I Corinthians 15:12-26 “Secure Forever in Christ”

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How I long to breathe the air of heaven.

That's what I want us to do this morning. I think we've started.

I think that's what you're tasting a little bit of.

You're breathing in the air of heaven where pain is gone and mercy fills the streets.

Can you imagine?

Because you're not completely able to breathe it in right now, right?

Pain's not gone all the way.

And you feel that.

Can you even imagine that day?

What we're going to see this morning is that union with Christ is the air of heaven.

That's what you breathe.

Today's the end of our summer series on what so many have called the most glorious theological truth of all.

That by grace, through faith, we are inseparably connected to Jesus in an unbreakable union.

And my heart for us, I believe God's heart for us, has been to make this theological truth a personal experience.

That Jesus not be merely throwing us good gifts from a great distance away, but that he truly be the closest relationship that we know.

He marries himself to us, the Bible says.

That close.

Before we add one final link to the chain this morning, I want to take a look back at union with Christ the last few weeks.

I want to encourage you as we do to pick one of these images that helps you to see yourself in Christ and Christ in you.

Something that you can cling to, that he's always near for you.

We began this summer by saying that God has located his people in Christ so that whatever happens to Jesus happens to us, right?

When you're on the plane, you go where it goes.

Then we saw God's design was that this location in Christ be what primarily defines Christians.

Our identity, our value, our significance settled as we are hidden, covered in Christ.

Like entering into the sprocket costume for a new identity, right?

That's where the reality of our relationship with God, our justification is settled once and for all.

As we are blessed in Christ.

That our union with Christ is like the stocking out of which flow all sorts of gifts.

Like forgiveness and adoption and inheritance.

All because we're connected to him.

In particular, we're loved in Christ with an unstoppable love that nothing can separate us from.

Just as nothing can stop God from loving Jesus, his table reminds us.

These are once and for all realities.

But that's not all that comes in union with Christ.

Union with Christ is for life now as well, isn't it?

Even when the waves of suffering crash against the ship of our life, being in Christ is enough to hold us fast.

Remember?

Union with Christ is the source of not only our justification, being made right with God,

but also our ongoing sanctification, being made like God.

Since we abide in him moment by moment, like Rick Hoyt, abiding in his father, depending on his power, rejoicing in his victory,

so that we bear fruit in Christ, right?

That's the way to grow, to change, Jesus tells us, the only way.

Likewise, we fight sin in our lives in Christ because he is always with us so we can fight sin

because we can't imagine dragging Christ into sin.

And we can rely on his power when we fall short in the battle.

Last week, we saw that we are never alone in this battle because we are connected in Christ to one another.

If he is our brother, we get lots of other brothers and sisters in his family sharing that deep bond.

And we glimpsed the glory that Jesus is inviting us into with him and his Father and Holy Spirit,

all of us together.

And that's where we're landing this week.

We've hinted at this repeatedly through the summer.

But this relationship with Christ, it's no temporary relationship, is it?

It's no contingency plan.

It's no short-term feel-good story.

That's not it.

Our union with Christ is so inseparable that it carries us from beginning to end,

united by God's grace before our birth.

And now as we look ahead to heaven and the future, beyond our death,

union with Christ gives us eternal hope.

It makes us secure forever.

Think back to that first image of a plane with the word united there,

so helpfully placed just for us, for the purpose of this summer.

The assurance we have today is that having been seated in that plane,

in Christ, we will reach our destination.

There will almost certainly be turbulence around us.

There will surely be fears and doubts within us,

but we can rest assured that we will arrive in heaven with God.

How do we know?

How do we know that?

Perhaps the Bible's best, most reassuring answer to that question is,

because the plane made it.

Christ made it home.

To hear this glorious truth,

to breathe some more of heaven's air,

we go to Easter.

And we turn to 1 Corinthians 15.

It's a classic passage about Jesus' resurrection.

I'm going to read it beginning at verse 12

to get us up to speed a little bit in Paul's conversation.

Then I'll slow down for our purposes this morning.

This is the eternal, infallible, enduring word of God.

Now, if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead,

how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

But if there is no resurrection of the dead,

then not even Christ has been raised.

And if Christ has not been raised,

then our preaching's in vain,

your faith is in vain.

We're even found to be misrepresenting God

because we testified about God that he raised Christ,

whom he did not raise,

if it is true that the dead are not raised.

