1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:08,000 What we celebrate today is unique, it is without parallel, there is nothing else in all of 2 00:00:08,000 –> 00:00:11,660 the world or in all of history that is like it. 3 00:00:11,660 –> 00:00:17,180 Other religions offer a code of conduct, a path of progress. 4 00:00:17,180 –> 00:00:23,059 We proclaim a living savior. 5 00:00:23,059 –> 00:00:27,740 Martyn Lloyd-Jones used to explain the difference with this picture. 6 00:00:27,799 –> 00:00:33,619 In the ancient world, when a king went to war he would lead out his army to engage the 7 00:00:33,619 –> 00:00:34,900 enemy. 8 00:00:34,900 –> 00:00:40,540 If the king prevailed in the battle, he would send back heralds to announce the good news 9 00:00:40,540 –> 00:00:41,540 of his victory. 10 00:00:41,540 –> 00:00:45,820 The heralds would come back to the people in the city and they would say something like 11 00:00:45,820 –> 00:00:46,820 this. 12 00:00:46,820 –> 00:00:48,820 Your king has won a great victory. 13 00:00:48,820 –> 00:00:51,919 Your king has prevailed in battle. 14 00:00:51,919 –> 00:00:59,560 Therefore you can live in peace and freedom and joy because your king has conquered. 15 00:00:59,560 –> 00:01:05,400 But if the king was defeated in battle then military advisers would be sent back to the 16 00:01:05,400 –> 00:01:06,760 city. 17 00:01:06,760 –> 00:01:08,180 Their message would be very different. 18 00:01:08,180 –> 00:01:10,879 It would go something like this. 19 00:01:10,879 –> 00:01:12,080 There’s bad news. 20 00:01:12,080 –> 00:01:14,480 Your king has been defeated in battle. 21 00:01:14,480 –> 00:01:17,639 The enemy therefore will soon be upon the city. 22 00:01:17,639 –> 00:01:19,379 Therefore man the ramparts. 23 00:01:19,379 –> 00:01:21,879 It’s all down to you folks. 24 00:01:21,879 –> 00:01:24,940 You are going to have to fight for your lives. 25 00:01:24,940 –> 00:01:28,260 Now here’s the point. 26 00:01:28,260 –> 00:01:35,180 All of the religions of the world give some variation, some form on the military advisors 27 00:01:35,180 –> 00:01:37,220 thing. 28 00:01:37,220 –> 00:01:39,800 Here’s what you must do. 29 00:01:39,800 –> 00:01:44,980 If you’re going to have peace and freedom and joy and hope in your life it’s all down 30 00:01:44,980 –> 00:01:46,260 to you. 31 00:01:46,260 –> 00:01:48,459 Here’s the life that you have to live. 32 00:01:48,779 –> 00:01:54,099 Here’s the practices that you have to pursue, and so forth and so on. 33 00:01:54,099 –> 00:01:55,919 The gospel is unique in this way. 34 00:01:55,919 –> 00:02:02,339 The gospel heralds the good news of what Jesus Christ has done. 35 00:02:02,339 –> 00:02:05,500 The gospel says to us that our King has triumphed. 36 00:02:05,500 –> 00:02:09,479 He has triumphed over sin and death and hell. 37 00:02:09,479 –> 00:02:16,220 Therefore there is peace and there is freedom and there is joy for all who will live under 38 00:02:16,220 –> 00:02:19,020 his rule. 39 00:02:19,020 –> 00:02:26,619 And so when Jesus said, it is finished, he did not mean that some of what was needed 40 00:02:26,619 –> 00:02:31,259 to save us was accomplished through the Old Testament, law and sacrifices and he came 41 00:02:31,259 –> 00:02:33,619 to do the rest. 42 00:02:33,619 –> 00:02:39,199 Nor did he mean that some of what it took to save us was accomplished through his death 43 00:02:39,199 –> 00:02:40,199 and resurrection. 44 00:02:40,199 –> 00:02:43,080 And it was up to us to complete the rest. 45 00:02:43,240 –> 00:02:44,179 No. 46 00:02:44,179 –> 00:02:53,539 When Jesus said, it is finished, he was stating for us that everything that is needed for 47 00:02:53,539 –> 00:02:58,860 us to be reconciled to God and brought into everlasting life, all that was needed was 48 00:02:58,860 –> 00:03:06,339 fully accomplished by Jesus Christ in his death and resurrection. 49 00:03:06,339 –> 00:03:15,240 Therefore all that remains is for us to receive what he offers to us as a gift. 50 00:03:15,240 –> 00:03:23,240 We do that by turning to him, by believing in him, by embracing him as our Savior and 51 00:03:23,240 –> 00:03:27,440 submitting to him as the Lord of our lives. 52 00:03:27,440 –> 00:03:35,160 This is the good news that we proclaim Easter and every Sunday. 53 00:03:35,500 –> 00:03:41,919 Now today I want to draw your attention especially to the verses that were read in first Corinthians 54 00:03:41,919 –> 00:03:43,880 and chapter 15. 55 00:03:43,880 –> 00:03:50,059 And I want particularly to point out two things from these verses, first that death is changed 56 00:03:50,059 –> 00:03:57,699 forever by the resurrection of Jesus and then that life is changed forever by the resurrection 57 00:03:57,699 –> 00:03:58,699 of Jesus. 