25-0420p Transcript

Preacher: Mike Mathis

(1:32) Well, good evening for those that may be on the phone and those that are here at the building. (1:42) We introduced this morning the resurrection of Christ and then in 1 Corinthians 15.

(1:54) This is basically what Paul in 1 Corinthians is wanting to get through to some who have a (2:07) hard time accepting the resurrection.

This morning we saw that the gospel says and the gospel is (2:24) that Jesus died for sins according to the scriptures and that he was buried, (2:33) that he arose again the third day according to the scriptures, (2:41) and that he was seen by many witnesses, seen by the apostles, and is seen by over 500 brethren at (2:56) once. And then lastly of Paul who on the road to Damascus met him as he was going to bring (3:15) and take a tap to many Christians and bring them to Jerusalem. (3:26) But Jesus stopped Paul and he convinced Paul that that he is Christ.

He’s Jesus and he was (3:45) persecuting the church and he let Paul know that as he was persecuting the church he was persecuting (3:53) him. And Christ was being preached that he had risen and there were those that seemed to have a (4:13) difficult time believing in the resurrection, that there were those that said there is no (4:25) resurrection of the dead. And he argues about the fallacy, shows the fallacy of that kind of thinking.

(4:39) If then there is no resurrection then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen (4:56) then we are found false witnesses because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ (5:11) and that of whom he did not raise up if in fact the dead do not rise. (5:22) And if the dead do not rise then Christ is not risen.

And if Christ is not risen your faith is futile. (5:32) You are still in your sins. Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

(5:47) If in this life only we have hope in Christ we are of all men most pitiful. (5:56) And as I mentioned this morning that they were persecuted for teaching Christ and his dying for our sins (6:13) and being buried and being raised from the dead. As Mark 16 verse 6 as the angel in that verse testified (6:30) he is risen.

Paul in verse 20 declares but now Christ is risen from the dead (6:39) and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (6:47) For since by man came death by man also came the resurrection of the dead. (6:57) For as in Adam all died even so in Christ all shall be made alive. (7:07) But each one in his own order Christ the firstfruits afterward those who are Christ and his coming.

(7:19) So we see then that when Christ arose he became the firstfruits of those who had fallen asleep. (7:32) In other words he arose never to die again and he is ever living.

(7:48) Those before this that were resurrected they saw death again. They died again but he died. (8:04) And you know the firstfruits mentioned here it means that there is more to come so we may die. (8:23) We can now hope that we can live again.

(8:29) As John 11, 25 and 26, which was read to you, (8:38) that Jesus said, (8:40) Though a man die, yet shall he live. (8:48) And he said, I am the resurrection. (8:54) And those that live and believe in him shall never die.

(9:04) We see that that would be true. (9:09) Physically, we have those that are in Christ that dies. (9:16) They have life eternal.

(9:22) And when they die in Christ, their situation is settled that they have eternal life. (9:37) And in John 6, we have this. (9:48) That’s John writes in John 6, beginning with verse 53.

(9:57) Then Jesus said to them, (9:59) Most assuredly, I say, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. (10:11) Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life. (10:19) Notice it says, has eternal life.

(10:23) And I will raise him up at the last day. (10:27) For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. (10:24) He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in him, and I in him.

(10:44) As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, (10:48) so he who feeds on me will live because of me. (10:53) This is the bread which came down from heaven, not as your fathers ate the manna and are dead. (11:05) He who eats this bread will live forever.

(11:10) There are some who have doubts as to whether they will make it. (11:18) They will come to have doubts and say, I don’t know about that. (11:26) First John, in First John 5, in verse 13, (11:37) John says, These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, (11:46) that you may know that you have eternal life, (11:52) and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

(12:00) Some seem to think that this having is in prospect, but that can happen now. (12:10) You know, the question that they have, because Christ is eternal, (12:19) and he says, Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has life, has eternal life. (12:30) They can have it now if they would only believe firmly that they can have it, (12:41) that they can be in Christ, and they can know that now.

(12:48) But then there are some that would ask Paul, in 1 Corinthians 15, (13:01) How shall a man be raised? What kind of body will he have? (13:14) But some will say, How are the dead raised up, and with what body do they come? (13:22) He said, Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies, (13:31) and what you sow you do not sow that body that shall be but mere grain, (13:40) perhaps wheat or some other grain. (13:44) So we know that if we sow some seed in the ground, (13:50) that eventually what we see come up through the ground (14:00) is different than what we put into the ground. (14:07) This is what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be but mere grain, (14:15) perhaps wheat or some other grain.

(14:21) But God gives it a body as he pleases, and to each seed its own body. (14:29) So he says, All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, (14:37) another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds. (14:47) There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies, (14:52) but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.

(15:01) There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars, (15:12) for one star differs from another star in glory. (15:20) So also is the resurrection of the dead. (15:27) The body is sown in corruption.

(15:30) It is raised in incorruption. (15:34) It is sown in dishonor. (15:37) It is raised in glory.

(15:39) It is sown in weakness. (15:42) It is raised in power. (15:45) It is sown a natural body.

(15:48) It is raised a spiritual body. (15:53) There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. (16:01) And so it is written, The first man Adam became a living being, (16:10) and the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

(16:18) However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterwards the spiritual. (16:25) The first man was of the earth, made of dust, and the second man is the Lord from heaven. (16:34) As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust.

