Class 1 from this series was used in GCT Episode 355.
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I’ll ask a brother, Luke Crouch,
to come forward and read the
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introductory reading from First
Corinthians 15 verses 45 to 58,
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Rather Luke the First
Corinthians chapter 15, starting
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at verse 45.
And so it is written, the first
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man, Adam.
Adam was made a living soul.
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The last Adam was made a
quickening spirit.
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Howbeit that was not first which
is spiritual, but that which is
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natural, and afterward that
which is spiritual.
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The first man is of the earth
earthy.
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The second man is the Lord from
heaven, as is the earthy.
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Such are they also that are
earthy, and as is the heavenly,
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such are they also that are
heavenly.
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And as we have borne the image
of the earthy, we shall also
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bear the image of the heavenly.
Now this I say, brethren, that
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flesh and blood cannot inherit
the Kingdom of God, neither does
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corruption inherit incorruption.
Behold, I show you a mystery.
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We shall not all sleep, but we
shall all be changed in a
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moment, in the twinkling of an
eye, at the last trump.
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For the trumpet shall sound, and
the dead shall be raised
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incorruptible, and we shall be
changed.
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For this corruptible must put on
incorruption, and this mortal
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must put on immortality.
So when this corruptible shall
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have put on incorruption, and
this mortal shall have put on
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immortality, then shall be
brought to pass the saying that
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is written, Death is swallowed
up in victory.
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O death, where is thy sting?
O grave, where is thy victory?
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The sting of death is sin, and
the strength of sin is the law.
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But thanks be to God which
giveth us the victory through
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our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brethren,
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be steadfast, unmovable, always
abounding in the work of the
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Lord.
For as much as you know that
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your labour is not in vain in
the Lord.
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Thanks, Brother Luke.
I know I’ll now invite our
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brother Ben to come forward and
give us his final study to the
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title.
Thanks be to God which giveth us
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the victory.
Thanks brother Colin.
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It would have given me a little
bit more time, wouldn’t it,
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which which could be helpful.
But thanks anyway that that is a
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a very helpful introduction.
So good morning everyone and and
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welcome to our last study
together.
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So the book of of Corinthians
has a startling relevant
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relevance for us living as the
generation upon whom the ends of
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the world are come.
Another year has come and gone
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and we are one year closer to
his return.
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We have found that Paul has
transcended the particular
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issues of the Corinthian
ecclesia to show us that every
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generation faces the same
struggles, the same temptation
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that is common to men.
Our wisdom is nothing.
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No flesh can glory in His
presence.
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We become slaves.
We are not our own.
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We are brought with a price.
But then God is able to elevate
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us up to Co labour with us and
to transform us so that we
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become builders of His glory,
the reflection of His character,
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His Majesty and His power, and
to shine that glory forth to
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others.
And we found that even
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transcending that work with us
as individuals is the work of
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gathering us as individuals
together into the powerful unity
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of an ecclesial body that is
united in the same mind, that
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thinks the same way, but that
somehow does so with the power
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of diversity as each of us
brings our selfless capability
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to the working of the ecclesial
body.
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It’s a body where every member
is willing to edify, to bear up,
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and to build up in true agape
love because every action is
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taken in selfless care for that
ecclesial body continually.
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Through this book, Paul tells us
that the key to the issues the
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Corinthians are struggling with
is a change in perspective that
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says it’s it’s not about me and
what I can justify for myself,
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but it’s a transformation to a
life that is lived for the sake
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of the Father that is there to
show forth the glory of the
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Father.
And now in our final study
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together, we are drawn to an
accelerating chapter that
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elevates us to the power of the
resurrection.
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But we shall find that so many
of the ideas and so many of the
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principles that Paul has
established are now pulled
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together in this beautiful
concept of the power of
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resurrection.
It is remarkable that once again
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Paul is having to deal here with
an issue.
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The Corinthian brethren, or some
of them were saying there was no
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resurrection of the dead.
So he has to prove that there
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is.
But then having done this, he
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takes their mind and he
transforms them with the real
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power of life through
resurrection, the real power of
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the principles that are
underlying this, and transforms
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their understanding.