58 00:03:58,699 –> 00:04:03,699 So I hope you will open your Bible, first Corinthians chapter 15 the verses that were 59 00:04:03,699 –> 00:04:04,779 read for us. 60 00:04:05,240 –> 00:04:09,699 And let’s look first at how Christ changes death. 61 00:04:11,199 –> 00:04:16,359 I want you to notice that the Bible makes very clear that death has a sting. 62 00:04:16,359 –> 00:04:17,839 Verse 56, 63 00:04:17,839 –> 00:04:28,079 The sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law. 64 00:04:28,079 –> 00:04:33,839 Now friends, you know that we live at a time when around the world there are a growing 65 00:04:33,839 –> 00:04:41,299 number of people who are convinced that death is nothing more than the end of life. 66 00:04:41,299 –> 00:04:46,420 That is why we are hearing increasing calls and I think we will continue to hear increasing 67 00:04:46,420 –> 00:04:51,179 calls for physician assisted suicide. 68 00:04:51,179 –> 00:04:57,859 The idea is that if a person feels that their life is no longer worth living they should 69 00:04:58,059 –> 00:05:01,380 have the right to end it. 70 00:05:01,380 –> 00:05:08,459 And the assumption behind that claim is that death is simply the ending of life and therefore 71 00:05:08,459 –> 00:05:15,779 for some people if there is pain or whatever it is a friend to be welcomed. 72 00:05:15,779 –> 00:05:21,579 But I want you to notice that the bible says something very very different indeed. 73 00:05:21,579 –> 00:05:26,820 We read in this verse that death has a sting. 74 00:05:26,820 –> 00:05:32,480 And if you look back to verse 26 of first Corinthians fifteen you’ll see the death 75 00:05:32,480 –> 00:05:40,820 is described there as an enemy not a friend and it is indeed described as the last enemy 76 00:05:40,820 –> 00:05:47,679 indicating that it is indeed the greatest enemy that we will ever face. 77 00:05:47,679 –> 00:05:53,239 So the Bible speaks into our culture today very clearly at this point and says don’t 78 00:05:53,239 –> 00:06:00,459 ever make the mistake of thinking that death is a friend that brings comfort. 79 00:06:00,459 –> 00:06:04,000 Death is an enemy with a sting. 80 00:06:04,000 –> 00:06:07,420 That’s what’s before us in the Bible here today. 81 00:06:07,420 –> 00:06:12,779 Now the reason that death is an enemy with a sting is of course that death came into 82 00:06:12,779 –> 00:06:18,200 the world by way of a penalty right back in the book of Genesis. 83 00:06:18,200 –> 00:06:24,260 God said off the tree about which he had commanded the man and the woman not to eat he said in 84 00:06:24,260 –> 00:06:28,579 the day that you eat of it you will surely die. 85 00:06:28,579 –> 00:06:37,260 In other words death is a direct outcome of sin in the world reflected in sin in our own 86 00:06:37,260 –> 00:06:38,720 lives. 87 00:06:38,799 –> 00:06:46,880 Very simply if there had not been sin there would not have been death. 88 00:06:46,880 –> 00:06:55,739 And very simply the evidence if it were needed that all of us are indeed sinners is that 89 00:06:55,739 –> 00:06:59,320 all of us eventually die. 90 00:06:59,320 –> 00:07:04,720 The wages of sin is death. 91 00:07:04,920 –> 00:07:12,920 So, whatever good and kind things may be rightly and truly said at a person’s funeral, the 92 00:07:12,920 –> 00:07:22,519 very fact that a funeral is taking place is evidence that that person also was a sinner. 93 00:07:22,519 –> 00:07:31,339 So, when I die, whenever that may be, if some of you are at my funeral, you will be able 94 00:07:31,339 –> 00:07:43,420 to say, well, there we have it, conclusive proof that a pastor was a sinner, too. 95 00:07:43,420 –> 00:07:51,959 Now, the sting of death is sin that is common to every single one of us. 96 00:07:51,959 –> 00:07:54,720 And here is why it is a sting. 97 00:07:54,720 –> 00:08:03,880 To go into death and stand before Almighty God as a sinner who has failed to keep His 98 00:08:03,880 –> 00:08:08,980 law, that would be the ultimate disaster. 99 00:08:08,980 –> 00:08:13,839 And that would be the position that every single one of us would be in, if it were not 100 00:08:13,839 –> 00:08:17,779 for one thing that we celebrate here today at Easter. 101 00:08:17,779 –> 00:08:24,540 And that is, that while death has a sting, Jesus Christ has removed the sting. 102 00:08:24,839 –> 00:08:26,320 Through His death and resurrection. 103 00:08:26,320 –> 00:08:28,040 That’s the good news of Easter. 104 00:08:28,040 –> 00:08:30,019 That’s why it says in verse 55, 105 00:08:33,940 –> 00:08:36,059 And here’s how Jesus drew the sting. 