For if the dead are not raised,

not even Christ has been raised.

Do you hear what?

Paul's assuming union with Christ already, isn't he?

What happens to Jesus happens to us.

So if we're not raised, he's not either.

Paul says twice, right?

Verse 17.

And if Christ has not been raised,

your faith is futile and you are still in your sins,

then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

If in this life only we have hoped in Christ,

we are of all people most to be pitied.

Oh, so we died with Christ.

Is that it?

Is that the end of the story?

Verse 20.

But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead.

The first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

For as by a man came death,

by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.

For as in Adam all die,

so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

But each in his own order.

Christ the first fruits.

Then at his coming, those who belong to Christ.

Then comes the end,

when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father

after destroying every rule and every authority and power.

For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.

The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

Father, what a glorious hope that is.

God, would you give us a deep breath of the air of heaven today.

Fill our souls with your joy and hope in Christ.

We ask in his name.

Amen.

Apparently, the Corinthians are having some discussions

surrounding life after death.

That's pretty understandable, right?

I bet some of us have questions about that.

What's it like?

What will happen?

We'll see they're wondering about what resurrected bodies would be like.

But most importantly, they want to know,

will the dead be raised?

It's a big question.

And Paul is really eager to build their faith.

And he does it in this passage by assuring them

that Christ himself has risen from the dead.

He's just told them that this is at the heart of the good news.

And that you can count on the fact that Jesus rose

in part because of all the eyewitness testimony.

Jesus appearing to individuals like Paul.

To smaller groups of 12, for example.

To large groups, 500 plus at the same time.

And that the Roman soldiers couldn't find his body to save their lives.

Many of his followers insist on having seen him alive

even when it costs their lives.

Religious leaders spend their lives trying to disprove his resurrection,

but they can't.

Paul says,

Jesus has indeed been raised from the dead.

And he's the first fruits.

Which idea means the full harvest is coming.

For as in Adam, all die.

In Adam, meaning in sin.

In death.

That's all of us stuck there when we're covered in Adam,

identified in Adam.

And he says,

So also in Christ shall all be made alive.

You see the difference, right?

In Christ.

Christ, the first fruits.

Then he comes back and all of those who belong to him,

all of those in Christ,

rise with him.

Friend, I want to say to you this morning,

if you have not stepped on the plane,

trusted in Jesus by faith in his life,

and his death,

and his resurrection in your place,

then you are still in Adam.

In the terminal, if you will,

where we all start.

And it's not a good place to be.

I want to warn you of that because I love you

and I care about you.

Being there means being in sin.

It means facing death on your own.

And I don't want that for any of us.

Because the way to safety and the life

is found by being covered by Jesus.

It is the only way.

But if you have come aboard, so to speak,

you can be gloriously certain,

completely confident,

just as confident as you are,

that Jesus is in heaven today,

that one day you will be too.

If Christ died and you died with him,

then as Christ lives,

you live with him.

Never to die again,

Paul says elsewhere.

This is a wonderful truth.

Charles Wesley was celebrating it

when he wrote this great hymn

we sing almost every Easter.

Christ the Lord is risen today.

Hallelujah.

And look down at that second verse.

Soar we now.

Where Christ has led,

following our exalted head.

Man, he's got good theology, doesn't he?

He reads his Bible,

Charles Wesley does.

Okay?

Jesus is our head.

We are members of his body.

So where the head goes,

the body goes, right?

No other tricks.

The head goes, the body goes.

We follow him.

Made like him.

Like him we rise.

Ours the cross,

the grave,

the skies.

Hallelujah.

Man, when you sing that this Easter,

I hope you remember union with Christ.

Crucified with Christ.

Buried with Christ.

Raised with Christ.

He lives, you live.

There's,

it can't be any other way,

can it?

You're that united to him.

It's the certainty Paul writes about in Romans 8

when he assures us there is,

therefore now,

no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus

because all those in Christ are adopted

into God's family,

his children,

which verse 17 says means

we are co-heirs

with Christ.

Christ.

Wow.

And we suffer

with him.

He suffered.

We experience suffering,

don't we?

Oh man,

yeah,

can't deny that.

As surely

as you experience

suffering,

you can trust.

Christ.

We will be glorified

with him.

