The Bible Meets Life
The pivotal moment in history was the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Regardless of what happens in the rest of history, our lives are forever changed by the offer of new life in Christ. Our lives may have been full of defeat, but now, because of the resurrection of Christ, we can stand victorious, Jesus changes everything.
The Setting
One of the many issues Paul addressed with the Corinthian church was a question about the reality of resurrection. The entirety of the Christian faith rests on the resurrection of Christ. Paul gave strong affirmation to the death and resurrection of Christ. Not only is Christ alive, but He is victorious and the Ruler over all things. Because Jesus is alive, His children will also experience resurrection and victory over death.
Easter is Coming!
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Because of Jesus’ resurrection, nothing can defeat you – not even death.
When you hear the word victory, what event or person comes to mind?
The name “Super Bowl” implies something special and extraordinary, something worth celebrating. It continually sets records including the largest live audience and the highest-priced commercials. Easter is the Super Bowl of Sundays in the church. On this day we celebrate a monumental event, one that changed history forever. Also called Resurrection Sunday, Easter implies something different and extraordinary, something worth celebrating. The highest church attendance typically comes during Easter weekend. Churches tend to allocate more resources to this special weekend than to others.
What makes this day truly special is what leads us to celebrate each and every Sunday – the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Had it not been for His resurrection, we would still be in sin.
Jesus’ victory over death makes this day different from any other. His tomb is empty! If you go to the tomb of Confucius, Buddha, Mohammed, or any other religious leader you will find a body. Not so with Jesus. He is risen … He is risen, indeed!
I. BECAUSE OF __________ AND ___________ – 1 CORINTHIANS 15:20-23
20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; afterward, at His coming, those who belong to Christ.
In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul addressed the essential connection of Jesus Christ’s resurrection to the gospel message. Paul wrote his letters to the Corinthian church during the early years of the establishment of the Christian church. The church in Corinth was surrounded by immorality as well as religious practices that had little to do with Jesus. In verses 3-4, Paul stated what he knew to be the most important message: Jesus died for our sin, was buried, and came back to life on the third day. That is the message of Easter; that is why we gather in churches around the world on this day.
The scene of Christ’s death on Calvary should be forever etched in the mind of every believer. Several movies in recent years have helped us visualize the brutal torture and physical agony associated with crucifixion. We have seen the images of the whips; the crown of thorns, the nails, and the spear. We have agonized at the image of the scenes of torture endured by our beloved Savior. At the time of Jesus’ death, the Roman Empire considered crucifixion to be the most painful and degrading form of capital punishment. It was so horrific that it was typically reserved for the worst of criminals. Why would Jesus have to suffer this horrible punishment? Jesus endured the agony of the cross for two reasons:
- We are dead because of Adam’s sin. As a consequence of Adam’s choice to sin (Gen. 3:6, 16-24), we all inherit a sinful nature and die. Because of Adam, we are lost and doomed to both mortal and spiritual death. We are all affected. Paul stated in Romans 3 that there is no one who is righteous; all of us sin (Rom. 3:10, 23). Because of our sin, death is the required penalty.
- We are alive because of Christ’s victory. Just as the act of one man doomed us to spiritual separation from God, the redeeming act of one Man – Jesus Christ – provided for our resurrection from the dead. All who are joined to Jesus Christ through faith are made alive with God. While this new life does not erase the mortality of our current physical condition, it does restore our spiritual relationship with God and remove the pain of spiritual death. This is our victory because of Jesus.
What evidence points to Jesus’ resurrection from the dead?
Dead or alive. That sounds like the heading to a Wild West wanted Poster. It’s actually the choice each person faces: do you want to remain dead or become alive? Many people don’t even realize they are dead. But that’s the human condition apart from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Because of the sin of Adam, all die. Not just some, but all – Dead.
You can’t pass the blame to someone else for your sinful nature. You can’t blame your mom and dad, the school system, the government. It is your problem. It started with Adam and his choice. The good news is that God, by His grace, has provided us a way out of our sinful condition.
