Let us commence our service by
singing together hymn number 193 to the tune Strasbourg 244. I am, says Christ, your glorious
head. May we attention give the resurrection
of the dead, the life of all that live. Hymn 193, tune Strasbourg
244. two hundred and forty four. This
is Christ, your glorious heir, May we attention keep The resurrection
of the dead, The dying of all that live. I faith in thee, that so richly
you mine founded before. And be that in thy name be pleased,
shall live to die no more. The sinner sleeping in his grave, and let my voice awake. And when I can't speak him to
save, my back I'll never see. Fulfill thy promise, gracious
Lord, on earth's assembly. Fulfill thy spirit with them
that and calls the dead to Him. Risen the power of Made the time in those who loved
thy name. For sin and Satan gave his strife,
to wrench the sacred flame. Thy power and mercy must prevail, from
death to set us free. And often seems that life and
health have enough meaning to me. To Thee we look, to Thee we bend,
to Thee for help we call. Our life and rest Let us read together from the
Holy Word of God in Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians and
chapter 15. the first epistle to the Corinthians
chapter 15 and we'll read down to verse 30. Moreover, brethren, I declare
unto you the gospel which I preach unto you, which also you have
received and wherein you stand, by which also you are saved. If you keep in memory what I
preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I
delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how
that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according
to the Scriptures, and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the
twelve. After that he was seen of above
five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain
unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that he
was seen of James, then of all the apostles. And last of all
he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. For
I am the least of the apostles, that I am not meet to be called
an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the
grace of God I am what I am, and His grace which was bestowed
upon me was not in vain. But I laboured more abundantly
than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with
me. Therefore, whether it were I
or they, so we preach, and so we believe. Now if Christ be
preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you
that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection
of the dead, then is Christ not risen And if Christ be not risen,
then is our preaching vain, and your faith is vain also. Yea,
and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified
of God, that he raised up Christ, whom he raised not up, if so
be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then
is not Christ raised. And if Christ be not raised,
your faith is vain, you are yet in your sins. Then they also
which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life
only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first
fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death,
by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all
die, even so in Christ should all be made alive. But every
man in his own order, Christ the firstfruits, afterward they
that are Christ at his coming, then come at the end when he
shall have delivered up the kingdom to God even the father when he
shall have put down all rule and all authority and power for
he must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet the
last enemy that shall be destroyed is death for he hath put he hath
put all things under his feet when he saith all things are
put under him it is manifest that he is accepted which did
put all things under him and when all things shall be subdued
unto him then shall the son also himself be subject unto him that
put all things under him that God may be all in all else what
shall they do which are baptised for the dead, if the dead rise
not at all? Why are they then baptised for
the dead? And why stand we in jeopardy
every hour? May the Lord bless the reading
of his own precious word and grant unto us a spirit of real
prayer. Holy, holy, holy. Lord God Almighty, which is an
art, an art to come. We bow before thy glorious majesty,
Father, Son and Holy Ghost. We desire a spirit of true worship. We desire to approach unto thee
in that way that thou hast appointed, through our risen Saviour, through
our Lord Jesus Christ. who is the way, the truth, and
the life. Lord, we come as poor sinners,
and we desire to confess our sins. Every one of us are the
fallen sons and daughters of Adam. We are born in sin. We are shapen in iniquity. And
we desire, O Lord, to confess before thee our sinfulness, our
wanderings, our backslidings, As the Apostle himself declares,
that which I would, I do not, and that which I would not, I
do. I find a law within my members that when I would do good, then
evil is present with me. And Lord, we prove that to be
so. And we have to confess with the dear Apostle, O wretched
man, that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death. O Lord, we do thank Thee that
through Jesus Christ our Lord, there is deliverance, there is
salvation, there is redemption. A door of hope is opened wide
in Jesus' bleeding hands and side. And this, O Lord, is all
our hope. We have no good works to plead.
