TAKING HOPE IN THE RESURRECTION
I Corinthians 1-4, 19-23, 51-58
Intro: Paul is preaching to church at Corinth and is battling some doctrinal issues concerning the resurrection of Christ. Apparently, some was teaching there would be no bodily resurrection. It seems these folks may have been Sadducees. But I am glad that Paul left us specifics on the issue and what a joy it is to know that there is life after death. Regardless of whether you are saved or not you will be living on some where in the afterlife. The beauty of salvation is that Christ rose after three days from the dead. Notice verse 20 how Paul says he rose from the dead. There is a resurrection from the dead and a resurrection of the dead. The implication of rising of the dead can implicate everybody that was dead rose. This can be associated with the wicked dead that will be raised to be judged in the White Throne Judgment. But to be raised from the dead refers to those who are saved. We will be raised from the dead one of these days when the Lord comes back. We have that hope because Christ rose from the dead. We can also take hope in several other facts associated with death. I want to preach this day on the subject, “TAKING HOPE IN THE RESURRECTION.”
I. DEATH CANNOT HURT US
A. (I Corinthians 15:54) O death where is thy sting?
B. The consciousness of unconfessed sins die
C. When a lost person dies there is a sting associated with death as they plunge through the doors of hell
D. (I Corinthians 15:56) implies the strength of sin is the law. The law brought about knowledge of sin but through Christ death and resurrection we found the remedy for sin
E. Even though we all have an appointment to meet death there will be no terror in it
F. For we can take hope in the resurrection of Christ knowing he arose on the third day giving us the same right
G. (Hebrew 2:9) But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man
II. HELL CANNOT HAVE US
A. When Jesus was dead, he wasn’t dead
B. (Ephesians 4:8) He descended to the lower parts of the earth to lead captivity captive
C. This could have a two-fold meaning.
1. That he descended into hell or Hades in this translation and led those who died during the antedulgian age or before the flood and preached to those who were held captive because of their ignorance.
2. Or that he descended from Heaven to Bethlehem (the earth) and that He ascended back to Heaven
3. I hold to the first because of two reasons
a. Jesus foretold of His descension in Matthew 12:40 (For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the hear of the earth
b. Revelation (1:18) I am he that liveth, and was dead, and, behold, I am alive forever more, Amen (let it be so); and have the keys to death and of hell
D. Having the keys to death and hell means he has got control of it. How can you have control of something unless you conquer it?
E. Jesus went to hell and conquered it and since we live him in and him in us we are conquerors
F. Hell can’t have us because Jesus has got us!!
G. We have this hope because of his resurrection
III. GRAVE CANNOT HOLD US
A. Ain’t no grave going to hold my body down
B. (I Corinthians 15:55) O grave, where is they victory?
C. (I Thessalonians 4:16)…and the dead in Christ shall rise first
D. Just like Jesus was one day we will be sealed in our grave. The coffin will be locked, the vault will go over top of us and the dirt will be piled on us
E. (I Corinthians 15:23) But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming
F. And I have no dear of being left because I have hop in his resurrection
IV. WORLD CANNOT HALT US
A. When God the Father gives His son the command to bring home the bride there is nothing that can stop us
B. Lost people and loved ones cannot cause him to tarry his coming
C. Prayer will not tarry his coming
D. When he comes there is nothing the world can do that can stop us from going
E. Those who have been falsely imprisoned for preaching the gospel will go
F. Those who have carried the Word faithfully through ridicule and persecution will go
G. Those who have been faithful to the cause will go
H. All who have believed on His name will go
Close: However, there is some great sadness associated with this message. Not everyone has hope in the resurrection. Some believe there was a man named Jesus and that he died on the cross they just don’t believe in Him and his resurrection.
