You’re Going to Die!

You’re Going to Die!  2021 05 23

1 Corinthians 15:20 – 34

 

The story is told of a man who was feeling terrible, so he went to see his doctor.  The doctor ordered a number of tests and told him he would call when the results came in.

A few days went by, and the phone rang.  His wife took the call.  The doctor told her that she had to wait on her husband day and night for the next month.  She needed to take care of his every need and cook only the best food for him. Otherwise, he would die, the doctor told her.

When her husband finally dragged himself in from work, she told him the doctor had called.  “What did he say?”  He asked.

“You’re going to die.”                                

It has been said, rather accurately, that there are only two things in life that are sure – death and taxes – and when the first comes, the other doesn’t matter.  You are going to die.  That is a fact.  So… what are you doing about it?

 

1 Corinthians 15:20 – 34

 

You are going to die.  “…as in Adam, ALL die.”  There is no escape from the death of the body, yet there is an answer that you know.  John 5:24 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

 

34  Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

 

 

  1. The Resurrection is Real
    1. It has been established by the word of God and MANY witnesses that Jesus Christ IS risen from the dead.
      1. Jesus Christ is the first of many to rise from the dead.
      2. Jesus rose BODILY from the dead. What everyone saw was not a ghost or a spirit, but Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, in his body.  Luke 24:36 – 43 “And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them.”

 

  1. Death Came From Human Sin
    1. Death came when a man, Adam, sinned.
      1. all have sinned.  Romans 5:12   “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”
      2. the penalty for sin is death. Rom 6:23 says that “… the wages of sin is death;”
      3. the penalty must be paid by man
        1. You can pay the price for your own sin by spending eternity in hell in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15 says, “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”)
        2. OR – a man has to pay the penalty for you
  • AND – you must let that man pay the penalty for you
  1. For you to be able to be resurrected from the dead, someone must first conquer death for you, because you cannot (you would have to spend eternity in the lake of fire, just to pay for your sins.  That does not allow you to return – rise – from the dead!)
    1. SO – for someone to rise from the dead, his righteousness must be eternal and perfect – he must be perfect!

 

  • Adam Wasn’t Perfect
    1. Adam was a sinner and all who are descended from him have his nature and so must die
      1. You’re going to die!

 

  1. Jesus IS Perfect
    1. Jesus Christ is the Son of God and by his own perfect power was able to rise from the de ad
      1. You’re going to die… and you cannot rise because you’re not perfect…
      2. you can’t make yourself perfect
      3. you can only be made perfect by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, who is perfect.
    2. When Jesus comes for us, all of us from all time who have put our faith in Jesus Christ will rise.
  2. Then will come the great day of the Lord, that has been prophesied throughout the Old and New testaments, the great day of wrath, when all the works of wicked men and all other wicked powers are put down under the authority of the RISEN Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God!
  3. Jesus Christ has risen from the dead and is coming back for the saints. We will meet him in the air and reign with him on earth for a thousand years; then will come the end and God’s final judgment, the day of the Lord

 

  1. Jesus is Alive
  2. Jesus Christ is alive, and God, the Father, is putting all things under Him, (except Himself, of course)
    1. Again, the question is asked, why be baptized for someone who is dead?
      1. Why publicly identify with the death and resurrection of some who is dead?
      2. Why risk income, comfort, safety, even life for someone who is dead?
  • Why did those who witnessed the death of Jesus Christ willingly risk their lives every moment for the gospel?
  1. If Jesus Christ is still dead, would it not make more sense to party and have a good time, because you’re going to die and that’s it? You know you can’t save yourself, so what’s the point?
  1. The point is that Jesus DID rise from the dead, a fact witnessed by many hundreds of people.
    1. The fact that Jesus Christ rose from the dead cannot be disputed. Those who do are fools, ignoring the rule of law, denying the witness of thousands who have given their lives for the gospel from the time of Christ to now. “1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us 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, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1, 2

 

  1. Don’t be Fooled!
  2. Do not be deceived by those who deny the resurrection! They are fools, bound for hell!
    1. Don’t listen to those who would complicate the simplicity of salvation, the gospel of Jesus Christ.
    2. Don’t believe anyone who teaches that Jesus Christ only rose spiritually from the dead; He rose bodily from the dead and so will you – if you put your faith in Him!
  3. You’re going to die. What are you going to do about it?
    1. The very first thing everyone needs to do is to repent. Stop trusting and believing in yourself and the things of this world.  Believe God and put your faith in Jesus Christ, His Son. Believe that He died for your sins and rose from the dead.

 

  • Wake Up!
  1. Awake to righteousness and sin not! You can’t do that yourself, but it is required of you.  Christ has done it in your place.  Put your faith in Him!  Otherwise, you’re going to die… and wake up in Hell.
    1. Wake up! Shake off the sleep of the foolish, who are unaware of the dangers all around
    2. Wake up! “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”  2 John 1:7 Many will try to deceive you!
    3. “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude 1:4 Beware even in the churches – heretics and apostate teachers are working even now with huge followings!  False teaching is very popular!  Beware!
    4. Wake up and pay attention! There are many distractions – like this present pandemic.  Many will try to lead you down the wrong path, working to convince you that something is more important than being ready for Eternity.
    5. Wake up! There are those who do not know God who work to deceive God’s children and some believers are actually paying attention to them to their shame!  They want you to swallow down heresy and apostasy, sensuousness, CARNALITY!
    6. Wake up to righteousness and SIN NOT. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
    7. Wake up! God has warned that some are going to be led astray by deceivers!  1Timothy 4:1 says, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” If this is you, what are you going to say to Jesus when you stand before Him?

 

Conclusion

  1. You’re going to die, so what should you do about it?
    1. Make sure you’ve trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour. Make sure you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
      1. Study and meditate on His word, and pray
      2. Attend church and the Bible studies! Hebrews 10:25 says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”  Oh, we have busy schedules today, and many, many reasons to be absent from many church events and services… Why do you think that is?  Who do you think is bringing all the busyness and other excuses into your life?  Why does it seem to keep creeping in… almost unawares??
    2. You’re going to die and after that is the judgement. Faith in Jesus Christ is the only answer.  Don’t get caught dead without Him!