As the hymn writer says, nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to
thy cross I cling. Foul o'er to the fountain fly. Wash me, Saviour, or I die. We pray, most gracious Lord,
that thou wouldst draw poor sinners unto thyself, that thou wouldst
graciously reveal that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the
life, and that there may be one and another here like that dear
woman that we read of in the Gospel. When she came to Jesus,
she said, if I might but touch the hem of his garment, I should
be made whole. Gracious God, may we come to
thee even this day. May we touch the hem of Jesus'
garment and draw from that sacred virtue that is in him, the virtue
of his precious blood that cleanses from all sin. virtue of his glorious
righteousness that covers our nakedness. O gracious God, do
then draw us unto thyself, do guide us by thy blessed spirit,
holy divine spirit of truth. We pray for thy heavenly power,
for thy divine unction to be known and felt in our hearts.
We pray that thou wouldst convince us of our sin, and lead to Jesus'
blood, and to our wandering eyes reveal the secret love of God. Lord, we are dependent upon Thee,
and we read in Thy Word that if any man be led of the Spirit
of God, he is a son of God. Oh, we pray to be led and guided
and directed by thee this day, lead us unto Jesus Christ, take
of the things of Jesus and reveal them unto us, and testify in
our hearts of the everlasting love of Jesus Christ, a poor
sinner. God so loved the world, he gave
his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should be saved,
we pray. that that divine power then may
be present in our assembly this afternoon. We pray that we might
know those divine drawings of our Heavenly Father, drawing
us unto his best beloved and all-glorious Son, for thy word
declares that none come except the Father draw. So we pray that
we might know those divine drawings of our Heavenly Father, to lead
and guide us into thy truth. We pray, most gracious Lord,
that thou would remember us as a church and as a congregation
and that thou would work mightily, powerfully and effectually among
us. We pray that we may see signs
to follow the preaching of the word. We pray, most gracious
Lord, that thou wouldst remember our brethren, the deacons, who
have needed grace, wisdom, and help to them, and that thou wouldst
remember each one of our brethren and sisters in church fellowship.
And we pray that thou wouldst remember the whole of our congregation,
that thou wouldst work mightily, powerfully, and effectively among
us. Remember the little ones and
the children that are brought into the sanctuary. Do graciously
bless them. with that rich grace that is
in Christ Jesus. Bless them with the fear of the
Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom. We pray for our young
friends, that they too may know thy rich blessing, that they
may be brought to living faith in Jesus Christ, that they may
become true followers of thee and of those who through faith
and patience inherit the promises. We pray, most gracious Lord,
that thou wouldst guide and direct them in life's journey, and unfold
thy holy will unto them. We do pray that we may see the
fulfilling of that wonderful promise. Instead of thy father
shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the
earth. Lord, we pray that prodigals
may return, those that have wandered away from the ways of righteousness
and truth, May they return unto the house of God. Lord, what
a rejoicing there would be to see the prodigals return. We
pray that may the power that brings salvation be exerted in
the world. We do humbly pray thee, most
gracious God. We pray, O Lord, that the prodigals
may return. Lord, we long to see such a day.