Remember,

at the end of the day,

neither death,

nor life,

nor angels,

nor rulers,

nor things present,

nor things to come,

nor powers,

nor height,

nor depth,

nor anything else

in all creation

will be able to separate us

from the love of God

in Christ Jesus,

our Lord,

not even death.

That same promise

is said differently

to the Colossians.

Your life

is so hidden

with Christ

in God

that when Christ

appears,

you also

will appear

with him

in glory

over and over.

God wants you

to know

that you are

secure

forever.

Your eternity

is gloriously

certain

in Christ.

But there's even

one further step

God is wanting

to make sure

we don't miss.

You hear all the talk

of glory

in these passages?

You'll appear

with him

in glory,

glorified

with him.

So,

there is a quality

to this eternal

hope

that you and I

can hardly imagine.

We really

can't comprehend

and that's that

because of our

union with Christ,

we will be

gloriously

alive.

I can't even

put it into words

for you.

We can hardly

fathom this glory.

Okay,

so we're

made alive.

We've read that.

In Christ,

we're made alive.

That's wonderful

enough,

isn't it?

Just to be alive.

But then,

Jesus starts

ruling

and reigning

over all of

his and

our enemies.

He's the

conquering king

and finally,

he destroys

death.

None of us

has experienced

this,

but that is

the power

of being united

to Jesus,

his life,

without any

specter of

death

hanging over

any of it.

Can you even

imagine?

And Paul goes

on to explain

in the rest of

this chapter,

our physical,

bodily resurrection

is as certain

as Christ's,

the one who himself

was touched

by so many.

They felt the

scars in his hands

and his sides

and he has this

glorious new

body.

even if it was

only from a

physical perspective,

can you imagine?

We long

for this.

I know you do.

Friends,

dementia

is no match

for this

restoration

of the body.

Chronic pain

that some of you

have known

every day of your

life,

it's not as

lasting as

this relationship

that we have

in Christ.

Even

death

is not

as powerful

as this

life,

Jesus

destroys

death

forever.

Gone.

That's what we

noticed way back

at the start

of the summer

when we looked

at Ephesians 2

that one of the

primary reasons

that God raised

us with Christ

and seated us

with him

was because

he had

more,

if you can

imagine,

more glorious

grace to pour

on us.

Verse 7,

so that

in the coming

ages

he might

show the

immeasurable

riches

of his

grace

poured out

in kindness

towards us

in Christ

Jesus.

That's the

nature

of God

in his

grace,

that there's

always something

more to come.

There's always

something better

ahead for us.

In fact,

1 John 3

says that part

of that gracious,

glorious restoration

is that we

will be not

only with

Jesus,

but also

so connected

to him

that we

will actually

be made

like him.

The perfect

image of

God

restored in

us all the

way through.

See,

Christ is

actually that

near to us,

not some

distant hope

who is so

amazing,

but we could

never be

like that.

Pastor,

you're crazy.

Sin clings

too tightly.

My passion

burns too

lightly for

that.

Satan accuses

me too

rightly.

I know

it.

No.

No.

You will

be

like

him.

How?

That's

crazy.

Listen,

connect the

dots.

Who's the

highlight of

heaven?

It's not

you.

Jesus

is the

highlight of

heaven,

and you

will be

always

with

the Lord,

which means

that all of

the joys of

union with

Christ,

all of the

blessings,

all of the

fruit of

union with

Christ that

we've discussed

this summer and

so much more

that we haven't,

it all

continues

forever

with nothing

to hinder

their growth,

nothing to

hinder your

joy,

nothing to

hinder your

reflecting Jesus

in ways that

you never have

before.

You are

defined forever

in Christ,

blessed forever,

loved forever,

bearing fruit

forever,

connected to

one another

forever,

therefore secure

forever in

Christ.

In Christ

shall all

be made

alive,

not just

life like

you know

it,

first Christ

himself to

this new

life,

never more

to die,

and then all

who belong

to Christ

made alive,

never more

to die,

eternally to

enjoy,

not some

disembodied

existence playing

a harp floating

on a cloud,

no,

no,

no,

no,

personal,

physical,

loving,

sin-free,

fruitful,

adventurous,

communal,

joyous,

purposeful,

pain-free,

glorious life

with no sin,

no tears,

no heartache,

and all of

Jesus,

all of joy,

all of

Jesus all

the time,

inseparably,

unbreakably,

eternally

united

to him

who makes

heaven

heaven,

heaven,

right?