So what is First Corinthians 15
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all about then?
If I was to ask you what is this
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chapter, we’d say it’s the well
known chapter on resurrection,
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isn’t it?
It’s the chapter of
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resurrection.
Well, yes, it is, but not quite.
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It’s actually a little bit more.
The concepts of resurrection and
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of being raised, of life come up
15 or 16 times in the chapter.
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But you may be surprised to find
that to the same extent the
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concepts of death and of dying
come up.
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So it is actually not just a
chapter of resurrection, but it
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is more correctly a chapter of
death and then resurrection.
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And we will find why Paul gives
this focus.
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Well, it’s obvious really, isn’t
it?
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You cannot have a resurrection
unless death has occurred first.
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It’s fairly simple.
You can’t be raised from the
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dead unless you are dead.
And Paul shows us, however, that
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the principle of a resurrection
is that life comes from death,
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that there must be the process
of a death first that leads to
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the elevation of life.
And this principle pours through
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this chapter and leads us
finally to the joy of the
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resurrection and some of the
most invigorating and triumphant
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shouts of all of Scripture, the
shouts of triumph by the end of
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the chapter.
And so we pick up the story in
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First Corinthians 15 and in
verse three.
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I delivered unto you, first of
all, that which I also received,
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how that Christ died for our
sins according to the
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Scriptures, that he was buried,
and that he rose again the third
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day according to the Scriptures.
So there’s the point, isn’t it?
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He’s telling us that the
resurrection of Christ could
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only occur because he had first
been crucified.
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It’s putting to death the flesh,
isn’t it?
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Before the new man could live in
Christ.
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Is is the point here.
Christ died for our sins
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according to the Scriptures.
He was buried and rose again the
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third day.
It’s interesting to note here
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the connection that Paul does in
taking us back to the first
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chapter in his commencement.
If you take your minds back to
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our first talk that we had
together and we found that right
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at the commencement of the book,
before he did anything else, he
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focused our attention upon the
work and the the requirement
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that we have for the Lord Jesus
Christ.
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The fact that Christ is the
beginning and end of all of our
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life in the truth.
And so here at the end of the
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book, he returns to these very
same concepts he commenced with.
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This is about God’s work in the
Lord Jesus Christ.
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Our salvation, our hope, our
resurrection is through the Lord
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Jesus Christ.
And can you see that emphasis
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that just comes out of these
verses?
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It’s his death 1st and then his
resurrection.
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There’s an interesting quote
here in in Romans 5 and verse
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10, which picks up this concept
and I think explains beautifully
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the the two elements that Paul
is talking about here.
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Romans 5 and verse 10.
If when we were enemies we were
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reconciled to God by the death
of his Son, much more being
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reconciled, we shall be saved by
his life.
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And and Paul shows in Romans
that there are two distinct
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phases to the to the work of
Christ in his death and
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resurrection.
In his death we were reconciled
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to God.
In his death our sins are
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forgiven.
In his death the flesh is
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overthrown.
So death has occurred, the flesh
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has died and our sins are
forgiven.
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We are reconciled to God, but
much more being reconciled.
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We are saved by his life.
And it’s the power of the
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resurrection that then gives us
the hope of life.
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He says in in Romans 5 here, and
it’s exactly this concept that
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the apostle is talking about
here in First Corinthians as
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well.
We die with Christ, our flesh is
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destroyed, the old man is put to
death, but we are, we are saved,
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we gain the hope of salvation
and of immortal life through the
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resurrection of Christ.
So then in verse 5 through to
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verse 9 in a section that is
perhaps a little sad, Paul needs
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to go back and to re emphasize
to the brethren in Corinth that
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there were many eyewitnesses who
were evident who had evidence of
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the resurrection of Christ.
Verse 5.
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So verse 4IN context, he rose
again the third day according to
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the Scriptures, that he was seen
of Cephas.
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Then of the 12 After that he was
seen of above 500 brethren at
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once, of whom the greater part
remain unto this present, but
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some have fallen asleep.
