All right, let's take our Bibles
once again. Turn to 1 Corinthians 15. 1 Corinthians 15. Boy, what a blessed study, this
book in 1 Corinthians. Ben, I look forward to going
to 2 Corinthians, Lord willing. We're going to just pick up.
I'd like to consider verses 31 to 34. 1 Corinthians 31-34, just to remind
us where we were. There were some among the brethren
at Corinth, according to verse 12, that said that there's no
resurrection. And the Apostle Paul, under the
inspiration of the Spirit of God, refuted that lie. And you
think about this. Why would anyone refute or resist
the glorious truth concerning the resurrection? Now let me
tell you why for an unbeliever to resist the
truth of the resurrection. First of all, it declares God
Almighty to be sovereign. Now and then, because He never
changes. Almighty God rules. When He speaks, it is. Dead in Christ, the scripture
said, are going to be raised. All men at His voice, all in
the grave are going to hear His voice. So the only ones that
truly believe in the resurrection and what the scriptures have
to say about it are God's people. But why, on the second hand,
these, you know, verse 14, the scripture declares, you know,
I'm sorry, verse 12, now if Christ be preached that he rose from
the dead, how say some among you there's no resurrection of
the dead? Why would some want there not to be a resurrection.
Because it means that truly everybody is going to be summoned to stand
before God. And all that stand before God
who bow not to the Lord Jesus Christ. All who are not found
written in the Lamb's Book of Life, a book written from before
the foundation of the world. God Almighty put all the names
of all that would ever be converted in that book. That book's already
been written. How are you going to know if
your name is found written in that book? Now here's the only
answer. Do I believe God? Have I cast
my soul upon Him? have I shunned all works of self-righteousness,
put no trust whatsoever in myself. David said, if I make my bed
in hell, he's there in judgment. I have one hope. I have one hope that Almighty
God will receive me graciously. That's what we looked at last
Wednesday. You return unto the Lord and you come with these
words. Lord, forgive all my iniquity
and receive us graciously. Receive us, Lord, not because
of anything you see in us by nature, because if you do, I'm
sunk. I'm sunk. I have nothing, nothing
to give unto the Lord. God Almighty must save me. Why would the unbeliever not
want there to be a resurrection? Because all men are going to
stand before God and are going to give account. He's going to
give an account of everything that they've done and those found
in Christ will have an advocate to plead for them and will be
accepted in the Beloved. Psalm said there's no resurrection.
Verse 20, the Scriptures declare, but now is Christ risen from
the dead and become the first fruits of them that slept. Verse 21, by man came death,
by man came the resurrection of the dead. The end is going
to come, verse 24. When he's delivered up the kingdom
to God and he's going to put down all authority and rule and
power, he's reigning right now. And he must reign. He must reign. Satan is bound. You know, I listen to these people
talk about the thousand years when Satan's going to be bound
up and there's going to be a thousand years. Listen, listen, listen. Satan is bound up right now. Right now. What does that mean?
I thought he was as a roaring lion going about seeking whom
he may devour. He is. He is. But what's he bound
up about there? He's bound to His ability to
be able to stop God from saving His people. He can't stop God.
Almighty God is almighty. He's God. He's God. And this
is what He's doing. He's reigning right now. And
let me tell you what He's going to do through the preaching of
the gospel. He's going to save whomsoever
He will. He's going to call them out of
darkness. It's an amazing thing. They're going to all be just
like that A thief on the cross that was railing on the Lord.
