1 Corinthians 15:50-58 (CSB)
Theme: “I’ve Got The Victory”
April 9, 2023
In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul teaches us about the purpose of the Resurrection! He paints a sobering portrait of how things would be if Jesus were still in the grave! He says, “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.” We must be changed! “This corruptible must put on incorruption!” Before we receive our inheritance, we must be changed!
I. The Inheritance - We have the only religion that serves a living Messiah! Mohamed is dead; Confucius is Dead; Krishna is dead; And if it were not for Jesus even Moses would be dead! Remember that Jesus said that His Father “is not a God of the dead, but of the living:” That means that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses are alive because they are in Jesus. This is why Paul says in the beginning of this chapter, If there is no resurrection then…V. 14 Our Preaching is in Vain - Paul tells us that if Jesus is still dead, then all the preachers have wasted their time proclaiming the message of the resurrection. If Jesus is still in the grave, then everything we preach is false, phony and foolish! Our Faith is in Vain - Paul tells us that if Jesus is still dead, then you would be just as well off worshiping a rock, an animal or a potted plant. If Jesus did not rise from the dead then you are the victim of the most cruel hoax ever played on humanity and the Christian faith is the greatest joke of all time. V. 15 Our Witness is in Vain - Paul tells us that if Jesus is still dead, then all those who share the message of hope of the cross of Christ are liars and a false witness. Every time we worship, sing, testify or preach, we are wasting time if He did not rise from the dead. V. 17 No Forgiveness for Our Sin - Paul tells us that if Jesus isn't alive, then we are still lost, hell bound and still in our sins this morning. If He is dead today, then we are still looking for a redeemer and we are all headed to Hell! V. 18 The Dead in Christ Are Gone Forever - Paul tells us that if Jesus did not rise from the dead, then everyone who has died is forever lost. There is no hope and there is no future in glory. If Jesus is dead, then we are all but dust and when we die, we are gone forever! V. 19 We Have Lived Our Lives in Vain - Paul is saying that if Jesus did not rise, then the Bible lied about the resurrection, and you and I can believe nothing this Book tells us! But thank God, Paul did not stop writing? Thank God we know the rest of the story! BUT NOW, CHRIST IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD! A Song writer said, BECAUSE HE LIVES… I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future. And life is worth the living just because He lives. Verses 50 teaches that we cannot inherit the Kingdom like we are. These bodies are defiled by sin and cannot enter Heaven. These bodies are mortal and are not designed to exist for eternity. If we are going to heaven, these bodies must be changed! Here is where the “mystery” comes in! Paul reveals the truth that some of us will not see death, but that we will be “changed - in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” Paul is speaking of the Rapture of the Church. When that moment comes, we will be caught up together with Him and the dead in Christ will rise up and receive their resurrection bodies. The living saints will be instantly changed and all will go up together to meet our Lord in the air.
II. The Immortal - 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 in Isaiah 25 and Hosea 13: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your sting? O Grave, where is your victory?” Paul mentions the enemies that will be defeated in the end… Death – O Death, where is your sting? The Bible says that “the sting of death is sin”. One day, when death comes for the unbeliever, they will feel the sting death and the penalty of sin! Romans 6:23 says, “the wages of sin is death” But I have victory in Jesus and death is defeated because the rest of that verse promises that “the gift of God is eternal life.” The Grave – “O Grave, where is your victory?” The grave is cruel to the unbeliever because they will never see glory! But, in Jesus, the grave has no victory! Because Jesus rose, we too shall rise! “it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him;” The Law - The law was intended by God to reveal to man that he was a sinner. It is law that reveals our true nature. The law is not sinful, but the law shows us that we are. But Paul said in Romans 10:4 “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.”
III. The Immovable - So, Paul says in verse 57 But Thanks Be to God! – He is the source of our victory. When He came to this world, lived a perfect life, died on the cross and rose again from the dead and defeated every enemy for us. So, Paul writes, “therefore” drawing our attention back to “Victory.” You see, belief always affects behavior! Believing the truth about the victory Jesus has given us, should cause us to behave for in a certain way for His glory. He said…“Be Steadfast” means “to be seated; settled and firmly situated”. It reminds us that we are to be rooted and grounded in what we believe and hold true. When the knowledge of our victory is real, it causes us to be settled in our faith. “Be Unmovable” means “not relocated from a place; persistent; motionless.” I don’t often recommend stubbornness, but in the Lord’s work, some “chutzpah” is perfectly in order! “Be Abounding in the work” means “exceeding; overflowing; abundance”. When we consider what we have and Who has us; we ought to be motivated to go all out for the Lord. It is impossible to go too far with Jesus, but we ought to give everything we have for His glory! Our Belief in the Victory of Jesus Gives Us Confidence - Paul says “we know” that our work matters to Jesus. There is no sacrifice, no struggle, no self-denial, no valley, no work that goes unnoticed and NO LABOR will be Lost in the Lord. So, keep praying, keep serving, and keep living for Jesus. What you do for Him is “not in vain”… it is not a “waste of time” He sees it all. He knows it all. AND He will reward it all, Revelations 22:12 behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. Sometimes our walk with the Lord is difficult even seeming unbearable! There are times when it seems that no one notices and no one cares. There are times when you may feel unappreciated and that you are carrying out a thankless task. In those times know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord! Because if we walk with Him; work for Him and wait patiently on Him, one day we reign with Him! “This is a trustworthy saying, for: If we have died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him” ONLY what you do for Christ will last! Knowing that your Labor is not in vain in the Lord! We have victory today in Jesus, because He defeated death and the grave. Jesus knows what it’s like to deserted by friends. Jesus knows what it’s like to betrayed by family. Jesus knows what it’s like to lied on by enemies. Jesus knows what it’s like to be falsely judged by the system. Jesus knows what it’s like to be praised on Monday and cursed on Friday. Jesus knows what it’s like to be sentences to death for a crime He did not commit. Jesus knows what it’s like to lay down His life for love. But, because He lives, we’ve got the victory today. God sent His Son. They called Him Jesus. He came to love, heal and forgive. He bled and died to buy my pardon. An empty grave is there to prove my savior lives! And because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, All fear is gone. Because I know, He holds the future and life is worth the living, just because He lives!