After that he was seen of James,
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then of all the apostles.
And last of all, he was seen of
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me also as one born out of due
time.
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So here were all these
eyewitnesses who had personally
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seen the risen Lord themselves.
They had seen the power of the
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risen Lord.
Now for us, some 2000 years
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later, it has a little bit of
power, doesn’t it?
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Yes, there were some
eyewitnesses who had actually
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seen the risen Lord.
But you imagine the power of
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that for the brethren of that
time.
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If he could actually say, look
here is a brother here who has
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actually seen the risen Lord.
To say Brother Colin here has
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actually seen the risen Lord and
that he could testify to the
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fact that he has seen the risen
Lord would be a far more
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powerful thing, wouldn’t it?
In Paul’s time they knew the
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eyewitnesses or they knew people
who knew the eyewitnesses.
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And it wasn’t just that they saw
him.
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There was the surety that over
500 faithful brethren had seen
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the risen Lord and were
convinced of his life.
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There was absolute, irrefutable
proof amongst the ecclesia of
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that time that the man, the Lord
Jesus Christ, had died and risen
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the third day according to the
Scriptures.
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It beggars belief, doesn’t it,
that even in the face of that
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evidence, there were people who
said the resurrection could not
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occur.
There were people alive who had
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seen him.
And then Paul says and, and not
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just them, but me also.
The last one he says as one born
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out of due time.
He says the Lord had had
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appeared to all the people that
he had intended to see.
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He’d he’d come to those who were
going to be eyewitnesses of his
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resurrection.
Then he waited for Paul and he
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waited for Paul and he waited
for Paul.
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He says as as one born out of
due time.
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He’s, he’s like one of those
little kids, isn’t he, that just
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hold on.
They’re quite comfy in mum’s
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tummy and they’re going to stay
there quite comfy.
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And the poor mum’s sitting there
waiting and waiting and it’s two
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weeks overdue and and three
weeks overdue.
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And then finally he says the the
apostle Paul came forth.
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And so Paul’s a personal
witness, but what a witness he
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is, because that witness, the
fact that he was a witness and
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eyewitness of the risen Lord,
had transformed his life.
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His life had transformed from
one who was persecuting the
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ecclesia to one who was focused
only and ever upon his Lord.
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It it If there is any person who
has a complete transformation of
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his life, it’s the apostle,
isn’t it?
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Who goes from that man who was
just full of fire to persecute
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the ecclesia and who became of
anyone who would completely
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devote his life to the truth?
That is the power of a
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conviction of the resurrected
Lord.
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Verse 10.
By the grace of God, I am what I
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am.
In other words, he’s saying I am
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here as the apostle and an
eyewitness of his resurrection
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and his grace which was bestowed
upon me, which was bestowed upon
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me was not in vain, but I
laboured more abundantly than
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they all, yet not I, but the
grace of God which was in me.
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And it’s as if the apostle here
is is making up for lost time,
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isn’t it his?
He’s now got this focus that is
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just only upon the resurrected
Lord.
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And he’s saying I’m I’m
labouring more abundantly than
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they all, but it’s not for me.
He says it’s not me out there
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for my own glory.
He says I’m doing this because
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the grace of God is working in
me.
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It’s the power of of my
understanding of the work of
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Christ and the resurrection of
Christ that is now motivating my
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entire devotion to the things of
the truth.
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And then he in answering this
particular issue, he shows us
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the power of the resurrection as
a foundation of our hope.
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Verse 11 and 12.
Therefore, whether it were
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00:13:58,520 –> 00:14:02,320
whether it were I or they so we
preach and so ye believed he’s
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saying there that they had
preached the gospel to these
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people on the basis of the
resurrection and that they had
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accepted.
But now it’s mind boggling,
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isn’t he that instead they had
turned away from the
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resurrection as it had been
preached to them.
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Verse 12 Now if Christ be
preached that he rose from the
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dead, how say some among you
that there is no resurrection of
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00:14:23,000 –> 00:14:27,000
the dead he, he’s it’s almost
unbelievable, isn’t it?