You see

his face

and it's not

way out there

somewhere,

but you say,

Jesus,

you're mine,

you're right

here with me

and I'm with

you forever.

forever.

Just listen to

great British

preacher Charles

Spurgeon.

Breathe in the air

of heaven for a

minute.

We do not know

yet, beloved,

of what happiness

we are capable.

Oh,

may I be there

if I may but

see the king

in his beauty,

in the fullness

of his joy,

when he shall

take by the

right hand

her for whom

he shed

his precious

blood

and shall

know the

joy which

was set

before him

for which

he endured

the cross

despising

the shame.

I shall

be blessed

indeed.

Oh,

what a day

that will be

when every

member of

Christ

shall be

crowned

in him

and with

him

and every

member

of the

mystical

body

shall be

glorified

in the

glory

of the

bridegroom.

A day

will come,

the day

of days,

times crown

and glory

when the

saints arrayed

in the

righteousness

of Christ

shall be

eternally

one with

him in

living,

loving,

lasting

union,

partaking

together

of the

same

glory,

the glory

of the

Most High.

What must

it be

to be

there?

What an

eternal

hope.

Breathe

deeply

of that

glory.

Feel

him right

now.

Take

you

by the

hand

and know

for certain

that he

will never

let go

forever.

Briefly,

three thoughts

about today

in light of

that eternity.

It's that

good and

we're not

there yet,

but it's

already

breaking

in and

it must

to where

we are.

Pastor,

does this

matter to

me before

I die

or Jesus

returns?

Can I

just put

this on

a shelf

and when

Jesus comes

back I'll

enjoy it?

No,

no,

no,

I hope

it matters

for all

of us

today.

First,

we must

have this

hope in

the

everyday.

Here's

what I

mean.

I often

think that

glory will

be the

Clemson

football team

winning the

national

championship

this year

again.

That will

be glory

and that's

what you

think too,

isn't it?

Thank you.

And then

let me get

serious and

imagine that

you're there

in heaven

and you've

been there

a million

years

with Jesus.

Do you

think I'll

even remember?

If I can

remember

because my

memory is

perfect somehow,

do you

think the

joy will

even

register

compared to

the

surpassing

worth

of being

in

Christ?

Christ?

For you,

maybe glory

feels like

fitting into

a smaller

dress size

or your

golf score

dropping a

stroke.

Oh,

yeah,

that would

make your

day.

An extra

hundred dollars

in the bank

or that guy

likes me or

pays attention

to me.

really,

we feel

that's glory,

don't we?

In many of

our days,

even our

years,

that would

make it.

For just

a moment,

can we

all admit

how laughable

you mocked

me,

how meager,

how small

our conception,

our thoughts

of glory

are,

how easily

distracted

we are

every day

from the

true

glory.

It's why

God tells us

to fix our

eyes not

on what is

seen,

but on what

is unseen.

What is seen

is temporary,

it's fleeting,

it's gone

fast.

What is unseen

is eternal,

it's lasting.

It's why

He tells us

to set our

minds on

things above,

see that's

your reality,

don't be

confused,

you've been

raised with

Christ,

God wants

to lift

your head

child of

God because

He loves

you to

see the

glory you

have in

Christ so

that what

you'll long

for today is

just an extra

minute with

Him now,

just another

chance to

share His

love today,

a lasting

glory beyond

all comparison,

place your

hope there

every day,

not anywhere

else.

we also

really need

this eternal

hope in

the face

of tragedy.

Just get

in your

mind for a

moment the

last personal

tragedy you

experienced or

the tragedy you

saw in the

news and you

couldn't breathe.

You had to

avoid thinking

about it so

that you

wouldn't find

the thought

just unbearable

or despair

of life.

When tragedy

strikes,

when someone

I love

dies too

soon,

isn't it

always?

When I

grieve the

loss of

someone even

before he

dies,

I need a

hope beyond

this life.

that's the

only kind

of hope

that will

do.

Otherwise,

to be honest,

none of it

makes sense.

It's unjust.

It's

heartbreaking.

It is too

final.

Unless it's

not

final.

Unless

there's this

kind of

glorious

life that

we've just

been describing

and it's

really a

thing and

it really

goes on

forever

and the

sufferings of

this life

somehow in

a way we

don't understand

achieve an

eternal glory

that far

outweighs

anything in

this life,

then I can

breathe.