(16:42) And as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are heavenly. (16:52) And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, (16:59) we shall also bear the image of the heavenly man. (17:07) So he is saying that it is going to be different, (17:10) and there is going to be a body that is suitable, (17:19) and we do not know.

(17:21) And so he is giving them clues for the resurrection. (17:32) But there was something that I was looking into, (17:38) and that is what he was talking about when in verse 29 he says, (17:47) Otherwise what will they do who are baptized for the dead, (17:53) if the dead do not rise at all? (17:59) Why then are they baptized for the dead? (18:04) And I looked online, (18:09) I asked the question about being baptized for the dead. (18:21) Now there is really not much of anything that would prove that people baptized for the dead.

(18:36) But just as we have the Mormons today baptizing for the dead, (18:47) that is those who have died and gone on, (18:54) there are ten folk who will be baptized for them, as they say. (19:08) But maybe there has been a practice of those that were being baptized for the dead. (19:21) And he says, What will they do who are baptized for the dead, (19:27) if the dead rise not at all? (19:31) So he is saying that there is an implication in being baptized, (19:41) that there is a resurrection.

(19:45) And he is saying, But if they are baptized for the dead, (19:51) And I do not know whether that meant that there were some then that were practicing as the Mormons do, (20:06) that they can be baptized for those that have already gone on. (20:12) But there is an implication that they believe that there is a resurrection. (20:21) And then another thought struck me, that there is no resurrection.

(20:35) And as Paul argued, as we saw this morning, (20:41) that if there is no resurrection, then he did not rise. (20:50) So why are we being baptized for someone who is still dead? (21:01) But at any rate, being baptized is the implication that we believe (21:17) that there is the Christ of those, and that we at one time will arise from the dead, (21:28) if we are in our graves at the time that Jesus comes. (21:36) Now I am going to read 50 through the end of the chapter.

(21:41) Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, (21:52) nor does corruption inherit incorruption. (21:58) Behold, I tell you a mystery. (22:03) We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.

(22:11) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, (22:18) for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, (22:27) and we shall be changed. (22:30) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (22:38) So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, (22:44) and this mortal has put on immortality, (22:48) then shall be brought to pass the sign that is written, (22:55) death is swallowed up in victory.

(22:59) O death, where is your sting? (23:01) O Hades, where is your victory? (23:06) The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. (23:16) But thanks be to God who has given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (23:23) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, (23:30) always abounding in the work of the Lord, (23:33) knowing that your labor is not in vain.

(23:40) So this, so he is saying then that when Christ comes, (23:49) that he said we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. (23:59) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump. (24:04) And our, he mentions in verse 24, (24:11) then comes the end when he delivers the kingdom to God, (24:16) the Father, when he puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.

(24:24) For he must reign till he has put all enemies under his feet. (24:29) The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. (24:35) For he has put all things under his feet.

(24:39) But when he says all things are under him, (24:53) it is evident that he who put all things under him is accepted. (24:50) Now when all things are made subject to him, (24:53) then the Son himself will also be subject to him (24:59) who put all things under him, that God may be all in all. (25:08) Now we still have death.

(25:15) There are still people that are dying today. (25:20) So there is that hope then that someday, if we die, we will be resurrected with Christ. (25:32) Not that we are alive.

(25:35) When he comes, we will all be changed. (25:41) We will then have a body that will be fitted for us to be able to live in eternity. (25:55) It will be a spiritual body.

(25:58) And so, in this he shows that Christ dead arrives from the dead. (26:13) And by Christ dying and being buried and being raised from the dead gives us hope. (26:24) That one day, if we have died before he comes, (26:30) that when we are resurrected, we will be living forever in him.

(26:41) This gives us hope that even if we die, we can live. (26:50) And we shall live if we are in Christ. (26:57) We will never die, as he says.

(27:03) That’s in the spiritual sense. (27:06) Because we know that death is still possible in this life. (26:13) We don’t know for any of us when that might be.

(27:20) But we do know that sometimes we look forward to it. (27:26) And death is a possibility. (27:31) But Christ must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.

(27:41) And the last enemy that will be destroyed is death. (27:46) And that, my friend, is our hope. (27:55) That because of Christ’s resurrection, that we can have life.

(28:03) And he gives us hope for us. (28:08) So, the resurrection of Jesus is important. (28:12) And we rely on what Jesus did for us.

(28:20) It is certainly the good news, the gospel of Christ. (28:26) That he came, and he died for his sins, and he was buried, and he arose from the dead, according to the Scriptures. (28:38) So, let us continue to believe in our Lord, living Jesus.

(28:50) I know a few weeks ago they were saying that Pope John was in a terrible shape. (29:04) That they were thinking that his end on earth was coming. (29:20) And, you see, he is one who is thinking that he is taking the place of Jesus.

(29:21) He’s standing in Jesus' place. (29:25) But he is facing the possibility of the end of his life. (29:33) Well, we don’t have to worry about that in Christ.

(29:38) Christ will never die, and we do not have to replace Christ. (29:45) So, because of Christ’s resurrection, then, we have this hope. (29:51) But if anyone of those who are listening are subject to the gospel invitation and need to obey, (30:04) we would urge you to contact Scott and let him know, or let us know, of what you need to have done.

(30:24) And for those who are here, if there is anything that they want to be made known, why not do so while we stand and while we sing?