One moment, and then all of a sudden, by the grace of God, he came
to himself. What? By his power? No. The Lord in power said to him,
I know this because of what the thief said, the Lord said to
him, like he said to Thomas, be not faithless, believe. And all of a sudden, that thief
said, Lord, when you enter into your kingdom,
will you remember me? Will you think of me? Now, doesn't
a believer say that? Lord, when you enter into your
kingdom, will you remember me? This puny sinner rebel against
you. Now, these things concerning
the resurrection are so. And God's people confessed that
in baptism. Now this is what Paul was saying. If there's no resurrection, as
some say, what would be the reason of being baptized? Verse 24. I'm sorry, verse 29. S, what
shall they do which are baptized for the dead if the dead rise
not at all? Why are they then baptized for
the dead? If there's no resurrection and
somebody says, well, I want to be baptized, why? Why? The dead, right here. Why was
this dead? Why would I want to be baptized
for this dead? I'm not coming out of the ground
if there's no resurrection. Why am I being baptized for the
dead? Not that silly foolishness people talk about. I'm going
to be baptized for someone that's already died. Well, if they died
without Christ, it's too late. I can tell you right now. As
a man died, that's the way he's going to spend eternity. Well,
if there's no resurrection, why are we being baptized for we
who are dead? We're not coming out if there's
no resurrection. Paul said in verse 30, if there's
no resurrection, why stand we in jeopardy every hour? Why? Why are we doing this? Why are
we going through this? Then he says, and here's where
we begin, verse 31, I protest by your, margin says our, I protest
by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die
daily. I solemnly affirm, I declare
by the boasting, boasting in the Lord concerning you and me,
he said, being confident of our salvation and resurrection in
Christ. Here's what he's saying. I am in danger daily of dying
for bearing the testimony of the resurrection in Christ and
I were being resurrected in Him. What Paul was saying, I die daily,
face death daily for preaching what I'm preaching. concerning
life in Christ, the very truth that we as God's people, that
truth that we rejoice in, in Him. Hold your place there and
look at 2 Corinthians 4, 2 Corinthians 4, 8. 2 Corinthians 4, 8 to 11. We're troubled on every side,
yet not distressed. We're perplexed, but not in despair. We're persecuted, but not forsaken. Cast down, but not destroyed.
Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus.
That the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always
delivered unto death for Jesus' sake. That the life also of Jesus
might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. What Paul was saying
right there. We're liable to the same hatred
and sufferings as our Lord. Not that we suffer to the extent,
no man ever suffered like He suffered, but as He did suffer,
we do too. You set forth and take a stand
for the gospel The gospel, and that's Christ who is your life. He's my life. And I'm telling
you, it's going to cost you everything. It'll cost you family, it'll
cost you reputation, it'll cost you, you know, just... It's amazing. Man by nature hates the gospel. But Paul says we've got this
consolation. Here's the comfort we've got.
As he lives, So do we, now and then, spiritually. As he was
raised, Paul said, we're going to be raised too. And we'll stand
before God, believing, believing that Christ has answered. He's
answered for us. We'll have boldness. That's what
we read a while ago in 1 John 4. boldness in that day because
this is the hope we got. What's your hope, Barber? As
He is, so am I. As He obeyed, I obeyed in Him. As He answered, I'm answered
for. Are you going to bank your eternal
soul on that? That's all I got. What else do
I have? Where do I go from here, Mitch,
if He has not answered for me? Peter said, where are we going
to go? You have the words of eternal life. What are you going
to do? Not by works of righteousness
that we know. What else you got? You ain't
got any. It's hopeless. He says in verse
32 back in 1 Corinthians 15, If after the manner of men I
fought with beast at Ephesus, what advantages it me if the
dead rise not? Let us eat, drink, for tomorrow
we die. Now let me say this, no one can
truthfully say from the scriptures that Paul actually fought with
wild beast in Rome. The scriptures bears out, 2nd
Corinthians, I'll read this to you, 2nd Corinthians 1, 8. It says, for we would not, brethren,
have you ignorant of our trouble, which came to us in Asia, that
we were pressed out of measure above strength, insomuch that
we despaired even of life. Some have said that that scripture
right there was Paul's, you know, the distresses, it could have
been the beast. But the thing about it is, in
the book of Acts, Luke, who penned the book of Acts, gave no record
of an actual encounter with animals, beasts, like, you know, Paul
was a Roman. Paul was a Roman. He was a free
Roman. It is not likely, commentators
say, that he would be subjected to such contest as that, put
out there in the arena with lines. It wasn't likely. I mean there
were some men when they found out, they beat him after they
found out he was a Roman, they were scared to death because
Romans carried a lot of, you know, free Romans. Carried, you
know, some privilege. Rank has its privileges. Paul
was a Roman. They hated him because of what
he preached. But he was a Roman. So it's not
likely. But obviously, whatever it was,
it was the Lord's providential guidance and direction to place
Paul in such an extreme trial that he was fearing for his life. He didn't know. Very possibly,
Paul was speaking of fighting with beastly men, is who he was
talking about at Ephesus, exposing himself to their rage and fury. Whatever it was, whether it was
animals or men, he was fearful. I mean, obviously something happened. Paul was one that was, you know,
he was, man, he was in the deep numerous times, he was beaten
numerous times, he was stoned, he was left for dead. And something
happened that he truly believed, I don't think I'm going to make
it out of this one. But whatever it was, the Lord delivered him. And Paul said it was because
of what he was preaching. That's why, you know the scripture
talks about God's people being hated of all men. What are they hated for? For
what they believe. For what they believe. For what
they believe. Because let me tell you something. Since salvation is totally by
the grace of God, and since God chose a people before the foundation
of the world that he was going to save, and since Christ only
died for the elect according to the scriptures, And since
all for whom Christ died shall surely be saved, John 6, 37,
since that is true, since God has a people that he's going
to save according to these scriptures, then that means that anybody
that doesn't preach, that's a liar. That's what it means. That's
what it's saying. You can't have two ends of the spectrum and
both of them be true. One of them is a lie. According
to these scriptures, why are all God's people hated? Why do men refute the resurrection
knowing that the scriptures say they're going to stand before
God and give an account? Why? Paul says, if the dead rise not,
why would I willingly subject myself to such contention? If they're not going to rise,
then let's eat and drink Tomorrow we're going to die. Let's just
go for all the gusto you have. I mean, you only go around once.