106 00:08:36,059 –> 00:08:44,900 When He died on the cross, He took on Himself the sins of all who would believe in Him, 107 00:08:44,900 –> 00:08:49,719 and taking these sins on Himself, He drew the sting into Himself. 108 00:08:50,359 –> 00:08:57,780 The deadly venom of that sting of death was absorbed in his own body. 109 00:08:57,780 –> 00:09:07,080 He drew the sting, so, Christian brother, sister, death will come to you 110 00:09:07,080 –> 00:09:09,679 but it cannot sting you. 111 00:09:09,679 –> 00:09:11,700 That’s the good news of Easter. 112 00:09:11,700 –> 00:09:14,619 It cannot hold you in its power. 113 00:09:14,659 –> 00:09:19,979 It will not lead to the ultimate disaster of you standing before Almighty God 114 00:09:19,979 –> 00:09:22,599 as a sinner who failed to keep his Law. 115 00:09:22,599 –> 00:09:24,419 Jesus stood there for you. 116 00:09:24,419 –> 00:09:27,020 He faced death with the sting. 117 00:09:27,020 –> 00:09:32,919 So that when you go into that valley the sting will not be there for you. 118 00:09:32,919 –> 00:09:40,659 Death has changed forever, for all who are in Jesus Christ. 119 00:09:40,659 –> 00:09:41,659 And this is wonderful. 120 00:09:41,979 –> 00:09:47,679 It affects us right now because it has changed in the anticipation. 121 00:09:47,679 –> 00:09:53,859 We know that to be away from the body is to be at home with the Lord. 122 00:09:53,859 –> 00:09:59,280 That is why Paul says in 2 Corinthians in chapter 5, We are always of good courage. 123 00:09:59,280 –> 00:10:02,640 We have courage because we know this to be true. 124 00:10:02,640 –> 00:10:08,179 We’re no longer living in the dread, slavish fear of death because we know that its sting 125 00:10:08,460 –> 00:10:12,700 has been drawn by our Lord Jesus Christ. 126 00:10:12,700 –> 00:10:16,659 And whenever it may come, whether it comes as a surprise sooner, or whether it comes 127 00:10:16,659 –> 00:10:20,140 much later in our years. 128 00:10:20,140 –> 00:10:27,140 We will not be in that fearful position of standing with the sting in the presence of 129 00:10:28,419 –> 00:10:30,659 Almighty God. 130 00:10:30,659 –> 00:10:37,400 The thing that is most to be feared in death has been removed as far as all who are in 131 00:10:37,500 –> 00:10:39,760 Jesus Christ is concerned. 132 00:10:39,760 –> 00:10:43,799 And so it’s changed in the anticipation. 133 00:10:43,799 –> 00:10:45,859 And it’s changed when that day comes. 134 00:10:45,859 –> 00:10:50,320 It will be changed in the experience. 135 00:10:50,320 –> 00:10:57,320 Because our risen Lord says to us, I will never leave you and I will never forsake you. 136 00:10:58,479 –> 00:11:02,880 No one else in all the world can say that to you, but the risen Lord Jesus Christ can 137 00:11:02,880 –> 00:11:04,599 and He does. 138 00:11:05,200 –> 00:11:13,140 So, friend, when the moment of death comes for you, you will be taken from your friends. 139 00:11:13,140 –> 00:11:15,280 They’ll not be with you. 140 00:11:15,280 –> 00:11:18,640 You’ll be taken from your family. 141 00:11:18,640 –> 00:11:22,200 You’ll be taken from your work. 142 00:11:22,200 –> 00:11:28,780 You’ll be taken from this world, but you will not be alone. 143 00:11:28,780 –> 00:11:31,219 You will be kept. 144 00:11:31,239 –> 00:11:35,580 You will be carried safely through that valley. 145 00:11:35,580 –> 00:11:41,340 And on the other side, you will be welcomed by the risen Lord Jesus Christ himself. 146 00:11:41,340 –> 00:11:44,780 So, death is changed in the anticipation. 147 00:11:44,780 –> 00:11:49,419 It will be changed for every believer in the experience whenever it comes. 148 00:11:49,419 –> 00:11:53,979 And of course, it will be changed in the outcome. 149 00:11:53,979 –> 00:12:00,520 Jesus said to people who refused to believe in him – some people are very resistant 150 00:12:00,520 –> 00:12:03,580 to believing in Jesus. 151 00:12:03,580 –> 00:12:08,359 And Jesus said to people who refused to believe in him, here’s what’s going to happen to 152 00:12:08,359 –> 00:12:14,559 you if you do not believe that I am he you will die in your sins. 153 00:12:14,559 –> 00:12:19,080 That’s John 8 and verse 24. 154 00:12:19,080 –> 00:12:23,320 I think they may be the most terrifying words in all of the Bible. 155 00:12:23,320 –> 00:12:25,799 To die in your sins. 156 00:12:26,179 –> 00:12:34,340 Here is how death and its outcome has transformed for who are in the Lord Jesus Christ. 157 00:12:34,340 –> 00:12:40,239 He took your sins into his death so that when your death comes you will not take them into 158 00:12:40,239 –> 00:12:42,440 yours. 159 00:12:42,440 –> 00:12:49,000 If you have trusted yourself to Jesus Christ, you will not die in your sins because Jesus 160 00:12:49,000 –> 00:12:52,200 bore these sins for you there at Calvary. 