The Last Conquered Enemy

The evidence for the existence, ministry, influence, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ should be as plain as day to anyone who is willing to examine the facts, do their own research, quit letting other people do their thinking for them, and avoid the sophistry of so-called "authorities" on TV programs that denigrate and minimize the impact and influence of Jesus on civilization. Self-appointed "scholars" glibly and condescendingly look down on true Bible -believers as less "enlightened", "narrow-minded", and everybody's favorite catch phrase, "intolerant". The goal of unbiblical "Bible scholars", the media, and the world is to "faith-shame" us into silence, try to force us to accept their opinions and one-sided "research", and make us feel foolish for believing that what we have in our possession is the literal and inerrant Word of the living God (Psalm 119:105; John 17:17; Romans 1:16; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:16-21). I refuse to be bullied into any form of silence or compromise in order to appease a God-hating world system (Acts 4:19-20). As long as I have the ability and freedom to present the facts of Scripture, the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ and His power to change even the worst of lives, as He did with a vile, zealous persecutor of Christians, Paul himself (Acts 9:1-6, 15-16; 1 Timothy 1:12-17), I will do so without fear or apology.

A "holy boldness" was grounded in the life and work of Paul. He was a living testimony of the power of Jesus to change lives (Acts 9:1-6, 15; 1 Corinthians 15: 8-11; 1 Timothy 1:12-17). He was not about to "water down" or back away from his commitment to see that the Gospel was spread throughout Judea, Samaria, and the end of the earth (Acts 1:8). He was not going to let the lie that there was no resurrection of the dead seep into the fabric of the church in Corinth. This heresy had its roots in Greek philosophy (Acts 17:18, 21). It was also taught by the Sadducees, a group of materialistic "liberal" Jewish teachers who believed that there was no resurrection of the dead and dismissed any type of supernatural happenings. They had attempted to trap Jesus with a question about marriage after death. Instead, their entire belief system was openly rebuked by Him when He showed them in the Torah (the only Scriptures they believed) that there was life after death when God told Moses, "I AM the God of your forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob" (Matthew 22:23-33; Mark 12:18-27; Luke 20:27-40). From the beginning of history, the devil and his hordes have made people doubt the Word, righteousness, and authority of God (Genesis 3:1). His schemes were at work in the minds of some members within the Corinthian church. Paul presented the eyewitness testimonies of those who had seen the risen Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-8) and the dystopian alternative if Jesus had not risen from the dead (vv.12-19). Now he turned his attention to what the resurrection of Jesus meant in terms of the final victory over the curse of sin and death, and how He will place every enemy under HIs holy submission and judgment (Psalm 2:1-12; 1 Corinthians 15:20-28), giving all glory to God the Father at the end of history.

Jesus' resurrection gives those who have died in Him the honor of being the first to rise in order to meet Him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18). We who are living at that time will be transformed into new creations, free from death and sin as well. His glorious resurrection eliminated the curse and grip of sin brought upon the world by the rebellion of Adam and Eve in Eden with its horrendous aftermath (Genesis 3; Romans 5:12-21). When we place our faith in Christ, He frees us forever from sin and the punishment of eternal death in hell (John 3:16). We have the promise of a new heaven and earth, dwelling with God and our redeemed loved ones forever (Revelation 21:1-7). His resurrection was also the fulfillment of numerous prophecies (Numbers 24;17; Isaiah 9:1-6, 53:1-12). His act of mercy upon the cross for our sins is proof of His authority as the Messiah, or Deliverer, who frees us not just from national tyranny, but from the tyranny of sin because He rose from the dead (Romans 10:9-10) and completed the work of redemption that had been planned before creation (Ephesians 1:4; Colossians 1:16-18; Hebrews 1:1-4, 7:20-28) HIs resurrection eliminates the works and schemes of the devil, his angels, and those who have followed the prince of darkness in one form or another since the Fall of humanity (Matthew 25:41; 1 Corinthians 2:6-8; Revelation 20:7-15). Those who have denied God's existence, scoffed and ridiculed Him, and foolishly believed that their evil acts would never be discovered or reported will be exposed on the Day of Judgment (Numbers 32:23; Matthew 10:26). They will pay for their crimes for eternity in a literal and horrid hell (Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-31). The enemies of God will be vanquished, and He will receive glory, honor, and praise from His people forever.