You know, there was a beer commercial that said you only go around
once. Reach for all the gusto you can. Do whatever you can
because tomorrow is the end of it. Verse 33. Be not deceived. Evil communications
corrupt good manners. Don't be misled by those who
deny the resurrection or just refuse it, or just... they just don't care. They just
don't care. Don't be misled concerning the resurrection and the consequences
of their rebellious actions, evil communications. What does
that mean, evil communications? Having companionship or associating
with them, is what Paul is saying, will corrupt you, Staying around
and listening to those who deceive false teachers is going to have
a bad influence upon you. Then Paul gives this final exhortation
concerning being alert. If there's someone that is proclaiming
something and it's not scriptural, Don't lead them to believe that
you agree with them. Don't do it, that's what he's
saying. Don't, you know. What he says
in verse 34, he says, listen, awake to righteousness and sin
not, for some have not the knowledge of God. I speak this to your
shame. Awake to righteousness. Be spiritually sober to that
which is right. Awake to righteousness. Agree
with God. Be vigilant. Be on guard. Rouse
yourself righteously. Ask the Lord. Lord, teach me
this. Teach me, Lord. Don't let me
be deceived. Don't let, keep me from presumptuous
sin. Don't allow yourself to be carried
away by these deceivers. What do you do? Don't listen
to them. Don't listen to them. Guard against
that state of that carnal intoxication and spiritual drunkenness. That's
what it When it says awake, that's what it is. It means rouse yourself. How can I rouse myself? Hear the preaching of the gospel. The greatest help that any of
us have, hear the preaching of the gospel. as oft avail yourself
to it all the time. Give yourself to it. Awake to
righteousness. Faith cometh by hearing. Hearing by the Word of God. What
do I need? What do you need? What do we
all need? I need to hear what God has to say. I need to hear
the Word of the Lord. Awake to righteousness and sin
not. What? Against the light. Don't
refuse, don't be carried away denying the word of God. Paul
didn't regard, I'll tell you this, he did not regard the denial
of the doctrine of resurrection by some of them that did to be
a harmless speculation. These that did not believe in
the resurrection, Paul didn't pass that thing off as something
that was just insignificant or light. He regarded that which
would lead to dangerous, dangerous consequences. If he was not there personally,
he was there warning, writing stuff, he warned them. He said,
listen, some have not the knowledge of God, they're ignorant of God
and therefore they deny or they mock the resurrection, trying
to lead you astray. trying to maintain an association
with you, to tell you to leave them alone. Paul said these are
in your midst. Obviously some, they were there
and they weren't, you know, correcting me. Paul said I'm saying this
to your shame. They're like those, as I conclude
here. Turn over to Matthew 22. Matthew
22. There was a group of people some
Sadducees, Matthew 22, verse 23. Matthew 22, starting in verse
23. There were some people, some
Sadducees, and they didn't believe in the resurrection. And they
said this, verse 23, Matthew 22, 23. That same day came to
Him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection,
and they ask Him, saying, Moses said, if a man die having no
children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up seed unto
his brother. Now, there were with us seven
brethren. And the first, when he had married
a wife, deceased, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother. Likewise, the second also, and
the third unto the seventh. Last of all, the woman died also. Therefore, In the resurrection,
now remember this, they don't believe in the resurrection.