161 00:12:52,280 –> 00:13:01,919 Friends, if any of you are indeed at my funeral and it occurs to you to say, well there you 162 00:13:01,919 –> 00:13:10,200 go, conclusive proof that the pastor was a sinner too, I hope you will remember then 163 00:13:10,200 –> 00:13:20,080 also to say, so, thank God, he has a risen savior who drew the sting of death for him. 164 00:13:20,119 –> 00:13:27,039 Jesus Christ has changed death, he has removed its sting and he has done this for all who 165 00:13:27,039 –> 00:13:35,020 are in him, no wonder the apostle Paul says in verse 57, thanks be to God who gives us 166 00:13:35,020 –> 00:13:41,619 the victory through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen? 167 00:13:41,619 –> 00:13:47,419 He’s changed death, he really has and he has changed life. 168 00:13:47,419 –> 00:13:52,159 The transformation of life through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 169 00:13:52,159 –> 00:13:58,739 I want to draw your attention here to verse 58 and for us to see three ways in which Paul 170 00:13:58,739 –> 00:14:04,479 makes very clear that life is changed, not only is death transformed because he drew 171 00:14:04,479 –> 00:14:10,080 the sting, changing it in anticipation, in the experience when it comes and in the outcome 172 00:14:10,080 –> 00:14:16,599 on the other side, but he also changes life and Paul identifies three ways in which life 173 00:14:16,640 –> 00:14:19,919 is completely transformed for the Christian believer. 174 00:14:19,919 –> 00:14:25,880 Here’s the first, the resurrection of Jesus will bring stability to your faith. 175 00:14:26,280 –> 00:14:34,919 Notice verse 58, Therefore, my brothers be steadfast, unmovable. 176 00:14:34,919 –> 00:14:37,679 Notice the word therefore. 177 00:14:37,679 –> 00:14:43,679 The word therefore shows that there is a direct connection between confidence in the resurrection, 178 00:14:43,679 –> 00:14:50,059 which is what he had just been speaking about, and stability of faith. 179 00:14:50,059 –> 00:15:01,419 So, a settled conviction that Jesus is risen from the dead will bring stability to your faith. 180 00:15:01,780 –> 00:15:06,119 In other words, let me turn it this way to try and make the point clear, 181 00:15:06,119 –> 00:15:11,719 faith soon flounders if you lose sight of the resurrection. 182 00:15:12,080 –> 00:15:14,640 That’s why Paul says if we have faith in Christ, 183 00:15:14,640 –> 00:15:18,000 that’s for this life only we’re the most pitiable people, 184 00:15:18,000 –> 00:15:20,619 the most miserable people in all of the world. 185 00:15:20,619 –> 00:15:22,599 It doesn’t work. 186 00:15:22,760 –> 00:15:31,340 Lose sight of the resurrection and you will soon be besieged by all kinds of unanswerable questions. 187 00:15:32,380 –> 00:15:36,919 Look at this world only and it will perplex you. 188 00:15:36,979 –> 00:15:38,880 And you will soon find yourself saying, 189 00:15:38,880 –> 00:15:42,299 I don’t know if I can any longer believe 190 00:15:43,619 –> 00:15:47,059 if this life was all that there is. 191 00:15:47,059 –> 00:15:48,900 You would soon find yourself saying 192 00:15:48,900 –> 00:15:51,580 I’m not sure there’s much point in believing. 193 00:15:51,580 –> 00:15:55,119 You would soon find yourself overwhelmed by temptation, 194 00:15:55,119 –> 00:15:55,859 unbelief. 195 00:15:55,859 –> 00:15:59,000 The world would soon get you into its clutches. 196 00:15:59,000 –> 00:16:02,080 Lose sight of the resurrection friend 197 00:16:02,080 –> 00:16:05,919 and you will soon find yourself feeling sorry for yourself. 198 00:16:06,900 –> 00:16:08,559 Lose sight of the resurrection 199 00:16:08,559 –> 00:16:09,979 and you’ll soon find yourself saying, 200 00:16:09,979 –> 00:16:12,219 Oh, life is passing me by. 201 00:16:14,580 –> 00:16:17,500 And there are many who would say 202 00:16:17,500 –> 00:16:19,919 that they have some form of faith, 203 00:16:21,799 –> 00:16:25,219 but having lost sight of the resurrection, 204 00:16:25,219 –> 00:16:29,280 that faith is always wavering and it is always unstable 205 00:16:29,280 –> 00:16:33,880 and it is never settled and it is never confident. 206 00:16:33,880 –> 00:16:34,799 Never fruitful. 207 00:16:36,440 –> 00:16:38,520 But what we’re being told here, 208 00:16:38,520 –> 00:16:41,299 therefore be steadfast, unmovable 209 00:16:41,299 –> 00:16:43,159 in the light of the resurrection. 