Christ, then there is no hope for us, and there is no hope in the gospel. 00:20:36.230 --> 00:20:39.750 But in fact, hear that. 00:20:39.910 --> 00:20:45.269 But in fact, we know that Christ has been raised from the dead and that he is seated at the right hand of the Father. 00:20:45.670 --> 00:20:48.950 And we see that with Paul in verses 20 through 28. 00:20:49.110 --> 00:20:53.030 With Christ's resurrection, sin is conquered and death is dethroned. 00:20:54.390 --> 00:20:56.950 Praise the Lord for that good news. 00:20:57.190 --> 00:21:02.230 Praise the Lord that the sermon didn't end just a moment ago, and that's all we had to proclaim. 00:21:03.590 --> 00:21:06.230 Pay attention to verse 20. 00:21:07.110 --> 00:21:08.950 Pay attention to that transition statement. 00:21:09.030 --> 00:21:12.470 I intentionally used that as my transition statement in well. 00:21:13.110 --> 00:21:19.430 But in fact, Paul is going from hypothetical what-ifs to absolute certainties. 00:21:20.390 --> 00:21:21.830 Praise the Lord. 00:21:21.990 --> 00:21:24.390 The resurrection of Jesus did happen. 00:21:24.470 --> 00:21:27.110 And Paul makes that emphatically clear. 00:21:27.430 --> 00:21:37.030 Sin entered the world through one man, as we see in the text, referring to Adam, and the resurrection of the redeemed is guaranteed through one God man, Jesus Christ. 00:21:39.190 --> 00:21:43.750 What comfort this had to be for the Corinthians, and what comfort this should be for us. 00:21:43.910 --> 00:21:52.710 Every time that someone passes from this life to the next, as believers, if you've ever been to a funeral that is gospel-based, you will know this is true. 00:21:52.790 --> 00:22:02.150 Every time that someone passes from this life to the next, as believers, we grieve differently than those who have not been redeemed by the blood of Jesus. 00:22:02.310 --> 00:22:05.269 We have a 1 Thessalonians 4 type of grief. 00:22:05.430 --> 00:22:06.950 We are not without hope. 00:22:07.110 --> 00:22:08.310 They have fallen asleep. 00:22:08.390 --> 00:22:10.710 It's not just a cute phrase that Paul used. 00:22:10.870 --> 00:22:13.910 It is a true, eternal reality. 00:22:14.310 --> 00:22:16.790 Listen to this from 1 Thessalonians 4. 00:22:16.950 --> 00:22:27.190 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 will rise first. 00:22:27.509 --> 00:22:33.509 Then who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. 00:22:33.750 --> 00:22:38.710 And so we will always be with the Lord. 00:22:40.150 --> 00:22:44.390 Therefore encourage one another with these words. 00:22:45.350 --> 00:22:51.990 We can look to the end and know for the redeemed that physical death is like falling asleep. 00:22:54.070 --> 00:22:55.509 Falling asleep. 00:22:55.830 --> 00:23:01.830 And one day we will always be with the Lord. 00:23:02.870 --> 00:23:04.070 Praise God. 00:23:04.790 --> 00:23:09.910 You see, there are significant present day realities for us in this text. 00:23:10.070 --> 00:23:16.230 And there's also these uh end times or eschatological implications right in the middle of this text. 00:23:16.310 --> 00:23:21.430 I wish I had time to break them all down in detail, but I want to run through the outline for you. 00:23:21.590 --> 00:23:25.670 Every rule and authority will be abolished. 00:23:27.350 --> 00:23:34.150 As a guy named Shriner puts it, demonic powers will not merely be subjucated, they will be annihilated. 00:23:35.910 --> 00:23:39.990 Jesus is reigning right now in heaven. 00:23:40.710 --> 00:23:43.350 Death will be destroyed. 00:23:44.150 --> 00:23:50.470 Those who are far from God will experience eternal torment, separated from God. 00:23:51.110 --> 00:23:55.190 The redeemed will experience the eternal kingdom of God. 00:23:56.230 --> 00:23:59.910 The redeemed shall grieve with hope. 00:24:00.710 --> 00:24:04.310 Those are all truths that we see in this text. 00:24:04.630 --> 00:24:16.230 Putting your faith in a risen Christ means that sin is conquered, that death is dethroned, and that your resurrection is guaranteed. 00:24:16.870 --> 00:24:18.790 No questions asked. 00:24:31.590 --> 00:24:33.830 But I want you to think about it this way, too. 00:24:34.150 --> 00:24:47.430 This also means that the things of this life, the experiences, even the things that we find happiness in, even the things that are joyful to us are simply a prologue of what is to come. 00:24:47.670 --> 00:24:49.910 They aren't the end, they aren't the source. 