So you can just almost just hear the sarcasm. Therefore, in the
resurrection, whose wife shall she be of the seven? For they
all had her. And Jesus answered and said unto
them, you do her, not knowing the scriptures nor the power
of God. For in the resurrection they
neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels
of God in heaven." Now, how mercifully the Spirit of God allowed these
Sadducees to bring forth a question to the Lord concerning the resurrection,
a resurrection which they didn't believe. They just, all they
were doing, they were going to try to catch Him. Oh, we got
a question for Him that He'll never be able to, you know. They
wanted to show how absurd the doctrine of the resurrection
is concerning life to come. They wanted to hear an answer
about a brother who had a wife And if she had been legally married,
he didn't have children so he went to his next brother and
next brother, seven brothers. And they were all, you know,
brothers, they were all married in succession to this one woman. Now, what they wanted to know
was this. This is what Moses had to say. So we're going to
go back to the law now. We're going to start, you know,
and we're going to find out. Now, concerning what Moses had
to say, what's going to be their marriage state in heaven? And they meant to, as all false
professors do, insinuate that there must be confusion. I mean,
if the law is going to have to be observed, And it's all got
to go in order, you know, for Moses, saying Moses, you know.
Obviously, then in the resurrection there must be strife and disorder. After the death of men, you know,
after they rise again, there must be a continuation of the
turmoil. I mean, this woman was married
to seven brothers. Then she died. They were all
legally married. Now in heaven, whose wife is
she going to be? In this state of resurrection,
listen, let us be warned, never let it be surprised, never be
surprised if we're met with objections to the clearly divine truth of
God's word. But from the arrogance of this
question, the church is marvelously taught something that we would
have never known had the Lord not allowed them to ask a question
trying to disprove the resurrection And the Lord answered that question
and taught us something. Our Lord answered them and told
them concerning the resurrection. I'll continue now in the next
couple of verses here. He told them, he said in verse
30, in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in
marriage. The marriage state as we know
it right now, the Lord said it won't be like that in heaven.
but are as the angels of God. Then he said in verse 31, but
as touching the resurrection of the dead. Have you not read that which
was spoken unto you by God saying, I am the God of Abraham, the
God of Isaac, the God of Jacob? God is not God of the dead, but
of the living. And when the multitude heard
this, they were astonished at his doctrine. We want to know
whose wife is she going to be. The Lord said she's not going
to be any man's wife as you know that marriage state right now. They're going to be as the angels,
as the always beholding the face of the Father in Christ. And
He said concerning the resurrection. He said, you're trying to put
it on earthly standards. He said, have you not read Isaac
and Abraham and Jacob who had been dead for hundreds of years
before Moses ever heard the words of the Lord spoken in verse 32,
I am the God. Concerning the resurrection,
concerning these that The Lord was telling Moses about these
men that had died hundreds of years before. You know who they
were right then? They were alive in Christ. He said, I am. He didn't say,
I was the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.
He said, God is not the God of the dead. concerning the resurrection,
these men, these believers that will come out, where are they? They are sleeping right now,
their bodies are sleeping, their souls, concerning the resurrection,
they are going to come out in that day and they will be as
the angels. They'll be as those that ever
behold Almighty God. Concerning that question about
whose wife is she going to be, seven brothers, he said, I'll
tell you who they are. They're going to be as the angels
are. They will be as God's sheep according
to God's everlasting covenant of grace. Whose are they? Who
are they? What are they going to be doing? They're the Lord's
bride. They're His bride, like the angels,
ever in His presence, ever delightful to give all honor and glory and
praise unto the Lamb. Now, we know just as much as
the Spirit of God allowed us to know. What shall it be like
in the resurrection? Like this? I mean, husbands and
wives, the Lord said, nope, nope. Our existence in heaven is going
to be as the Lord's bride. And I cannot explain that any
further to you than I just told you. We'll be as the angels who
adore Him, who praise Him, who honor Him, ever in His presence,
ever beholding His face, ever thankful with that great promise. Let us be found spiritually awake,
alert to the wiles of the devil, watchful for those who deny the
glorious truth of God's Word, believing Him who loved us and
gave Himself for us. Some deny the resurrection. Almighty God has set forth in
that day. The dead are going to hear. and
will be raised, and will be summoned, and all those found in Christ,
there'll be the sheep, there'll be one side, on his right side,
the goats on the left, he gonna say to the sheep, you know, enter
in, enter in. That which was prepared for you
from before the foundation of the world. May the Lord bless
these words to our heart. Next time, Lord willing, next
time when we continue in the book 1 Corinthians, it's going
to be the state. What shall be the state? What
shall be, what it shall, what it'll be like to be raised, raised
incorruptible. Pray that the Lord bless these
words to our heart. Amen.