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00:14:27,000 –> 00:14:30,040
How can you do this and say
there is no resurrection of the
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00:14:30,040 –> 00:14:33,680
dead?
OK, he says, let’s just
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00:14:33,680 –> 00:14:36,320
understand the consequences of
your argument.
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00:14:37,080 –> 00:14:39,720
Remember you’ve you’ve created
this technical little argument
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00:14:39,720 –> 00:14:41,400
here that says that there is no
resurrection.
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00:14:41,400 –> 00:14:47,600
Let’s just understand the
consequence of of that verse 12.
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00:14:48,080 –> 00:14:52,520
If Christ be preached that he
rose from the dead, how say some
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among you that there is no
resurrection of the dead?
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00:14:54,360 –> 00:14:57,200
But if there be no resurrection
of the dead, then is Christ not
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00:14:57,200 –> 00:14:58,960
risen?
If there is no resurrection of
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00:14:58,960 –> 00:15:01,320
the dead, then Christ couldn’t
have been raised from the dead.
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It’s fairly logical, isn’t it?
Verse 14?
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00:15:04,400 –> 00:15:07,560
And if Christ be not risen, then
is our preaching vain and your
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faith is also vain?
Yeah.
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And we have found false
witnesses of God, and he’s
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00:15:11,880 –> 00:15:15,040
showing that this little
argument they had here had far
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00:15:15,040 –> 00:15:18,400
reaching moral and doctrinal
consequences for the entire
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00:15:18,400 –> 00:15:19,840
ecclesia.
If you take away the
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00:15:19,840 –> 00:15:21,960
resurrection of the dead, then
Christ’s work is gone.
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00:15:21,960 –> 00:15:24,280
He can’t have raised and
therefore his work is gone.
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00:15:25,440 –> 00:15:27,600
And if Christ’s work is gone,
then there’s no point us
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00:15:27,600 –> 00:15:29,840
preaching because the truth
isn’t real.
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00:15:29,840 –> 00:15:33,400
The gospel is not real and our
faith is in vain and and he says
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00:15:33,400 –> 00:15:34,920
actually we’re out there is
false witnesses.
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00:15:34,920 –> 00:15:36,760
We’re lying every time we go out
and preach.
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00:15:36,760 –> 00:15:40,200
We’re lying because it wasn’t
actually God’s work to raise
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00:15:40,200 –> 00:15:45,400
Christ because he says verse 15.
We have testified of God that he
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00:15:45,400 –> 00:15:48,960
raised up Christ whom he raised
not up if the dead don’t rise,
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He couldn’t have raised if the
dead don’t rise.
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00:15:52,080 –> 00:15:54,960
If the dead rise not, then is
not Christ raised?
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00:15:54,960 –> 00:15:57,400
And if Christ be not raised,
your faith is vain.
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00:15:57,400 –> 00:16:03,320
Ye are yet in your sins.
If Christ is not raised, we have
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00:16:03,320 –> 00:16:08,920
no forgiveness, because it is
his death that provides
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00:16:08,920 –> 00:16:14,520
forgiveness, but is life that
gives us the hope of new life.
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00:16:16,120 –> 00:16:17,720
It’s a bizarre argument, wasn’t
it?
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00:16:17,720 –> 00:16:21,800
From the clever academic Greek
minds that had managed to
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00:16:21,800 –> 00:16:23,760
convince himself there was no
resurrection.
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00:16:24,600 –> 00:16:26,480
But Paul answers it
emphatically.
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00:16:27,800 –> 00:16:31,440
What I want to do is just focus
here on on one of his responses
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00:16:31,440 –> 00:16:35,240
he gives here in verse 19,
because I think it gives us just
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00:16:35,320 –> 00:16:38,040
a a remarkable little insight
into the power of the
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00:16:38,040 –> 00:16:41,600
resurrection for the apostle
Paul and the power of its
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00:16:41,600 –> 00:16:45,040
motivational, the moral power
that it bore for his life.
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Let’s have a look here in verse
19.