00:24:50.070 --> 00:25:05.670 They are a prologue for what is to come when we are for eternity sitting in the presence of Jesus Christ, which is what Paul speaks to when he articulates with Christ's resurrection, suffering speaks and is not in vain. 00:25:07.110 --> 00:25:18.390 The natural tendency for us on this earth is to pity the person who experiences suffering, or to pity the person who might not have much. 00:25:19.670 --> 00:25:25.590 And at some level, there is an appropriateness to that, and there's nothing inherently sinful to that. 00:25:25.830 --> 00:25:33.750 However, I want to help you understand and to view present-day suffering through the lens of what Paul is communicating here. 00:25:34.150 --> 00:25:38.550 You know who we should pity the most of all, according to the gospel? 00:25:38.710 --> 00:25:44.630 It's not the person that doesn't have a large bank account, it's not the person that doesn't drive the nicest car. 00:25:44.790 --> 00:25:50.150 The person that we should pity the most are the people who do not have Christ. 00:25:52.470 --> 00:26:00.630 That's why it drives me crazy when I ask somebody about a mission trip they went on and they will articulate, oh, we built this house and we did this and we gave them food. 00:26:00.950 --> 00:26:02.870 Did you tell them about Jesus? 00:26:03.190 --> 00:26:05.990 Because if you didn't, you're making them feel good on the way to hell. 00:26:09.430 --> 00:26:19.670 1 Corinthians 15, 32 says this from our sermon text: what do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with the beast of Ephesus? 00:26:19.830 --> 00:26:24.550 If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. 00:26:24.870 --> 00:26:25.110 Right? 00:26:25.190 --> 00:26:35.830 He's writing from Ephesus, so he mentions Ephesus, and he mentions uh fighting with a beast to illustrate this suffering without a risen savior is in vain. 00:26:36.150 --> 00:26:42.470 If I am suffering, even if it means dying at the hands of beasts without Christ, that is in vain. 00:26:42.870 --> 00:26:49.750 And it seems strange to us in our context, because man, who in the world dies by uh the hands of beast, right? 00:26:49.830 --> 00:26:59.430 Or fighting with beast, but being shredded by beast by wild beast was a common form of entertainment, of death for entertainment. 00:27:00.870 --> 00:27:03.830 But the second part of that verse is where I really want to draw your attention. 00:27:03.990 --> 00:27:09.910 It says at the second part of that verse, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. 00:27:10.630 --> 00:27:16.070 In other words, without the hope of the resurrection, eat, drink, and be merry. 00:27:16.230 --> 00:27:17.030 And guess what? 00:27:17.110 --> 00:27:22.070 That will be the fullest extent of the joy that you will ever experience. 00:27:25.670 --> 00:27:26.870 Heartbreaking. 00:27:27.190 --> 00:27:30.630 The fullest extent of joy that you will ever experience. 00:27:30.710 --> 00:27:31.590 That's it. 00:27:31.830 --> 00:27:44.150 And that's not joy, that's fleeting joy for those without Christ, those without the hope of the risen Savior who haven't put their faith in a risen savior. 00:27:44.310 --> 00:27:53.830 Their life basically is many years of the pursuit of pleasure, the pursuit of happiness, and then there's physical death and spiritual death and eternal torment. 00:27:53.910 --> 00:27:55.830 There is nothing else. 00:27:57.269 --> 00:27:58.630 Devastating. 00:27:59.350 --> 00:28:01.830 But it doesn't have to be that way. 00:28:02.310 --> 00:28:05.910 We know from the gospel that Jesus offers us so much more. 00:28:06.150 --> 00:28:07.350 We say this verse often. 00:28:07.509 --> 00:28:14.150 Romans 10:9 if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is the Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 00:28:14.550 --> 00:28:20.150 If you put your faith in the risen Christ, sin is conquered and death is dethroned. 00:28:22.230 --> 00:28:24.870 Luke 14, 13 and 14. 00:28:24.950 --> 00:28:32.310 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed because they cannot repay you. 00:28:33.910 --> 00:28:39.030 That makes no sense, but then you read the next sentence, for you will be paid at the resurrection of the just. 00:28:40.790 --> 00:28:44.310 Your life in Christ, and this is what we see in the latter part of this text. 00:28:44.470 --> 00:28:48.630 Your life in Christ means you no longer live for the temporary. 00:28:49.350 --> 00:28:50.870 You live for the eternal. 00:28:51.110 --> 00:28:53.910 If you don't hear anything else that I say this morning, hear that. 00:28:54.070 --> 00:29:00.070 If you are a follower of Jesus, you should no longer live for the pursuit of the temporary. 00:29:00.310 --> 00:29:01.670 Live for what is coming. 