We pray that the light and glory and power of gospel truth may
shine into this village, and the strongholds of Satan may
be pulled down, and the kingdom of the Lord Jesus set up in the
hearts of sinners. Lord, let thy work appear unto
thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. We do humbly
beseech of thee. O Lord, thou art able to do abundantly
more than we can even ask or think. We think of those wonderful
gospel promises in thy word. I will bring thy sons from far,
and thy daughters from the ends of the earth, and they shall
come from the north and from the south, and from the east
and from the west. O Lord, we do pray that thou
wouldst let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, the
son of man, whom thou madest strong for thyself. So will not
we turn back from thee? We do pray, most gracious Lord,
that they will work mightily, powerfully, and effectually in
the day in which we live. Remember parents who give grace
to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of
the Lord. Remember all in the midst of the journey of life
and graciously bless them, lead them, guide them, direct them,
and graciously grant that they may be found followers of thee
and of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
We pray, O Lord, that thou wouldst give us that grace that we may
not be weary in well-doing. We pray to be delivered from
the temptations of Satan. Sometimes, Lord, he comes as
a roaring lion, seeking who he may devour. and sometimes he
comes as an angel of light seeking whom he may deceive. We pray
to be delivered from his power and from his influence and we
plead that wonderful and precious promise. When the enemy comes
in like a flood, the spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard
against him. Lord, we pray that it may be
so. We think, O Lord, of the dear
apostle when he could write, and he said unto the church at
Thessalonica, for our gospel came unto you, not in word only,
but in power, in the Holy Ghost, and with much assurance. We pray,
O Lord, that it may be so with us. Remember, those of us, O
Lord, that are now in the evening time of life's journey, and guide
us graciously unto thy heavenly kingdom. Prepare us for that
great change which must come. We do humbly beseech thee and
grant at the appointed time an abundant entrance into thy heavenly
kingdom. O Lord, we do pray for all thy
servants as they labour in word and doctrine upon the walls of
Zion today. that thou wilt set them free,
that thou wilt set them at liberty, that thou wilt grant them, and
thus saith the Lord, we do humbly beseech thee. Oh, do hear us,
Lord, we pray, and remember the churches up and down the land,
and may bear thine holy arm in the gospel, and that instead
of a decline, we may see an increase, we may see a building up, a renewing,
a reviving, a replenishing, in the hearts of thy people and
in the congregations we do pray thee. We think in days past when
there was a wonderful outpouring of the Spirit, many precious
souls were found pressing into the kingdom of heaven. We pray
that we may see such a day again, that thou wouldst revive us and
renew us and replenish us, to make us more spiritually minded,
to set our affections on things above, do help us to lay aside
every weight and the sin that doth so easily beset us, and
that we might run with patience the race that is set before us,
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who
for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising
the shame thereof, and is now set down at the right hand of
the Majesty on high. O Lord, we do thank Thee for
all Thy tender mercies. Thy mercies to us are new every
morning and great is Thy faithfulness. We do thank Thee, O Lord, for
our little house of prayer. We thank Thee for maintaining
us and this house of prayer over so many years. We thank Thee,
O Lord, for the gathering together of the people. But above all,
we thank thee for the wonderful glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. We thank thee for the eternal
word that was made flesh and dwelt among us. We thank thee
that he was made of a woman and made under the law, that he might
redeem them that are under the law. We thank thee, most gracious
Lord, that he has fulfilled that law. and honoured that law on
the behalf of his people and thereby bringing in everlasting
righteousness for thy people. We thank thee for Calvary where
the lamb was slain. We thank thee for that wonderful
sin-atoning sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. We thank thee
that in that sacrifice sin has been put away Divine justice
has been satisfied, and God and sinners are reconciled, and peace
is made between God and man. O Lord, we do thank Thee that
He died for our sins and rose again for our justification. What a wonderful foundation doctrine,
the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Help us to think on these things.
O Lord, we do beseech Thee. Death has been swallowed up in
victory, and life in immortality is brought to light in the Gospel.
Oh, we do thank Thee, then, for a risen Saviour, for the empty
tomb. We do thank Thee that He has
bodily ascended into heaven, that He now sitteth at the right
hand of the Majesty on high. For such an high priest have
we, who is passed into the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, Lord,
we do thank Thee for these wonderful, precious truths of our most holy
faith. We pray that Thou wouldst now
be with us as we turn to Thy holy word, that Thou wouldst
come and open the word to our heart and to our understanding,
and that the eyes of our understanding may be enlightened. We do pray
that Thou wouldst come and touch one's lips with a live coal from
off the heavenly altar, we ask with the forgiveness of all sin,
for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. Let us now sing together hymn
number 491, The tune is Bethany, 629. Pleased we read in sacred story