210 00:16:43,159 –> 00:16:47,559 What we’re being told here is that faith in our risen savior 211 00:16:48,580 –> 00:16:51,119 when that is settled for you, 212 00:16:51,119 –> 00:16:53,760 that Jesus Christ is indeed risen 213 00:16:53,760 –> 00:16:56,919 and therefore resurrection life is ahead for you. 214 00:16:56,919 –> 00:16:59,679 That will bring faith that is settled, 215 00:16:59,679 –> 00:17:04,459 that is strong and is stable and is enduring and is lasting. 216 00:17:04,599 –> 00:17:07,939 So here’s what we learn, Christ is risen. 217 00:17:08,800 –> 00:17:12,719 Let that be the settled conviction of your life 218 00:17:15,479 –> 00:17:18,260 and when it is the settled conviction of your life, 219 00:17:18,260 –> 00:17:21,260 there will be a stability about you. 220 00:17:22,540 –> 00:17:24,439 The death and the resurrection of Jesus 221 00:17:24,439 –> 00:17:28,280 is what brings that stability to faith and to life 222 00:17:28,280 –> 00:17:30,260 because what Jesus Christ accomplished 223 00:17:30,260 –> 00:17:33,780 in his death and resurrection is the solid rock 224 00:17:33,819 –> 00:17:37,400 on which all true Christian faith is built. 225 00:17:38,979 –> 00:17:41,579 You have a risen Savior, 226 00:17:41,579 –> 00:17:45,560 and he is at the right hand of the Father for you 227 00:17:45,560 –> 00:17:50,280 and nothing in your life can ever separate you 228 00:17:50,280 –> 00:17:51,459 from his love. 229 00:17:53,180 –> 00:17:55,300 You have a risen Savior, 230 00:17:55,300 –> 00:17:58,219 and he holds you in his own powerful hand 231 00:17:58,219 –> 00:18:01,260 and nothing that ever happens in your life 232 00:18:01,359 –> 00:18:05,099 will ever be able to snatch you from his hand. 233 00:18:05,099 –> 00:18:08,260 Get your eyes fixed on a risen Savior, 234 00:18:09,959 –> 00:18:14,119 and you will find that that brings stability to your faith. 235 00:18:15,199 –> 00:18:19,880 Second the resurrection will bring joy to your ministry. 236 00:18:20,699 –> 00:18:24,619 Therefore my brothers, be steadfast, immovable, 237 00:18:25,819 –> 00:18:29,219 always abounding in the work of the Lord 238 00:18:32,219 –> 00:18:33,640 abounding. 239 00:18:33,640 –> 00:18:38,479 What comes to your mind when you hear the word abounding? 240 00:18:38,479 –> 00:18:41,380 I’ll tell you what comes to my mind. 241 00:18:41,380 –> 00:18:44,079 My four granddaughters. 242 00:18:44,079 –> 00:18:47,500 Abounding speaks of energy, joy, freedom. 243 00:18:51,280 –> 00:18:54,239 Abounding is the opposite of tired, 244 00:18:56,339 –> 00:18:58,339 jaded, dull and boring. 245 00:18:58,739 –> 00:19:03,900 Abounding, and here, think of it. 246 00:19:03,900 –> 00:19:07,719 Paul describes believers who are abounding 247 00:19:07,719 –> 00:19:09,800 in the work of the Lord. 248 00:19:11,079 –> 00:19:14,920 No reluctance here, no sense of doing God’s work 249 00:19:17,099 –> 00:19:20,560 in order to earn God’s favor, none of that. 250 00:19:20,560 –> 00:19:23,900 Here are people who know that their eternal future 251 00:19:23,900 –> 00:19:26,160 is secure because of Jesus Christ. 252 00:19:27,099 –> 00:19:28,719 They know that because of the death 253 00:19:28,719 –> 00:19:30,780 and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, 254 00:19:30,780 –> 00:19:35,359 it won’t be long until they see the savior face to face 255 00:19:35,359 –> 00:19:38,680 and are welcomed into the eternity of joyful service 256 00:19:38,680 –> 00:19:40,339 for which they have been made 257 00:19:40,339 –> 00:19:42,180 and for which they have been redeemed, 258 00:19:42,180 –> 00:19:44,839 and therefore, with the joyful anticipation of this, 259 00:19:44,839 –> 00:19:48,260 they give themselves gladly, freely joyfully 260 00:19:49,219 –> 00:19:50,819 to serving the Lord. 261 00:19:51,599 –> 00:19:54,760 Get your eyes fixed on the risen Lord, 262 00:19:56,180 –> 00:19:57,719 and savior, 263 00:19:58,599 –> 00:20:01,319 and this will bring joy 264 00:20:02,380 –> 00:20:04,180 to your ministry, 265 00:20:04,180 –> 00:20:06,280 stability to your faith, joy to your ministry, 266 00:20:06,280 –> 00:20:07,819 and here’s the last thing, 267 00:20:07,819 –> 00:20:11,800 the resurrection will bring fulfillment to your life. 268 00:20:11,800 –> 00:20:13,300 Look at this, therefore, my brothers, 269 00:20:13,300 –> 00:20:16,219 be steadfast, immovable, 270 00:20:17,020 –> 00:20:20,119 always abounding in the work of the Lord, 271 00:20:20,119 –> 00:20:24,040 knowing that in the Lord 272 00:20:24,939 –> 00:20:27,560 your labor is not in vain. 273 00:20:27,560 –> 00:20:31,020 Your labor in the Lord 274 00:20:32,040 –> 00:20:35,260 is not in vain. 275 00:20:36,500 –> 00:20:40,060 Now, labor simply means hard work, 276 00:20:40,060 –> 00:20:42,079 and it does mean hard work. 277 00:20:42,939 –> 00:20:47,099 We’re talking here about the sweat equity of your life. 278 00:20:48,119 –> 00:20:51,380 We’re talking about all that you pour yourself into, 279 00:20:51,380 –> 00:20:53,459 all that you invest yourself in, 280 00:20:53,680 –> 00:20:56,579 all that you give yourself to over the course 281 00:20:56,579 –> 00:20:58,420 of the years of your life. 282 00:21:00,060 –> 00:21:04,520 To labor in vain, terrible phrase, 283 00:21:04,520 –> 00:21:08,719 to labor in vain would mean that effort extended 284 00:21:09,619 –> 00:21:13,040 does not accomplish the objective intended. 