00:29:04.230 --> 00:29:07.030 It's no longer about what you get out of this life. 00:29:08.950 --> 00:29:11.110 It becomes more about where you're going. 00:29:11.830 --> 00:29:14.790 Paul, the author of this text, lived a life of suffering. 00:29:14.870 --> 00:29:16.950 I couldn't help but bring this passage in. 00:29:17.110 --> 00:29:20.710 This is from a second letter to the church at Corinth, chapter 11. 00:29:20.950 --> 00:29:22.630 Are they servants of Christ? 00:29:22.790 --> 00:29:24.070 I'm a better one. 00:29:24.310 --> 00:29:32.070 I'm talking like a madman with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 00:29:32.390 --> 00:29:38.790 Five times I received at the hand of the Jews 40 lashes less one, near death. 00:29:39.030 --> 00:29:42.230 Three times I was beaten with rods. 00:29:42.710 --> 00:29:45.430 Once I was stoned. 00:29:45.990 --> 00:29:47.990 Three times I was shipwrecked. 00:29:48.150 --> 00:30:08.710 A night and a day I was adrift at sea, on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers from false brothers, in toil, in hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, and cold and exposure. 00:30:08.790 --> 00:30:14.790 And apart from other things, there's daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all churches. 00:30:15.110 --> 00:30:17.750 Who is weak and I am not weak? 00:30:17.910 --> 00:30:21.430 Who is made to fall and I am not indignant? 00:30:21.990 --> 00:30:24.790 Those are real sufferings. 00:30:25.030 --> 00:30:27.269 That's not a random list. 00:30:27.509 --> 00:30:31.350 Those are real sufferings that Paul actually endured. 00:30:31.590 --> 00:30:42.630 The brother lived a life of pursuing what is eternal, not pursuing what is temporary, even when it meant that other people around him were going to bring him harm. 00:30:42.950 --> 00:30:50.790 He wanted to do whatever it took to keep his eyes on eternity and bring as many people with him to eternity. 00:30:52.470 --> 00:31:04.310 Second Corinthians 4, we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed, perplexed, but not driven to despair, persecuted, but not forsaken, struck down, but not destroyed. 00:31:09.430 --> 00:31:15.509 Whatever it is that you endured this week, you are not destroyed. 00:31:16.310 --> 00:31:21.110 I don't care if you lost everything that was important to you this week. 00:31:22.230 --> 00:31:24.310 Nobody put Jesus back in the tomb. 00:31:27.190 --> 00:31:28.390 I mentioned this earlier. 00:31:33.350 --> 00:31:37.750 Enemies will be, it's not might be, and it's not maybe. 00:31:37.990 --> 00:31:39.830 Enemies will be defeated. 00:31:39.990 --> 00:31:42.390 Enemies of God will be defeated. 00:31:43.030 --> 00:31:48.310 The church will experience the fullness of consummation of redemption. 00:31:48.550 --> 00:31:51.910 The Lord Jesus Christ will be victorious. 00:31:52.070 --> 00:31:54.950 There's no maybe, he will be victorious. 00:31:55.110 --> 00:31:56.150 Listen to these passages. 00:31:56.310 --> 00:31:57.110 Revelation 1. 00:31:57.269 --> 00:32:00.310 Behold, he is coming with clouds, and every eye will see him. 00:32:00.630 --> 00:32:04.950 Even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will well on account of him. 00:32:05.269 --> 00:32:06.550 Even so, amen. 00:32:06.790 --> 00:32:13.509 I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is and was and who is to come, the Almighty. 00:32:13.670 --> 00:32:14.630 Philippians 2. 00:32:14.790 --> 00:32:25.269 So that the name of at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. 00:32:25.350 --> 00:32:27.030 And finally, Revelation 21. 00:32:27.190 --> 00:32:29.509 And I saw no temple in the city. 00:32:29.750 --> 00:32:33.269 For it is the temple of the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb. 00:32:33.350 --> 00:32:35.750 And the city has no need, think, listen to this. 00:32:35.830 --> 00:32:42.070 The city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives light. 00:32:42.310 --> 00:32:44.310 And it's a lamp to the Lamb. 00:32:44.470 --> 00:32:53.350 And it's by this light the nations will walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day, and there will be no night there. 00:32:53.509 --> 00:33:06.870 They will bring into the glory and the honor of all the nations, but nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does not what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life. 00:33:07.830 --> 00:33:14.710 Brothers and sisters, why do we get so caught up on everything else when that day is coming? 00:33:15.350 --> 00:33:22.310 Where there'll be no need for sun, there'll be no need for the moon, there'll be no need for electricity or candles. 