How our Lord resumed his breath. Where's, O grave, thy conquering
glory? Where's thy sting, thou phantom
death? Soon thy jaws restrain from chewing,
Must disgorge their ransom prey. Man first gave thee power to
ruin, man too takes that power away. Hymn 491. Tune Bethany
629. In this tempest-torn land, A
land of wisdom and strength, ? Where to pray thy holy glory
? ? Where to pray thy holy glory ? ? Where to pray thy holy glory
? ? Where to pray thy holy glory ? ? Where to pray thy holy glory
? ? Watch their children rise from
grave ? ? Let us make thee proud, dear U.A. ? ? Until daytime,
our own way ? While you have fought, Savior,
Savior, I have become thy fighter. I most ever will forever, God
Almighty and Lord of all. In the mornings of adventure,
Smilingly our paths will wave. We shall share His resurrection,
living on His 10,000. ? If you die with the repentance
? ? Be not frightened, Christ appears ? ? Rise to Him, O gentle Savior
? ? Blessings rejoice and praise
? ? Beauty and glory be to the Lord ? ? Hail thee Jesus Christ
to reign ? Greatly feeling to need the Lord's
gracious help, I direct your attention to the chapter that
we read, the 15th chapter of the first epistle to the Corinthians,
and we'll read verses 20 to 22. Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians,
chapter 15, read in verses 20 to 22. But now is Christ risen
from the dead. and become the first fruits of
them that slept. For since by man came death,
by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all
die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. There were false teachers that
had crept into the church at Corinth. And those false teachers, we
don't know who they are, the apostle doesn't say, but we do
know that the Sadducees, which was a sect of the Jews, denied
the resurrection of the dead. And so whether they were former
Sadducees, we don't know. But this we do know, that they
denied the resurrection of the dead. You know it's something that
is beyond the comprehension of poor sinful man, of poor human
nature. To comprehend that someone rising
from the dead. But this is the very central
foundation truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that Christ
died for our sins and rose again for our justification. And these
are foundation truths and as the Apostle explains here to
these Corinthians, if Christ be not raised up, your faith
is vain, yet in your sins. then they also which have fallen
asleep in Christ are perished. But the gospel teaches exactly
the opposite. It teaches that a person that
comes to live in faith in Jesus Christ and that by grace becomes
a follower of Jesus Christ is delivered from sin and Satan's
power. He's delivered from the curse
of the law and delivered from death. For we all must die. You might say, why do we all
have to die? Why do Christians have to die? Well, that goes back to the holy
law of God. And it says in the holy law of
God, the soul that sinneth, it shall die. And the word of God
is very clear that we all have sinned. There's no exception. We all have sinned. Indeed, King
David in his confession of sin when he sinned with Bathsheba,
but in his confession of sin in Psalm 51, he confesses that
he was born in sin. He was shapen in iniquity. Indeed, This is again one of
the fundamental truths of our most holy faith. And a person that is truly born
again, the Lord Jesus, you remember in John chapter 3, when speaking
to Nicodemus, he said he must be born again. And he emphasises
that, he said except a man be born of water and of the Spirit,
he cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven. You must be born again. My dear beloved friends, if you're
never born again of the Spirit of God, you can never enter heaven.
That is why the Lord Jesus lays that emphasis. You must. It's
not something that's optional. It's something that is absolutely
fundamental. You must be born again. Or that the Lord would, by His
Spirit, impress that upon each one of our hearts and minds.
the vital necessity of being born again. The Lord Jesus, he
speaks of that when in that valedictory discourse of his in John chapters
14, 15, and 16, particularly in chapter 16, he says, when
he the spirit of truth has come, he will reprove, the margin says,
convince the world of sin. of righteousness, of judgment. And that is true in the experience
of every single child of God. And when I say a child of God,
I mean a person that is born again. And when the Holy Spirit
comes to the heart, he convinces that, I prefer in the text of
scriptures, we prove the world of sin. But if you have a marginal
reference in your Bible, has an alternative and it says convince
that's a very strong word he will convince the world of sin
now that word convince a Person that is born again and
under conviction of sin They don't just think they're sinners.
I'm trying to explain to you here the meaning of the word
convince. I don't just think they're a sinner They know, they
feel it. And why do they know and feel
it? Because the Holy Spirit has quickened their soul. The Holy
Spirit is convincing them of their sin. As it says there in the text
of Scripture in John 16, He will convince the world of sin, of
righteousness, and judgment. Of sin, of righteousness and
of judgment. So what the Holy Spirit does,
he convinces that sinner that they are a sinner. It's a very
personal thing. It's not about anyone else's
sin, it's about your sin. And you really feel that you
have sinned. And then it says he will convince
of sin of righteousness. So what does it mean that God
is righteous? that God is righteous, that God
is holy, that God is pure. That's what He will convince
you of. And then of judgment. You know,
a person that has been born again, the day of judgment is a reality. It's not something that it could
be or it may be, they know. And that is the meaning of that
word convince, they know. Some people In their personal
spiritual experience, they have a very deep conviction of sin.