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00:16:49,920 –> 00:16:56,680
If in this life only we have
hope, in Christ we are of all
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00:16:56,680 –> 00:17:02,240
men most miserable.
It’s a remarkable statement.
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00:17:03,040 –> 00:17:05,480
Just stop and contemplate what
he’s saying here.
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00:17:06,520 –> 00:17:10,480
He’s saying if we take away the
concept of the resurrection of
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00:17:10,480 –> 00:17:16,040
our hope, if we say that this
life now is all that we have is
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00:17:16,040 –> 00:17:17,880
a hope, it’s not about the
future.
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00:17:18,720 –> 00:17:26,599
He says we are of all men, most
miserable of anyone out there
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00:17:26,599 –> 00:17:28,600
upon the earth.
He says we are the most
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00:17:28,600 –> 00:17:34,120
miserable if we have just this
life and no future life.
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00:17:35,400 –> 00:17:38,200
I find that a remarkable
statement, brothers and sisters
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00:17:38,200 –> 00:17:42,840
and young people, because he is
saying that it that our life in
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00:17:42,840 –> 00:17:47,040
this life is so strongly not
focused on ourself.
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00:17:48,000 –> 00:17:51,080
It is so much focused not upon
our own achievements and our own
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00:17:51,080 –> 00:17:54,160
enjoyment on what we want to
accomplish and our own ambition,
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00:17:55,280 –> 00:17:58,760
but instead is so focused on the
future and the hope of the
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00:17:58,760 –> 00:18:02,080
future and what we are doing to
contribute towards the growth of
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00:18:02,080 –> 00:18:06,920
the future that if the future
does not exist, we are utterly
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00:18:06,920 –> 00:18:11,040
miserable in this life.
And it’s an incredibly strong
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00:18:11,040 –> 00:18:14,280
insight into the life and the
motivation of the apostle Paul
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00:18:14,280 –> 00:18:17,360
who’s saying this life is
nothing to me.
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00:18:17,600 –> 00:18:21,240
Remember his phrase, I count all
things but dung that I might win
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00:18:21,240 –> 00:18:23,200
Christ.
He says this life is nothing to
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00:18:23,200 –> 00:18:24,720
me.
There’s there’s no focus on
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00:18:24,720 –> 00:18:27,840
himself at all.
The future is all that he has.
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00:18:28,360 –> 00:18:37,000
The future hope is Paul’s life.
Every part of meaning in this
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00:18:37,000 –> 00:18:41,280
life was due to the fact he was
focused on the future.
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00:18:42,920 –> 00:18:46,160
It’s, it’s such a little phrase
almost hidden in, in all of the
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00:18:46,160 –> 00:18:49,800
other beautiful phrases in this
chapter, but it gives us this
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00:18:49,800 –> 00:18:53,600
incredible insight into the
depth of Paul’s focus on the
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00:18:53,600 –> 00:18:55,760
future.
And, and I just have to say that
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00:18:55,760 –> 00:18:58,320
from my perspective, when I
contemplate that, I find it
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00:18:58,320 –> 00:19:02,800
difficult to comprehend the
extent to which the apostle had
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00:19:02,800 –> 00:19:07,400
given up on this life.
Now it’s easy for us to to enjoy
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this life, isn’t it?
To look at the blessings we have
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in this life and to think,
actually, I’m, I’m enjoying this
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00:19:14,640 –> 00:19:18,320
life.
It’s easy for us even to look at
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00:19:18,320 –> 00:19:21,200
the incredible blessings we have
in the ecclesial community and
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00:19:21,200 –> 00:19:24,440
to rejoice in those and to focus
on those.
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00:19:26,040 –> 00:19:29,880
And absolutely that is not a
wrong thing in itself, because
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00:19:30,040 –> 00:19:33,120
the Lord himself says there is
no man that doesn’t give up
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00:19:33,120 –> 00:19:36,960
father or mothers or sisters or
lands for my sake, and receive
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00:19:36,960 –> 00:19:40,640
in this life 1 hundredfold and
in the Kingdom life everlasting.