285 00:21:13,040 –> 00:21:15,319 That’s what it means to labor in vain, 286 00:21:16,319 –> 00:21:19,760 that effort extended does not lead 287 00:21:19,819 –> 00:21:22,699 to the objective intended. 288 00:21:24,140 –> 00:21:29,140 Now, think about this, to discover at the end of your life 289 00:21:31,439 –> 00:21:36,439 that you labored in vain would be a horrendous scenario. 290 00:21:40,280 –> 00:21:43,180 What would it be like if everything you had given yourself 291 00:21:43,180 –> 00:21:44,800 to, everything you had invested in, 292 00:21:44,800 –> 00:21:47,920 everything you had poured your energy and your time into 293 00:21:48,839 –> 00:21:53,099 turned out to be without lasting value. 294 00:21:54,859 –> 00:21:59,439 Now, Paul raises this question and puts it before us 295 00:21:59,439 –> 00:22:03,099 in the most brutally stark manner. 296 00:22:04,680 –> 00:22:06,479 He says earlier in the chapter, 297 00:22:06,479 –> 00:22:11,479 if Christ is not raised our faith is in vain. 298 00:22:12,819 –> 00:22:15,000 Same word, verse 14. 299 00:22:15,560 –> 00:22:20,400 If Christ is not raised our faith is in vain. 300 00:22:20,400 –> 00:22:22,760 In other words he does not say 301 00:22:22,760 –> 00:22:25,560 if Jesus Christ is not raised 302 00:22:25,560 –> 00:22:27,359 Christianity is still the best way to live. 303 00:22:27,359 –> 00:22:29,859 He does not say that. 304 00:22:29,859 –> 00:22:34,680 What he says, in effect, is if Jesus Christ is not raised 305 00:22:34,680 –> 00:22:37,560 shut the doors of the church and go home. 306 00:22:37,560 –> 00:22:38,839 That’s what he says. 307 00:22:39,560 –> 00:22:45,479 What would it be like if your labor was in vain? 308 00:22:45,479 –> 00:22:49,079 I spent just a few minutes 309 00:22:49,079 –> 00:22:54,599 meditating on what that would be like for me. 310 00:22:54,599 –> 00:22:56,920 And here’s what I wrote. 311 00:22:56,920 –> 00:23:01,479 If Christ is not raised 312 00:23:01,479 –> 00:23:05,239 I have wasted my life. 313 00:23:05,239 –> 00:23:07,640 If Christ is not raised 314 00:23:07,800 –> 00:23:10,520 I have worshipped a king who does not exist. 315 00:23:12,520 –> 00:23:14,199 If Christ is not raised 316 00:23:14,199 –> 00:23:17,479 I have preached a hope that has no substance. 317 00:23:19,560 –> 00:23:21,479 If Christ is not raised 318 00:23:22,040 –> 00:23:24,760 my prayers went no further than the room. 319 00:23:26,520 –> 00:23:28,760 If Christ is not raised 320 00:23:28,760 –> 00:23:32,439 my whole life has been wasted 321 00:23:32,439 –> 00:23:35,400 in the pursuit of a fantasy. 322 00:23:38,119 –> 00:23:40,439 Imagine getting to the end of your life 323 00:23:40,439 –> 00:23:44,520 and finding that you laboured in vain. 324 00:23:46,680 –> 00:23:48,839 That all the effort extended 325 00:23:48,839 –> 00:23:51,319 did not accomplish the objective intended. 326 00:23:54,439 –> 00:23:59,560 But Christ is risen. 327 00:24:00,439 –> 00:24:01,400 That’s the proclamation 328 00:24:01,400 –> 00:24:03,160 of 1 Corinthians chapter 15. 329 00:24:03,160 –> 00:24:04,520 Everything hangs on this. 330 00:24:04,520 –> 00:24:05,400 That’s what he’s saying. 331 00:24:05,880 –> 00:24:08,280 But here is the proclamation 332 00:24:08,280 –> 00:24:08,920 of the gospel. 333 00:24:08,920 –> 00:24:11,719 Christ is risen and therefore 334 00:24:11,719 –> 00:24:14,920 he is worthy of all of our worship. 335 00:24:17,239 –> 00:24:19,000 Christ is risen 336 00:24:19,000 –> 00:24:22,040 and therefore there is solid hope 337 00:24:22,040 –> 00:24:23,479 for every person. 338 00:24:25,479 –> 00:24:27,479 Christ is risen, 339 00:24:27,479 –> 00:24:29,560 and so all of our prayers 340 00:24:29,560 –> 00:24:31,400 in every circumstance of life 341 00:24:31,400 –> 00:24:32,920 are truly heard 342 00:24:32,920 –> 00:24:34,599 by our great High Priest. 343 00:24:36,359 –> 00:24:37,800 Christ is risen, 344 00:24:38,920 –> 00:24:40,920 and therefore the highest calling 345 00:24:40,920 –> 00:24:42,359 of all of our lives 346 00:24:43,479 –> 00:24:44,680 is that every one of us 347 00:24:44,680 –> 00:24:46,359 should live for his glory 348 00:24:46,359 –> 00:24:48,119 and for his honor. 