#1: Unity

#2: Sexuality

#3: Freedom

#4: Meetings

#5: Resurrection

HYMN TOLOVE

#4: Meetings

LIVING A VICTORIOUS LIFE1 Corinthians 15:51-58

Who wins in life?

Who wins in life?

Who wins in life?

Who wins in life?

The one who defeats death!

The one who defeats death!

The one who defeats death!

The one who defeats death!

1 Cor. 15:51-57

51 Listen! I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. 53 For this corruptible must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal must be clothed with immortality. 54 When this corruptible is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take

1 Cor. 15:51-57

place: Death has been swallowed up in victory. 55 Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting? 56 Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

1 Cor. 15:51-57

51 Listen! I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. 53 For this corruptible must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal must be clothed with immortality. 54 When this corruptible is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take

1 Cor. 15:51-57

51 Listen! I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. 53 For this corruptible must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal must be clothed with immortality. 54 When this corruptible is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take

1 Cor. 15:51-57

51 Listen! I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. 53 For this corruptible must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal must be clothed with immortality. 54 When this corruptible is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take

1 Thess. 4:13-18 -- 13 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 14 Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. 15 For we say this to you by a revelation from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly have no advantage over those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.17 Then we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

1 Cor. 15:51-57

51 Listen! I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. 53 For this corruptible must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal must be clothed with immortality. 54 When this corruptible is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take

1 Cor. 15:51-57

51 Listen! I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. 53 For this corruptible must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal must be clothed with immortality. 54 When this corruptible is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take

1 Cor. 15:51-57

51 Listen! I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. 53 For this corruptible must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal must be clothed with immortality. 54 When this corruptible is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take

1 Cor. 15:51-57

51 Listen! I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. 53 For this corruptible must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal must be clothed with immortality. 54 When this corruptible is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take

1 Cor. 15:51-57

place: Death has been swallowed up in victory. 55 Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting? 56 Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

1 Cor. 15:58

58 Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

1 Cor. 15:58

58 Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Why is Christ’s resurrection necessary?

Ensures victory over sin 1 Cor. 15:16-17 -- 16 For if the dead

are not raised, Christ has not been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.

Why is Christ’s resurrection necessary?

Ensures victory over sin Romans 6:23 -- For the wages of sin

is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Heb. 10:11-12 -- 11 Every priest stands day after day ministering and offering the same sacrifices time after time, which can never take away sins. 12 But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.

Why is Christ’s resurrection necessary?

Ensures victory over sin Romans 6:23 -- For the wages of sin

is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Heb. 10:11-12 -- 11 Every priest stands day after day ministering and offering the same sacrifices time after time, which can never take away sins. 12 But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.

If Christ was still dead, how would you know that His sacrifice for sin was sufficient?

Why is Christ’s resurrection necessary?

Ensures victory over death 1 Cor. 15:19,32b -- If we have put

our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone… If the dead are not raised, Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.

Why is Christ’s resurrection necessary?

Ensures the reliability of Jesus’ words & predictions Matt. 12:38-40 -- 38 Then some of the

scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” 39 But He answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.

Why is Christ’s resurrection necessary?

Ensures the reliability of Jesus’ words & predictions John 2:18-22 -- 18 So the Jews replied to Him,

“What sign of authority will You show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered,  “Destroy this sanctuary, and I will raise it up in three days.” 20 Therefore the Jews said, “This sanctuary took 46 years to build, and will You raise it up in three days?” 21 But He was speaking about the sanctuary of His body. 22 So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this. And they believed the Scripture and the statement Jesus had made.

“C’mon…this is crazy talk!”

“Who cares about these bodies?”

“Who is actually going to bet their life on the resurrection of some guy 2,000 years ago?”

“A historical fact which involves a resurrection from the dead is utterly inconceivable.”

–Rudolph Bultmann in Kerygma and Myth

“C’mon…this is crazy talk!”

“There are other valid explanations for what happened to Jesus’ body.” It was a conspiracy

“C’mon…this is crazy talk!”