Other people, it's much more gentle. And the teaching of the spirit
in some is very dramatic, and in others, it is hear a little,
there a little. It says in Isaiah, doesn't it?
Hear a little, there a little, line upon line, precept upon
precept, gradually. by the Spirit's inward teaching,
we're taught the truth. Don't forget the Holy Ghost is
called the Spirit of Truth and he teaches us truth and he convinces
us of that truth. This of course is just one side
of the teaching of the Holy Spirit. The other side is that he will
take of the things of Jesus and reveal them unto you. The same
spirit that convicts and convinces of sin also reveals the Lord
Jesus Christ as the way, the truth and the life. When the Holy Spirit opens that
way to that poor sinner, then light and life flow into their
heart. They then have a hope in Jesus
Christ. We sing that lovely hymn sometimes,
don't we? A door of hope is open wide in
Jesus' bleeding hands and side. But here in this particular chapter,
the apostle is dealing with the resurrection of the dead. You know, we need just to continue
for a moment on that point we've just been making, you must be
born again. Revelation chapter 20, the Lord
Jesus speaking to his servant John, he says, blessed are they
that have part in the first resurrection. Upon such the second death hath
no power. The first resurrection. And you may say to me, well what
is the first resurrection? I think you'll find it's in Revelation
chapter 20, if I remember correctly, verse 6. And what is the first
resurrection? Upon such the second death hath
no power, no power. The second death, you might say,
what is the second death? Well, the first death is when
we die and we're buried in the ground. The second death is when
we're resurrected from our graves and everyone will be it's called
the general resurrection when Christ comes a second time without
sin unto salvation and then the day of judgment
which is very graphically set forth in Matthew chapter 25 and
in that day of judgment the whole word it says all nations shall
be gathered before Christ in the day of judgment And then
it says, he will separate them. He will separate between the
sheep and the goats. The sheep and the goats. The
sheep are those persons that have been born again of the Holy
Ghost and brought to saving faith in Jesus Christ and become followers
of him. The goats are those that know
not our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, and the truth. They have never been born again
and they will be on his left hand. He will say to those on
his right hand, come, you blessed of my father. Inherit the kingdom
prepared for you from the foundation of the world. You know, when
you look at that come you blessed of my father, that there's not
a more blessed word that can be spoken by the eternal God
unto a poor sinner, that lovely word come. It reminds us of the
words of our Lord Jesus Christ when he says, come unto me, all
ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly
in heart, and ye shall find rest for your souls. Come unto me,
all ye that labour. And every truly born again soul
is brought to come to Christ and to look to Christ and to
cleave to Christ. And they desire to know Christ,
they want to know him more and more, just like the apostle says
in the Philippians, that I may know him in the power of his
resurrection, in the fellowship of his sufferings, that I may
know him. Once we know a little bit of
Jesus Christ, and the wonderful glory of who he is, my beloved
friends, you'll want to know more and more and more. You'll
be hungering and thirsting after Christ. Now, this is not just
a head knowledge. This is in the heart. Faith is
in the heart. The Apostle Paul in Romans 10,
he says, it is with the heart that the man believeth unto righteousness. Not with the head. The Apostle
writing to the Corinthians, he said, knowledge puffeth up. What does he mean? Just an empty
knowledge in our head of Christian truth? It doesn't do anything
for us. We need to be born again, and
if we're born again, we should know what it is what Jesus says,
blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness
you'll be hungering and thirsting after Christ if you're born again. You want to know him, you want
to follow him. So let us just not move on too
quickly here. Blessed and holy is he that hath
passed in the first resurrection on such a second death. That
second death is when Christ sits on the judgment seat and he says
to his people come. But then it says to those on
his left hand he will say, depart, depart. See just as it's such
a blessed word come, what a deeply solemn and terrible
word to hear from the Eternal God, depart from me ye curses. into everlasting fire, prepared
for the devil and his angels. You know, my beloved friends,
how awful, we cannot even begin to contemplate the tremendous
solemnity of that day of judgment. If we're prepared, if we're born
again, if we're brought to faith in Jesus Christ, We will know
that voice. Jesus said, didn't he, in John
10, my sheep, they know my voice and they follow me. And in that
great day when he says, come, you blessed of my father, they
know that voice. They know that voice. And it
will fill their hearts with such joy and peace in believing when