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00:19:40,640 –> 00:19:44,920
So there are blessings which
come from this life, but what
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00:19:44,920 –> 00:19:48,640
Paul is showing us is that the
blessings of this life are not
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00:19:48,720 –> 00:19:52,000
our focus.
That if this life was all we
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00:19:52,000 –> 00:19:55,720
had, then the fact that all of
our energy and all our effort
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00:19:55,840 –> 00:20:00,560
and all our life is devoted to
building the building of God, to
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00:20:00,560 –> 00:20:03,160
edifying our brothers and
sisters and likewise them to us,
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00:20:03,160 –> 00:20:05,240
so that we are building towards
the future.
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00:20:05,480 –> 00:20:08,680
And if that is gone, then all
our focus and all our purpose,
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00:20:08,880 –> 00:20:11,440
all our desire in life is gone
and is nothing.
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00:20:12,680 –> 00:20:15,920
Paul had had transformed his
focus to such an extent that all
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00:20:15,920 –> 00:20:17,520
he cared about was the future
life.
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00:20:19,360 –> 00:20:22,960
Everything he accomplished was
to lead from this life of
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00:20:22,960 –> 00:20:27,960
mortality to the glory of
immortality in the future, to
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00:20:27,960 –> 00:20:30,800
transfer from this life to the
next.
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00:20:33,640 –> 00:20:39,080
Verse 20 But now is Christ risen
from the dead, and become the
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00:20:39,080 –> 00:20:43,480
first fruits of them that sleep.
And here is Paul’s uttest sense
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00:20:43,480 –> 00:20:46,920
of conviction.
Christ is risen from the dead.
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00:20:46,920 –> 00:20:49,680
I’m convinced of that.
He says I’m an eyewitness of of
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00:20:49,680 –> 00:20:52,760
it as one born out of due time.
And it’s caused me to transform
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00:20:52,760 –> 00:20:56,160
my life so that this life is
nothing and my focus is on the
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00:20:56,160 –> 00:20:59,360
future.
He is risen and not just that he
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00:20:59,360 –> 00:21:01,800
has risen, but he’s become the
first fruits of them, that
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00:21:01,800 –> 00:21:04,760
sleep.
He’s the first of many, the
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00:21:04,760 –> 00:21:07,920
forerunner who has entered into
the holy place, the first fruits
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00:21:07,920 –> 00:21:12,840
that promise a future harvest,
the certainty for us as it was
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00:21:12,840 –> 00:21:16,720
for him that as Christ was
raised from the dead, so we can
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00:21:16,720 –> 00:21:19,800
be raised also.
There is a a real sense of
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00:21:19,800 –> 00:21:21,320
triumph in those words from
Paul, isn’t it?
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00:21:21,560 –> 00:21:25,920
Now Christ?
Now is Christ risen and become
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00:21:25,920 –> 00:21:32,400
the first fruits from the dead.
Verse 21 this the sense of
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00:21:32,400 –> 00:21:36,000
triumph.
For since by man came death, by
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00:21:36,000 –> 00:21:38,960
man came also the resurrection
of the dead.
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00:21:39,560 –> 00:21:44,000
For as in Adam all die, Even so
in Christ shall all be made
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00:21:44,240 –> 00:21:46,680
alive.
By man came death.
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00:21:47,040 –> 00:21:52,840
All in Adam die, but in Christ
would all be made alive.
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00:21:53,920 –> 00:21:59,400
Let’s just note in passing in
verse 21, the fact that in Adam
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00:22:00,320 –> 00:22:04,440
all would die.
It can be a difficult concept
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00:22:04,440 –> 00:22:07,040
for for I know as a young person
I used to struggle with this
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00:22:07,040 –> 00:22:08,920
concept of well, Adam and Eve
have sinned.
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00:22:08,920 –> 00:22:10,880
So to what extent does that
impact me?
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And it’s clear, isn’t it?
They are our father and our
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00:22:15,400 –> 00:22:17,720
mother.
We are born in them.
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00:22:18,560 –> 00:22:22,240
We have become like them.