349 00:24:48,119 –> 00:24:51,239 If you are in Christ 350 00:24:51,239 –> 00:24:53,880 and if you live for Christ 351 00:24:53,880 –> 00:24:55,719 what the Apostle Paul says, 352 00:24:55,719 –> 00:24:58,040 your labor in the Lord 353 00:24:58,040 –> 00:25:00,760 will not be in vain! 354 00:25:00,760 –> 00:25:01,800 It will not be in vain 355 00:25:01,800 –> 00:25:03,160 because Christ is risen! 356 00:25:03,160 –> 00:25:04,040 that’s his point! 357 00:25:05,400 –> 00:25:06,359 The resurrection is what 358 00:25:06,359 –> 00:25:07,719 brings fulfillment to your life. 359 00:25:10,839 –> 00:25:12,359 Now, let me now ask 360 00:25:12,359 –> 00:25:13,239 the question 361 00:25:14,280 –> 00:25:15,880 that I posed for myself 362 00:25:15,880 –> 00:25:16,439 this week 363 00:25:16,439 –> 00:25:18,040 because Paul poses it 364 00:25:18,040 –> 00:25:20,839 in first Corinthians 15 365 00:25:20,839 –> 00:25:21,959 and verse 14. 366 00:25:21,959 –> 00:25:23,880 let me now ask the question 367 00:25:23,880 –> 00:25:24,680 to the person 368 00:25:25,640 –> 00:25:27,719 who is on the fringe of faith, 369 00:25:29,239 –> 00:25:30,119 the edge of faith. 370 00:25:30,119 –> 00:25:31,239 You’ve not really… 371 00:25:31,239 –> 00:25:32,680 You could not honestly say 372 00:25:32,680 –> 00:25:33,800 that Jesus Christ 373 00:25:33,800 –> 00:25:34,920 is the sovereign Lord 374 00:25:34,920 –> 00:25:35,479 of your life. 375 00:25:35,479 –> 00:25:36,680 You’re running your own life 376 00:25:36,680 –> 00:25:38,680 but you have a sort of vague interest 377 00:25:38,680 –> 00:25:39,640 in Christian faith. 378 00:25:39,640 –> 00:25:40,520 You’re here today, 379 00:25:40,520 –> 00:25:41,640 I’m so glad you’re here. 380 00:25:41,640 –> 00:25:43,160 But let me confront you 381 00:25:44,839 –> 00:25:46,520 with this honest question 382 00:25:47,959 –> 00:25:49,319 that has just been stated, 383 00:25:50,920 –> 00:25:52,119 how would it be for you 384 00:25:54,280 –> 00:25:56,439 if everything in your life 385 00:25:56,439 –> 00:25:57,719 turned out to be 386 00:25:57,719 –> 00:25:59,000 of no lasting value? 387 00:25:59,000 –> 00:26:00,119 How would it be for you 388 00:26:00,119 –> 00:26:02,280 if your labour 389 00:26:02,280 –> 00:26:03,560 was in vain? 390 00:26:04,760 –> 00:26:07,000 How would it be for you 391 00:26:07,000 –> 00:26:09,239 if you were to discover 392 00:26:09,239 –> 00:26:10,680 when your life is over 393 00:26:12,119 –> 00:26:15,079 that Jesus Christ is risen 394 00:26:15,079 –> 00:26:15,959 and that he is the 395 00:26:15,959 –> 00:26:17,079 sovereign Lord and the King. 396 00:26:19,400 –> 00:26:21,560 And that you could have lived 397 00:26:21,560 –> 00:26:22,760 the years of your life 398 00:26:22,760 –> 00:26:23,800 devoted to him. 399 00:26:25,160 –> 00:26:27,239 You could have served him. 400 00:26:28,280 –> 00:26:30,280 You could have given yourself 401 00:26:30,280 –> 00:26:31,400 to his work. 402 00:26:31,400 –> 00:26:32,760 You could have worshiped him. 403 00:26:32,760 –> 00:26:36,439 You could have walked with him. 404 00:26:36,439 –> 00:26:37,160 But you chose 405 00:26:37,160 –> 00:26:38,040 a different path. 406 00:26:39,959 –> 00:26:41,079 You worked very hard 407 00:26:41,079 –> 00:26:41,800 because you wanted 408 00:26:41,800 –> 00:26:42,839 to achieve something 409 00:26:42,839 –> 00:26:43,319 that you thought 410 00:26:43,319 –> 00:26:44,760 would have lasting value. 411 00:26:44,760 –> 00:26:46,199 You pursued what you called 412 00:26:46,199 –> 00:26:47,560 a good life because 413 00:26:47,560 –> 00:26:48,760 you wanted thereby 414 00:26:48,760 –> 00:26:50,439 to have some form of peace. 415 00:26:50,439 –> 00:26:52,119 But all that effort extended 416 00:26:52,119 –> 00:26:53,000 when you realize 417 00:26:53,000 –> 00:26:55,079 that Jesus Christ is risen 418 00:26:55,079 –> 00:26:55,719 and that he is 419 00:26:55,719 –> 00:26:56,760 the sovereign Lord 420 00:26:56,760 –> 00:26:58,199 proves actually not 421 00:26:58,199 –> 00:26:59,400 to have accomplished 422 00:26:59,400 –> 00:27:00,760 the objective intended. 423 00:27:02,839 –> 00:27:03,800 You discover that 424 00:27:03,800 –> 00:27:05,239 Christ is risen indeed. 