they hear that word, come. You know, it's very solemn what
the Lord Jesus Christ in his teachings. I think sometimes
we tend to overlook the solemnity of the teachings of Christ and
the vital need to know him, to serve him, to
follow him. He said to his disciples when
he called them, follow me, and they left everything and they
followed Christ. All that we may know what it
is to leave everything and to follow Christ. You know again
there is such a thing as false religion we prove it here in
the Corinthians where there were those that were denying what
is a fundamental truth of our most holy faith that Jesus rose
from the dead and they denied the resurrection of the dead
a fundamental doctrine of our most holy faith and so the apostle
He meets it head on. And here in verses three, in
chapter 15, verses three and four, for I deliver unto you,
first of all, that which I also receive, how that Christ died
for our sins according to the Scriptures. Notice how he sticks
close to Scripture. And we must stick close to Scripture.
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. and that he
was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the
scriptures. And then he says how he was seen
of Cephas, that is Peter, and of the 12 of above 500 brethren
ones. Christ was seen by these witnesses
after he rose from the dead. And then he says, last of all,
he was seen of me also as one born out of due time. He wasn't
one of the immediate disciples of Christ. Paul was stopped on
the road to Damascus. And he was on the road to Damascus
to persecute the church of God, to persecute the followers of
Jesus Christ. And as he was on the road to
Damascus, the Lord Jesus spoke to him from heaven directly.
Paul, or rather it was then Saul, of Tarsus, Saul, Saul, why persecutes
thou me? And he said, who art thou not?
I am Jesus, whom thou persecutes. Anybody that persecutes the people
of God, persecutes Jesus Christ. I am Jesus, whom thou persecutes. We see how this proud Pharisee
is brought to see and to realise, Lord, what wilt thou have me
to do? How he was humbled, wasn't he?
He was blinded with that sight of Christ. They had to lead him
by the hand into the city of Damascus because he was blind.
And then the Lord sent Ananias to him and he said, Brother Paul,
or Brother Saul as it was then. And you know, he arose and he
was baptized. And the other remarkable thing,
this proud Pharisee who was so persecuting the Church of God,
immediately he began to preach Christ in the synagogues of Damascus. That's something so remarkable.
A complete change. And there we see, my beloved
friends, the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Blessed and
holy are they that have part in the first resurrection. What
is it, the first resurrection? To be born again. To be resurrected
from spiritual death into spiritual life. In the first verse of Ephesians
chapter 1, we read the Apostle says, you hath he quickened.
That's an old English word. which means to give life, you
hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and in sins. You know, how many of us in this chapel
have been born again? How many of us have been raised
from spiritual death into spiritual life? How many of us have come
to save in faith in Jesus Christ? It's a vital question. In the
light of the words of the Lord Jesus, except a man be born of
water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. You see, the apostle says, I
am the least of the apostles, i'm not meet to be called an
apostle because i persecuted the church of god but by the
grace of god it's lovely what he says elsewhere by grace are
ye saved that not of yourselves it is the grace of god it's the
grace of our lord jesus christ that's what saves sinner we cannot
save ourselves it's only christ that can save us That's why he's
called the saviour of sinners, and it's by grace. The grace
of God that brings salvation hath appeared unto us. Where? In Jesus Christ. I am the resurrection
and the life. Jesus Christ is. He said to Mary,
didn't he, when Lazarus had died, I am the resurrection and the
life. You see, my beloved friends,
in another place in John 14 he says because I live he shall
live also he shall live also now the apostle here then labors
this very point in verse 12 now if Christ be preached that he
rose from the dead how say some among you that there is no resurrection
of the dead you know friends we do have to be careful of false
doctrine false doctrine And we must also oppose false
doctrine. And just as the apostle does
here, he calls out this false doctrine among the Corinthians. You see, now if Christ be preached
that he rose from the dead, how say some of you that there is
no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection
of the dead, then is Christ not risen? And if Christ be not risen,
then is our preaching vain and your faith is also vain? Yea,
we have found false witnesses of God. But then in our text
he lays a great emphasis here, but now is Christ risen? He's affirming this wonderful
precious truth You know the Apostle Paul, if you read through the
Acts of the Apostles and in the Epistles, this is the one doctrine
that he was constantly and continually challenged on. That Jesus Christ
rose from the dead. And it was a constant challenge.
