“THE LAST ENEMY…DESTROYED IS DEATH” (Outline)
November 21, 2010 -
Christ the King -
1 CORINTHIANS 15:20-26
INTRO: Our Christian life in this sinful world is a battle against everything that opposes God and his holy will. We believe in the triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is the holy trinity. In our day to day life our struggle is against the “unholy trinity”. Satan, the sinful world, and our own sinful flesh make up these three enemies that oppose God at every opportunity. Today’s verses mention another en-emy we will all face: death. Christ, our Savior, came with the express purpose to defeat death. "It (God’s grace) has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel" (2 TIMOTHY 1:10).
“THE LAST ENEMY…DESTROYED IS DEATH”.
I. What Adam did to us. II. Christ undid for us.
I. WHAT ADAM DID TO US
A. Verse 20a. There was to be no debate concerning the fact that Christ rose from the dead.
1.The resurrection of Jesus was under attack from the very day of his resurrection.
a.Some spread rumors of his body being stolen. b. Scoffers, skeptics denied the truth.
2. It was vitally important to continually emphasize the physical resurrection of Jesus.
B. Verse 20b. Death is called sleep. The believer dies = safely falls asleep in the arms of Jesus.
C. What is the cause of all of this preaching and teaching concerning death and resurrection?
1. Verse 21. Death came into the world by a man. Jesus brought life and immortality.
2. Verse 22. This man was Adam. Adam and Eve sinned. Their son commits the first murder.
3. How very quickly sin corrupted the world: perfection to imperfection, life to death.
D. What Adam did to mankind was to sin. This first sin introduced imperfection into the perfect world that God had created. Adam’s sin also brought death into this now imperfect world. We are born as sin-ul human beings. None can escape this inheritance of sin from our first parents. Today some would like to dismiss sin. Some try to avoid such an “outdated” term. There is no escaping sin. Everyone will face death. This is the result of sin. “For as in Adam all die.” None escape death because none are exempt from sin. "For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son--both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die" (EZEKIEL 18:4). We all die because we all sin – daily and much.
E. Look around and assess what is happening in our world today. Are things getting better or worse? If one looks honestly society is clearly worse not better. Yet, ”experts” try to make people believe that everything is getting better. The wickedness of mankind clearly reveals itself day in and day out. We are guilty of sinning against our God in deeds, words, and thoughts. Our thoughts are really what make our lives spiral down that wide, broad path of destruction. "Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death" (JAMES 1:14, 15). Evil desire leads to sin which ends in death.
F. You and I cannot look into the heart of anyone else to know what is there. We do not have to or even want to. The human heart is filled with only evil all the time. This may not be a very popular teaching in our society today. But, who are we to deny the truth of the very word of God? When we look at our own hearts it is not a pretty picture. Jesus describes the evil that lurks within us. "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander" (MATTHEW 15:19). Such is our inheritance from our first parents. Now we can not excuse ourselves by blaming them or the world. Instead, in our hearts are all these evil desires. We can act on them or reject them.
“THE LAST ENEMY...DESTROYED IS DEATH”. Sin and death is what Adam did to us.
II. WHAT ADAM DID TO US, CHRIST UNDID FOR US
A. These are the first generation of believers to live after the resurrection of Jesus from the tomb.
1. Paul reminded these believers of the earthly death they would all face someday.
2. Verses 21b, 22b. Adam may have brought but Christ brought life for all of mankind.
B. Verse 23. Here is a timeline. Christ died first and rose first. After this believers who die will live.
1. Christ is the “firstfruits”. At harvest time the believers always brought the first fruits to God.
2. The harvest would stop for a time of praise and thanksgiving to God who gave them all things.
3. Christ is has offered himself. Christ sits at God’s right hand until the rest of the “harvest”.
C. Verse 24. Judgment Day is the end of everything earthly. Christ the King shows his divine power.
1. Verse 25. Every enemy is utterly defeated and completely destroyed. All glory goes to God.
2. Verse 26. Destroyed here means canceled out or nullified. Christian death is truly a sleep.
D. The very purpose of Christ’s living was to die so that he might rise again. Jesus did this to show his almighty power over death. Jesus did this for us. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus was the willing sacrifice of our perfect Creator to save his now imperfect creatures. "Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil--and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death" (HEBREWS 2:14, 15). This is the gospel of Christ that truly brings life and immortality to light.
E. The evil actions of Adam and Eve are now null and void. Death no longer condemns anyone who falls asleep in Jesus. One sin, one act of disobedience of one man, Adam yielded death. The sinless, obe-dient life of one man, Christ yields life and immortality. Romans 5 discusses the death/sin and life/forgiveness comparison. "Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men" (ROMANS 5:18). This restates our text in verse 22: “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive”. Christ undid everything evil that Adam did to us and the rest of humanity.
F. God’s forgiveness is the kernel of the message of the gospel of salvation for all who believe. What a privilege to be called out of darkness into the light of the knowledge of the glory of God. What an absolute blessing to gather around God’s word to hear that death has been destroyed for us for ever. This is the message of God and his holy word. Be wary of anyone who offers special insight from their books or ideas or dreams. We do not need further revelations from man. God’s word is the whole truth and all that mankind needs. "You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand" (PSALM 16:11). Christ undid death for us. Eternity is ours.
CONC: Daily we face the enemies of God. Our battle is against Satan, the sinful world, and our own sinful nature. We are not left on our own. By faith through grace we know, believe, and confess that Christ the King is our Lord and Savior. In this imperfect, sinful world God gives us his strength to say “NO” to every enemy of God. "The Lord Jesus Christ… gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." (GALATIANS 1:4, 5). Adam brought sin and death into our world and lives. Christ undid this sinfulness by his sinlessness. We are forgiven. In the end we will fall asleep safely in the arms of Jesus, our Savior. “THE LAST ENEMY…DESTROYED IS DEATH”. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
CHRIST THE KING rdgs:
JEREMIAH 23:2-6;
COL. 1:13-20;
LUKE 23:35-43;
(PSALM 98)
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