“There are other valid explanations for what happened to Jesus’ body.” It was a conspiracy

Matt. 28:11-15 -- 11 As they were on their way, some of the guards came into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 After the priests had assembled with the elders and agreed on a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money 13 and told them, “Say this, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole Him while we were sleeping.’ 14 If this reaches the governor’s ears, we will deal with him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been spread among Jewish people to this day.

“C’mon…this is crazy talk!”

“There are other valid explanations for what happened to Jesus’ body.” It was a conspiracy It is just a legend

How did the man Jesus become The Christ?

“It was a story that evolved decades after the beginning of Christianity and for which there is no actual historical evidence.”

“C’mon…this is crazy talk!”

“There are other valid explanations for what happened to Jesus’ body.” It was a conspiracy It is just a legend

How did the man Jesus become The Christ?

“It was a story that evolved decades after the beginning of Christianity and for which there is no actual historical evidence.”

You must decide!!!

Prophecies of the Messiah A prophet like unto Moses.

(Deuteronomy 18:15-19) The Messiah would be a descendant

of Noah's son, Shem. More specifically, he would be a

descendant of Shem named Abraham ( Genesis 22:18; 12; 17; 22). Fulfilled: See Christ's genealogy in Matthew 1.

More specifically, he would be a descendant of Abraham's son, Isaac, not Ishmael (Gen. 17; 21). Fulfilled: See Christ's genealogy in Matthew 1.

Prophecies of the Messiah More specifically, he would be a

descendant of Isaac's son, Jacob, not Esau (Gen. 28; 35:10-12; Num. 24:17). Fulfilled: See Christ's genealogy in Matthew 1.

More specifically, he would be a descendant of Judah, not of the other eleven brothers of Jacob. Fulfilled: See Christ's genealogy in Matthew 1.

More specifically, he would be a descendant of the family of Jesse in the tribe of Benjamin (Isaiah 11:1-5). Fulfilled: See Christ's genealogy in Matthew 1 and Luke 3:23-38.

Prophecies of the Messiah More specifically, he would be of the

house of David (2 Samuel 7:12-16; Jeremiah 23:5; Psalm 89:3-4). Fulfilled: See Christ's genealogy in Matthew 1; Luke 1:27, 32, 69.

He will be born in a small city called Bethlehem, specifically the one formerly known as Ephratah (Micah 5:2). Fulfilled: Luke 2:4-20.

He will be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14). Fulfilled: Matthew 1; Luke 1.

The Messiah would be the "seed of a woman" come to destroy the work of the Devil.

Prophecies of the Messiah He will be a priest after the order of

Melchisedek (Psalm 110:4). Fulfilled: Hebrews 5:6

The scepter shall not pass from the tribe of Judah until the Messiah comes. In other words, He will come before Israel loses its right to judge her own people. According to the Jewish historian Josephus, the Sanhedrin of Israel lost the right to truly judge its own people when it lost the right to pass death penalties in 11 A.D. (Josephus, Antiquities, Book 17, Chapter 13). Jesus Christ was certainly born before 11 A.D.

Prophecies of the Messiah He will come while the Temple of

Jerusalem is standing ( Malachi 3:1; Psalm 118:26; Daniel 9:26; Zechariah 11:13; Haggai 2:7-9). Fulfilled: Matthew 21:12, etc.

He will perform many miracles (Isaiah 35:5-6).

He will open the eyes of the blind (Isa. 29:18). Fulfillment: Matt 9:27-31; 12:22; 20:29; Mark 8:22-26; 10:46; Luke 11:14; 18:35; John 9:1-7.

He will speak in parables (Psalm 78:2). Fulfillment: Matthew 13:34, etc.

Prophecies of the Messiah The Gentiles will believe in Him, while

His own people (the Jews) will reject him ( Isaiah 8:14; 28:16; 49:6; 50:6; 60:3; Psalms 22:7-8; 118:22). Fulfillment: 1 Peter 2:7, etc.

A messenger (a man of the wilderness) will prepare the way for Him (Isa. 40:3; Malachi 3:1). See John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1-3; 11:10; John 1:23; Luke 1:17).