We will be granted pardon for our sin if we choose to follow Jesus as Savior and Lord. Paul called Jesus’ resurrection “firstfruits,” a reference to Jesus being the first to rise from the dead. His resurrection is the basis for the resurrection of all believers. Paul identified those who had fallen asleep – believers who had died physically – as joining this parade of new life. Jesus’ death provides life. But this new life comes from a choice we must make.
The natural progression is to live … then die. The pattern Jesus offers is death to life. We have the opportunity to move from spiritual death to spiritual life. Everyone has the opportunity to enjoy this new life. As believers in personal relationship with Jesus Christ, we experience our own death-to-life changes. For some, this relates to social choices. For others this could be a release from the pull of pornography. For all it’s a choice to focus on Christ rather than self.
How can you benefit from someone else’s victory?
II. BECAUSE OF THE ___________________ – 1 CORINTHIANS 15:24-28
24 Then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when He abolishes all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign until He puts all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy to be abolished is death. 27 For God has put everything under His feet. But when it says “everything” is put under Him, it is obvious that He who puts everything under Him is the exception. 28 And when everything is subject to Christ, then the Son Himself will also be subject to the One who subjected everything to Him, so that God may be all in all.
Since Christ is victorious, why do we still struggle with facing death?
We are victorious because of the resurrection. Jesus is victorious over every power, ruler, and authority. He is victorious over death. As a result, all believers are victorious and share in His victory. There will be an end to the present state of things. In the end, Christ will be the final and ultimate victor.
The victory that is ours through Jesus Christ is referenced throughout the Bible. One of my favorite phrases for God is the “but now” God.
- It didn’t look good for Jesus when soldiers showed up in the Garden of Gethsemane, but now…
- It didn’t look good for Jesus as He stood before Pontius Pilate, but now…
- It didn’t look good for Jesus when the soldiers beat Him before He went to Calvary, but now…
- It didn’t look good for Jesus when they nailed Him to the cross, but now…
God, in His story, is all about the “but now.” The events that led to Jesus’ crucifixion initially seemed so awful and tragic, but now, they have become Christ’s eternal victory.
- We once were dead, but now we are given new life in Christ.
- Our sin carried the penalty of separation from God, but now we enjoy forgiveness because of the shed blood of Jesus.
- Our lives had no hope and no peace, but now Jesus gives us peace that passes understanding and the hope of an eternal home in heaven.
- We were destined for an eternity apart from God, but now, because of what Christ has done, we can enjoy new life in Christ and the guarantee of eternal life in heaven.
The last enemy to be defeated is death. This is not the physical death we all face but rather the punishment of death. The sting, the effect, the wages of our sin has been removed by the victorious Christ (Rom. 6:23).
How does the reality of Jesus’ resurrection bring victory in your daily life?
BUT NOW…JESUS
Which one of these names for Jesus Christ speaks to a time in your life when you felt defeated but in the end, Christ’s power was demonstrated? Why?
Advocate (1 John 2:1)
Source and Perfecter of our faith (Heb. 12:2)
Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4)
The Door (John 10:7)
The Cornerstone (Eph. 2:20)
Faithful and True Witness (Rev. 3:14)
Great High Priest (Heb. 4:14)
Immanuel (God with us) (Matt. 1:23)
Living Bread (John 6:51)
My Friend (Jer. 3:4)
Our Peace (Eph. 2:14)
Righteous Judge (2 Tim. 4:8)
Security for You (Isa. 33:6)
The True Vine (John 15:1)
The Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6)
God-given Wisdom (1 Cor. 1:30)
Live It Out
It’s not your war, it’s His. It’s not your fight, it’s His. It’s not your battle, it’s His. You have the victory in Christ because of what God has done.
1. Step into victory. Accept the gift of life Jesus Christ made possible through His death and resurrection.
2. Memorize 1 John 5:4. Read it several times as well as posting it in a spot where you will see it frequently.
3. Increase the family. Invite friends, neighbors, and coworkers to attend your church’s worship service. They’ll hear the gospel, so follow up with them afterwards.
Super bowls come and go. Even Easter, the Super Bowl of Sundays will come and go. But your victory in Christ is forever. That’s something to celebrate every day.
Prayer of Commitment
On this day of celebration, I can only join with Paul in saying, “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Amen.
Hope to see all of you this Easter Sunday!
In His Love,
David & Susan