He had to battle his way through with these people that did not
believe that this man rose from the dead. But now Is Christ risen from the dead? What a wonderful truth. We sing
often, don't we, around Easter Sunday, Christ the Lord is risen
today. He's risen today. We don't worship
a dead Christ. When the disciples came to the
tomb, it was said by the angel, come, see the place where the
Lord lay. He is not here, he is risen.
He's risen, what wonderful truth. He's risen and they could hardly
believe it. And even when Mary Magdalene
went to tell them that she'd seen Christ, they wouldn't believe
it. It was something that was too wonderful. It would be on
their comprehension until Christ himself came to see them. But now is Christ risen from
the dead and become the first fruits of them that slept. Now we're speaking here of the
whole Church of God, them that slept. Because Christ has risen,
we have to look at who Christ is. He's Jesus, the Son of God. He's the Eternal Son of the Eternal
Father. The Apostle says, doesn't he,
in Galatians chapter 4 verse 4, he says how the the Lord Jesus
Christ. We'll read it to you too. So
we correctly quote it, how that he was made of a woman, made
under the law. Galatians 4 verse 4, but when
the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his son, made
of a woman, made under the law. He's the eternal son of God.
Never forget that friend. He's the eternal son of God. And in the womb of the Virgin
Mary, he assumed human nature. He took a holy human nature into
union with his divine nature. Now, it's a profound mystery,
but that is what we see in Jesus Christ. He's the holy God man. But when the fullness of time
was gone, God sent forth his son, made of a woman, made under
the law, See, the law was made for man. The law of the Ten Commandments,
it says in scripture, the law was made for man. So when the
Son of God became a man, he came under the law. And he lived under
the law. This is essential. This is fundamental
doctrine. Because when Christ lived as
a man here on earth, we really did no sin. He never broke God's
holy law. We're told in the first epistle
of John that sin is any transgression of the law of God. Jesus did no sin. He never broke
the law of God. He lived a life that was pure,
that was holy, that was righteous, made of a woman, made under the
law to redeem them that were under the law, that we might
receive the adoption of sons, And because ye are sons, God
has sent forth the spirit of his son into your hearts, crying,
Abba, Father. You see, it's only through the
glorious person of our Lord Jesus. So in Jesus Christ, we see a
man that did no sin. We see a man that lived a perfect
life. In Psalm 37 and verse 37, It's so beautiful there. Mark
the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man
is peace. That man is Christ. Christ is
the only perfect man that has ever walked this earth. So when
he comes towards the end of his life, he's done no sin. And we read in scripture, the
wages of sin is death. But He did no sin. He did no
sin. So why did He die? Why did He
suffer? Why did He die such a dreadful
death, such a painful death, such a humiliating death? We go back to Isaiah 53. It says
in Isaiah 53, He laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. The father
laid upon his son the iniquity of the church and that is why
he suffered and bled and died. It says there in Isaiah 53, he
was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities.
The chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes
we are healed. That's what Jesus has done for
his people. He suffered and bled and died.