He will enter Jerusalem riding a donkey (Zechariah 9:9). Fulfillment: Matt. 21:5; Luke 19:32-37.

Prophecies of the Messiah He will be hated for no reason (Psalm

69:4). Fulfillment: John 15:25. He will be betrayed (Psalm 41:9).

Fulfillment: Matt. 27:3-10. More specifically, He will be betrayed

by a friend (Psalm 41:9). Fulfillment: Matt. 27:3-10; 26:47-48.

The price of his betrayal will be thirty pieces of silver (Zech. 11:12). Fulfillment: Matt. 27:3-10.

The betrayal money will be cast onto the floor (Zech. 11:13). Fulfillment: Matt. 27:5.

Prophecies of the Messiah More specifically, it will be cast onto

the floor of the Temple (Zech. 11:13). Fulfillment: Matt. 27:3-10.

The betrayal money will be used to buy a potter's field (Zech. 11:13). Fulfillment: Matt. 27:6-10.

He will not open his mouth to defend himself (Isaiah 53:7). Fulfillment: Matthew 27:12.

He will be beaten and spit upon (Isaiah 50:6). Fulfillment: Matthew 26:67; 27:26-30.

Prophecies of the Messiah He will be "numbered with the

transgressors" (Isaiah 53:12). Fulfillment: Jesus was crucified as a criminal in between two thieves (Mat 27:38).

He will be pierced (Zechariah 12:10). Fulfillment: John 19:34

His hands and feet will be pierced (Psalm 22:16; cf. Zechariah 12:10; Galatians 3:13).

Crucifixion foretold. Psalm 22 graphically prophecies the Messiah's manner of death. At the time the psalm was written (and long after), the penalty for blasphemy was stoning.

Prophecies of the Messiah His bones will not be broken (Psalm

34:20; Exodus 12 states that the Passover lamb's bones are not to be broken.). Fulfillment: John 19:33.

He will be given vinegar and gall to drink (Psalm 69:21). Fulfillment: Matthew 27:34, 48.

He will not decay (Psalm 16:10). Fulfillment: Acts 2:31

He will be resurrected from the dead (Psalm 16:10). Fulfillment: Acts 2:31

Prophecies of the Messiah He will ascend into heaven (Psalm

68:18). Fulfillment: Acts 1:9. He will be seated at the right hand of

God (Psalm 110:1). Fulfillment: Hebrews 1:3.

He will be the Son of God (Psa. 2:7). Fulfilled: Matthew 3:17, etc.

Probability of Fulfillment???The probability that Jesus of Nazareth could have fulfilled even eight such prophecies would be only 1 in 1017. That's 1 in 100, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000. (read “one hundred thousand trillion”)

Eyewitness Testimony

1 Cor. 15:3-8 -- 3 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. 6 Then He appeared to over 500 brothers at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. 7 Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one abnormally born, He also appeared to me.

Eyewitness Testimony

1 Cor. 15:3-8 -- 3 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. 6 Then He appeared to over 500 brothers at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. 7 Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one abnormally born, He also appeared to me.

Eyewitness Testimony

1 Cor. 15:3-8 -- 3 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. 6 Then He appeared to over 500 brothers at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. 7 Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one abnormally born, He also appeared to me.

Eyewitness Testimony

1 Cor. 15:3-8 -- 3 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. 6 Then He appeared to over 500 brothers at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. 7 Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one abnormally born, He also appeared to me.

“Ananias the high priest convened a meeting of the Sanhedrin and brought before them a man named James, the brother of Jesus, who was called the Christ, and certain others. He accused them of having transgressed the law and delivered them to be stoned.”

–Josephus, Antiquities 20:200

Eyewitness Testimony

1 Cor. 15:3-8 -- 3 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. 6 Then He appeared to over 500 brothers at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. 7 Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one abnormally born, He also appeared to me.

1 Cor. written around 55 A.D.

Living eyewitnesses existed at its writing

Explosive & Immediate Growth

Immediate worldview change

Spontaneous combustion

Best explained by some dramatic event

1 Cor. 15:58

58 Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.