425 00:27:07,400 –> 00:27:08,359 And having lived 426 00:27:08,359 –> 00:27:09,319 without him now 427 00:27:09,319 –> 00:27:10,199 you see that 428 00:27:10,199 –> 00:27:12,199 all your labour 429 00:27:12,199 –> 00:27:14,520 was in vain. 430 00:27:17,560 –> 00:27:18,199 None of us 431 00:27:20,119 –> 00:27:21,560 wants to labour in vain. 432 00:27:23,560 –> 00:27:24,680 And what the Apostle 433 00:27:24,680 –> 00:27:25,959 Paul is saying here 434 00:27:25,959 –> 00:27:28,359 is look Christ is risen 435 00:27:28,359 –> 00:27:29,160 and therefore here’s 436 00:27:29,160 –> 00:27:30,599 what you can be sure of 437 00:27:30,599 –> 00:27:32,839 your labour in the Lord 438 00:27:33,719 –> 00:27:35,640 will not be in vain. 439 00:27:36,920 –> 00:27:37,560 Which of course 440 00:27:37,560 –> 00:27:38,920 raises this very simple 441 00:27:38,920 –> 00:27:40,040 question how then 442 00:27:40,040 –> 00:27:42,520 can I be in the Lord? 443 00:27:44,520 –> 00:27:45,479 The answer to that 444 00:27:45,479 –> 00:27:47,640 is that faith is the bond 445 00:27:47,640 –> 00:27:49,160 by which Jesus Christ 446 00:27:49,160 –> 00:27:50,439 becomes yours 447 00:27:50,439 –> 00:27:51,640 you become his 448 00:27:51,640 –> 00:27:52,520 and you 449 00:27:52,520 –> 00:27:53,880 become what the Bible 450 00:27:53,880 –> 00:27:55,079 describes as 451 00:27:55,079 –> 00:27:58,119 in the Lord Jesus Christ. 452 00:27:58,119 –> 00:28:00,520 And when Christ is yours 453 00:28:00,520 –> 00:28:01,400 and you’re his 454 00:28:01,400 –> 00:28:02,599 through the bond of faith 455 00:28:02,599 –> 00:28:03,959 your labour, your life, 456 00:28:03,959 –> 00:28:05,079 your work will be 457 00:28:05,079 –> 00:28:07,479 in the Lord. 458 00:28:07,479 –> 00:28:08,439 And when your labour 459 00:28:08,439 –> 00:28:09,239 is in the Lord 460 00:28:09,239 –> 00:28:10,920 you have this promise 461 00:28:10,920 –> 00:28:12,680 from the risen king 462 00:28:12,680 –> 00:28:14,800 it will not be 463 00:28:14,800 –> 00:28:18,079 in vain. 464 00:28:18,079 –> 00:28:19,239 You know our Lord Jesus 465 00:28:19,239 –> 00:28:20,280 and I end here 466 00:28:20,280 –> 00:28:23,079 told the story of 467 00:28:23,079 –> 00:28:24,199 a merchant who 468 00:28:24,199 –> 00:28:25,479 traded pearls 469 00:28:27,160 –> 00:28:27,800 and one day 470 00:28:27,800 –> 00:28:29,239 he found a pearl that 471 00:28:29,560 –> 00:28:34,280 was like none he had ever seen. 472 00:28:36,199 –> 00:28:38,520 This beautiful, beautiful pearl 473 00:28:38,520 –> 00:28:40,040 the pearl of great price 474 00:28:40,040 –> 00:28:41,239 and seeing that it had 475 00:28:41,239 –> 00:28:42,280 supreme value 476 00:28:42,280 –> 00:28:43,239 he made a decision 477 00:28:43,239 –> 00:28:44,920 he traded every other pearl 478 00:28:44,920 –> 00:28:45,479 that he had 479 00:28:45,479 –> 00:28:46,680 in order to have the 480 00:28:46,680 –> 00:28:48,119 pearl of great price 481 00:28:48,119 –> 00:28:49,239 in order to have 482 00:28:49,239 –> 00:28:50,040 that which was of 483 00:28:50,040 –> 00:28:51,319 supreme beauty 484 00:28:51,319 –> 00:28:55,040 and of supreme value. 485 00:28:55,040 –> 00:28:56,439 Friends Jesus Christ 486 00:28:56,520 –> 00:28:58,359 is the pearl of great price 487 00:28:59,640 –> 00:29:00,439 he loved you 488 00:29:01,640 –> 00:29:02,920 and he gave himself 489 00:29:02,920 –> 00:29:03,400 for you 490 00:29:04,439 –> 00:29:05,959 he rose from the dead 491 00:29:05,959 –> 00:29:07,400 and he offers 492 00:29:07,400 –> 00:29:08,439 himself to you 493 00:29:09,479 –> 00:29:11,319 he’s able to change 494 00:29:11,319 –> 00:29:12,119 death for you 495 00:29:12,680 –> 00:29:13,800 and he’s able to 496 00:29:13,800 –> 00:29:15,479 change life for you 497 00:29:16,599 –> 00:29:17,880 and so I invite you 498 00:29:17,880 –> 00:29:18,680 to trust him 499 00:29:19,479 –> 00:29:20,439 to worship him 500 00:29:20,439 –> 00:29:21,239 to love him 501 00:29:21,239 –> 00:29:22,119 and to serve him 502 00:29:23,079 –> 00:29:23,959 and then to be 503 00:29:23,959 –> 00:29:25,719 steadfast and unmovable 504 00:29:27,000 –> 00:29:28,839 always abounding 505 00:29:28,839 –> 00:29:30,599 in the work of the Lord 506 00:29:30,599 –> 00:29:32,199 knowing that 507 00:29:32,199 –> 00:29:33,160 in the Lord 508 00:29:33,160 –> 00:29:34,199 your labor 509 00:29:34,839 –> 00:29:35,719 will not 510 00:29:36,280 –> 00:29:36,780 be 511 00:29:37,400 –> 00:29:37,900 in 512 00:29:38,599 –> 00:29:39,099 vain 513 00:29:39,800 –> 00:29:41,000 Father we bless you 514 00:29:41,560 –> 00:29:43,800 for sending your son Jesus Christ 515 00:29:43,800 –> 00:29:45,079 we rejoice 516 00:29:45,079 –> 00:29:46,599 in all that he accomplished 517 00:29:46,599 –> 00:29:47,319 for us 518 00:29:47,319 –> 00:29:49,160 in his death and resurrection 519 00:29:49,719 –> 00:29:51,880 changing the face of death 520 00:29:51,880 –> 00:29:54,199 and changing the face of life 521 00:29:55,079 –> 00:29:56,199 to his name be 522 00:29:56,199 –> 00:29:56,839 all honor 523 00:29:57,400 –> 00:29:58,839 and all glory 524 00:29:58,839 –> 00:30:00,520 through Jesus Christ our Lord 525 00:30:00,520 –> 00:30:01,560 in God’s people said 526 00:30:02,199 –> 00:30:03,160 Amen