00:33:22.470 --> 00:33:25.750 The glory of God will provide us light. 00:33:27.750 --> 00:33:34.790 If you're not a follower of Jesus, you will never experience any of the joys I just read about. 00:33:35.190 --> 00:33:37.590 You will only experience judgment. 00:33:38.150 --> 00:33:46.710 If you want to experience that city that has no need for sun, no need for moon, and and that's not even the best part. 00:33:46.950 --> 00:33:59.030 Where Jesus is, where the glory of God gives light, respond to the gospel that I pointed out earlier in Romans 10 9. 00:33:59.750 --> 00:34:03.430 And here's where I'm gonna speak to believers for a second. 00:34:03.670 --> 00:34:05.670 I want to challenge you here. 00:34:06.950 --> 00:34:16.070 Paul clearly points out, he gives dangers about if Christ didn't rise, but he clearly points out the implications of the resurrection. 00:34:18.309 --> 00:34:20.070 The question I have for you is simple. 00:34:20.230 --> 00:34:24.469 Do you live as those implications are true? 00:34:26.389 --> 00:34:30.389 Do you live for the moment or do you live for eternity? 00:34:31.750 --> 00:34:37.989 When you're living for eternity, not only is your suffering in the path of obedience meaningful, right? 00:34:38.070 --> 00:34:43.030 Not only is it producing an eternal weight of glory beyond all compare that we see in his word. 00:34:43.670 --> 00:34:47.190 I want you to think about your greatest joy in this life. 00:34:47.429 --> 00:34:49.590 What is the thing that brings you the most joy? 00:34:49.670 --> 00:34:53.349 And I just kind of made my own list prepping for today. 00:34:53.750 --> 00:34:56.710 I thought about things when Ashley and I got married, right? 00:34:56.789 --> 00:34:58.150 That was a pretty happy day. 00:34:58.309 --> 00:35:03.269 It was really hot, but it was steaming outside, but it was a happy day for us. 00:35:03.510 --> 00:35:05.910 I think about the birth of Eli, right? 00:35:06.070 --> 00:35:14.550 After years of struggling to get pregnant, getting pregnant, and going to the store and buying every brand of pregnancy test that they have to make sure it was true. 00:35:14.789 --> 00:35:17.269 I have a picture of like seven pregnancy tests, right? 00:35:17.349 --> 00:35:18.869 There's there's happiness in that. 00:35:19.030 --> 00:35:19.829 There's joy in that. 00:35:20.070 --> 00:35:23.910 Think about the birth of Claire, the adoption of Marcus. 00:35:24.070 --> 00:35:25.750 I think about different sports accomplishments. 00:35:25.829 --> 00:35:27.829 I think about coming to Heartland. 00:35:28.869 --> 00:35:41.430 Think about days like yesterday when I spent the entire day with my family and with some guys running in a race, watching my kids play, playing the water and riding rollerblades and doing all their things. 00:35:41.750 --> 00:35:44.470 Think about the salvation of my boys. 00:35:45.670 --> 00:35:47.829 What joy is that? 00:35:48.309 --> 00:35:50.470 What happiness is that? 00:35:51.670 --> 00:36:07.750 But think about this: the happiness and joy of all those things, even the salvation of my kids, is nothing compared to being in the presence of the source of our salvation. 00:36:08.230 --> 00:36:09.190 Nothing. 00:36:10.630 --> 00:36:33.349 Let's be a people who live for the day when we will be in the presence of the Lord, doing everything by doing everything we can in the day, in the present day, to make disciples of DeSota County and beyond wine so we can take as many people with us to enjoy the same Savior that we have for eternity. 00:36:34.389 --> 00:36:40.230 Not for a moment, not for an hour, not for a day, not for a week, not even for 50 years. 00:36:40.470 --> 00:36:41.750 For eternity. 00:36:42.150 --> 00:36:45.990 We will be in the presence of our Savior. 00:36:46.230 --> 00:36:50.230 There is no greater joy than that. 00:36:51.750 --> 00:36:56.389 May we be a people that live for eternity. 00:36:56.630 --> 00:36:58.710 Let's pray and then we will respond. 00:37:00.470 --> 00:37:02.710 Father, we are so grateful for your word. 00:37:04.550 --> 00:37:09.750 God, we're grateful for the faithfulness of brothers like Paul. 00:37:10.389 --> 00:37:20.789 God, who so bluntly addresses the issues at Corinth by saying, hey, without the resurrection, there is no gospel. 00:37:21.110 --> 00:37:26.230 God, but at the same time so strategically pointing to the hope of eternity. 00:37:26.389 --> 00:37:35.430 And God, I'm grateful that as we read about it from Paul, we can see it in his words, and as we study his life, we can also see it in his life. 00:37:35.670 --> 00:37:39.510