The father Just think of the infinite love of the father when
he takes the sin of the church and just go to the garden of
Gethsemane and we see Jesus in agony, in such grief, he's sweating
great drops of blood. Why was that? Because of that
word. The father there in the garden
of Gethsemane, he took the sin of the whole church and he laid
it on Jesus Christ, on his only begotten son. that was manifest
in the flesh and he suffered and he bled and he died for our
sins he was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities
but then we read he rose again for our justification the resurrection of Christ he was Crucified and he died
for the sins of his people But when he rose again, he left
all their sins in the grave He paid the redemption price in
his sufferings and his sorrows and in his death. He paid the
redemption price And the evidence that he paid
that redemption price and the father is well pleased for that
redemption price Is he rose from the dead? Their sins and their
iniquities will I remember no more. But now is Christ risen from
the dead and become the first fruits of them that slept. For
since by man, that is Adam, came death, by man came also the resurrection
of the dead, that's Jesus Christ. You see, as in Adam, all die. even so in Christ shall all be
made alive. In him is life, and he that hath
the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of God hath
not life. You see, here in the latter part
of this chapter, I didn't read it because it is such a long
chapter. It says in verse 42, so also is the resurrection of
the dead as when we die it is sown in corruption it is raised
in incorruption it is sown in dishonor it is raised in glory
it is sown in weakness it is raised in power it is sown a
natural body it is raised a spiritual body there is a natural body
and there is a spiritual body and so it is written the first
man Adam was made a living soul, the last Adam, that's Christ,
was made a quickening spirit. Why is he called the last Adam?
Because Adam is the federal head of the human race and Christ
is the great king and head of the church. Albeit that was not
first which is spiritual but that which is natural and afterwards
that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth
earthly, the second man is the Lord from heaven. You see, these
things are setting before us, these wonderful truths are our
most holy found. And he says in verse 50, now
this I say brethren, that the flesh and blood cannot inherit
the kingdom of God, neither does corruption inherit incorruption.
Behold, I show you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we
shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling
of an eye, at the last trump, For the trumpet shall sound,
and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be
changed. This corruptible must put on
incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. And
so, when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and
this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought
to pass the saying that is written, death is swallowed up in victory. Why? because Jesus rose from
the dead. Now that word justification is
a long word which many people misunderstand but what it means
is a person that is justified is declared to be without sin.
The Apostle said in the Romans we are justified by faith in
Jesus Christ. We are declared to be without
sin in and through the sacred sufferings, death and resurrection
of Jesus Christ and his ascension into glory. He's made a new and
living way into the holy place. The resurrection is a wonderful
thing but the bodily ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven is
another wonderful thing. He has made a new and living
way. That gate to heaven was shut when Adam fell, when Adam
fell. But it was opened when Christ
ascended up. We have those lovely words in
Psalm 24. Lift up your heads, O ye gates, be ye lifted up,
ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty is
Christ as he ascends up into heaven. And those everlasting
gates lift their heads, and the King of glory enters into heaven.
Wonderful, precious truth, my beloved friends. He has made
a new and living way. What did he say to his disciples
in John 14? I go to prepare a place for you. He says there, doesn't he? But
you believe in God, believe also in me. In my father's house are
many mansions. If it were not so, I would have
told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare
a place for you, I will come again. and receive you unto myself,
that where I am, there ye may be also. This is the foundation,
my beloved friends, of our faith. For as in Adam all die, even
so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own
order, Christ the first roots, afterwards they that are Christ's
at his coming. You see, May the Lord lay these
precious truths in our hearts, that we might feel and know him
in the power of his resurrection. Amen. Let us now sing together hymn
number 751, The tune is St Clement's, 813. The Saviour lives no more to
die. He lives the Lord enthroned on
high. He lives triumphant o'er the
grave. He lives eternally to save. Hymn 751, tune St Clement's,
813. You can kiss the rose goodbye
You can kiss the rose goodbye He lives, triumphant, O'er all
the grave He lives, Eternally to save. He pays his debt for us with
his own spirit. He lives to love the way that
it is. He lives to come and show the
world His own message to impart. He gives all glory to his name. He makes a change of peace and
shame. He needs the passion to be heard
He needs to bring the cherubim Now may the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, the sacred fellowship
of the Holy Spirit, rest and abide with us each both now and
forevermore. Amen.