I have to

breathe the

air of

heaven and

there's eternal

hope,

isn't there?

You've tasted

it.

God's

hope of

union with

Christ

speaks into

our

uncertainty.

We all

wonder what's

ahead,

don't we?

Perhaps even

more we wonder

why we can't

control so

much of it.

Death is

especially

fearful for

humanity.

If you know

that feeling,

that fearing

and uncertainty

around death,

God says you

have that

feeling because

you weren't

made for

death or

for experiencing

the death of

others.

You were

made not

for separation

but for an

inseparable

relationship.

But because

all we know

here is

relationships with

an expiration

date,

we wonder

what if I

fail

big time?

what if I

struggle

with doubts

about God?

What if I

stop following

Jesus as

passionately as

I once did?

What will

become of me

when I die?

I wonder.

I want to

say to you

so that you

hear on the

authority of

God's word,

child of God,

man or

woman who

has put

your faith

in Jesus,

boy or

girl who

trusts Jesus

even though

you have

so many

questions,

more questions

than you feel

like you have

answers.

I want you

to know that

what God is

telling you is

he will not

let you go

because you

loosen your

grip on him.

He won't.

He will not

stop blessing

you because

you squandered

the first

blessing he

sent into

your life.

He will not

quit loving

you because

you became

unlovely.

You are

inseparably

united to

his perfect

beloved

son,

the one

who once

took all

of your

sins

and so

many,

many other

sins

all the way

to the

grave

with him

and then

he rose

victoriously

from the

grave

to glorious

never ending

life.

He will

bring you

home out of

whatever you're

in right now

and that

home will

be glorious.

in Christ

the best

is always

yet to

come.

That's the

kind of

eternal hope

Jesus wants

you living

with today

and every

single day

with him.

Looking

forward,

he wants

your eyes

fixed on

that day,

that day

when all

bow before

him,

when death

will be no

more,

when we see

Jesus face

to face.

that's the

day he

wants you

to have

in your

mind

today.

I know

that

because

Jesus

himself

looks forward

to that

day

when he

gives us

this supper

to remind

us of

him.

Matthew

who was

there

that night

records

what Jesus

said.

As they

were eating

Jesus

took bread.

After

blessing

it,

he broke

it and

gave it

to them

as I

ministering

in his

name.

Give

this bread

to you.

He said,

take,

eat,

this is

my body.

And in

the same

way after

supper,

he took

the cup

and said,

drink of

it,

all of

you.

This

is my

blood of

the covenant

poured

out for

many for

the forgiveness

of sins.

then he

said this,

I tell

you I

will not

drink

again of

this fruit

of the

vine until

that day

when I

drink it

new with

you in

my

father's

kingdom.

Until

that day

Jesus

said.

Jesus as

he goes

to the

cross is

thinking of

that day

when we

will drink

this cup

with him

at the

wedding

supper

of the

lamb

where we

are

the

bride

united

to him

forever.

Now don't

be confused

about this.

Jesus by

his spirit

is present

eating this

supper

with us

today.

but the

physical

personal

bodily

resurrected

son of

God

will drink

this

with you

your

physical

bodily

resurrected

personal

child

of God

self

on

that

day.

He'll

drink it

with us.

If that's

your hope

right now

he says

eat

and drink

look back

and remember

what he's

done for

you.

Look

forward

to life

with him

forever

and live

now

in light

of that

eternal

hope.

If you're

here today

and that's

not your

hope

my heart

for you

is that

you would

not leave

hopeless

today.

Don't come

eat bread

and wine

that will

mean nothing

of hope

to you

but would

you consider

the offer

of Jesus

he's offering

you an

eternal

hope

that no

matter what

happens

nothing

could ever

take away

from you

that you

would be

so connected

to him

that whatever

happens to him

and that's

a lot

of good

stuff

happens

to you

what a joy

it would be

for us to get

to talk with you

more about our

relationship with him

let's pray

and we'll come

to this table

together

what blessed

assurance

that Jesus

is mine

what a foretaste

of glory

divine

father

that you

give us

in this

bread

and wine

would you

take common

elements

would you

use them

to help

us

taste

heaven

to build

our

confidence

our

anticipation

our wonder

at our

great

savior

do that

by your

spirit

meeting

with us

we ask

for Jesus

sake

amen

for more

information

visit us

online

at

southwood.org