We bear the same body that they
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00:22:22,240 –> 00:22:27,000
had after sin.
And so when we are born, we die
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00:22:27,000 –> 00:22:28,920
also.
It’s a fundamental principle
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00:22:28,920 –> 00:22:32,640
that an Adam all die and and
it’s been challenged today,
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00:22:32,640 –> 00:22:35,280
isn’t it, as we’ve seen so often
through this school.
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So in verse 22, just see the
contrast here as an Adam all
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00:22:40,360 –> 00:22:43,440
die, Even so in Christ shall all
be made alive.
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00:22:45,360 –> 00:22:49,960
There’s one who begets death.
It’s life that can only end in
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00:22:49,960 –> 00:22:52,360
death.
And on the other hand, there’s
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00:22:52,360 –> 00:22:55,560
the anointed one who’s able to
bigot us unto life itself.
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00:22:56,200 –> 00:22:59,440
And so here again is this theme
of of life and of death or death
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00:22:59,440 –> 00:23:02,440
and of life that becomes this
theme that just flows through
381
00:23:02,440 –> 00:23:12,850
this chapter.
What about this concept that all
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00:23:12,850 –> 00:23:16,490
are made alive as an atom all
die, Even so in Christ shall all
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00:23:16,490 –> 00:23:20,010
be made alive.
The chapter talks quite
384
00:23:20,010 –> 00:23:23,410
emphatically of of all the all
who are being made alive.
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00:23:24,490 –> 00:23:27,490
And if read at a cursory level,
it can suggest, can’t it, this
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00:23:27,490 –> 00:23:29,650
idea of a, of a universal
salvation.
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But remember that this chapter
is focused upon the salvation of
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00:23:34,090 –> 00:23:36,920
the Saints.
This chapter is focused on the
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00:23:36,920 –> 00:23:41,320
inevitable and and coming
triumph of those who are God’s
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00:23:41,320 –> 00:23:43,360
people.
It’s the salvation, the
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00:23:43,360 –> 00:23:47,520
resurrection to eternal life of
those who are God’s people.
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00:23:48,320 –> 00:23:51,600
And so when he says that all in
Christ shall be made in Christ
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00:23:51,760 –> 00:23:54,400
shall all be made alive, he’s
talking of those who are in
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00:23:54,400 –> 00:23:58,920
Christ who have put on Christ,
who have become part of Christ
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00:23:59,240 –> 00:24:02,800
and who have become the true
body of Christ who are made
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00:24:02,800 –> 00:24:10,400
alive.
Verse 23 Every man in his own
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00:24:10,400 –> 00:24:15,600
order, Christ the first fruits
afterward they that are his
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00:24:15,960 –> 00:24:19,320
Christ at his coming, and then
cometh the end, when she he
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00:24:19,320 –> 00:24:22,000
shall have delivered up the
Kingdom to God, even the Father.
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00:24:22,920 –> 00:24:24,960
So he’s telling us here that
there is an order of
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00:24:24,960 –> 00:24:29,160
resurrection, isn’t there?
Clearly the first is, is Christ.
402
00:24:29,680 –> 00:24:32,000
I’ve said here there are there
are three resurrections.
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00:24:32,000 –> 00:24:34,960
What are they?
Well, the first is Christ as the
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00:24:34,960 –> 00:24:36,400
first fruits.
You probably can’t see the
405
00:24:36,400 –> 00:24:38,800
detail of it.
The point of that is just as
406
00:24:38,800 –> 00:24:41,680
first fruits, what’s what’s the
point of the first fruits?
407
00:24:42,000 –> 00:24:45,280
The point of the first fruits is
that there is a promise of more
408
00:24:45,280 –> 00:24:49,640
harvest to come that the first
fruits are risen as it were, or
409
00:24:49,640 –> 00:24:53,440
the earnest of of the whole
harvest that was to come.
410
00:24:53,960 –> 00:24:56,920
And so in that very real way,
Christ is there as the first
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00:24:56,920 –> 00:24:58,840
fruits.
He’s the first fruits provided,
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00:24:59,240 –> 00:25:02,320
but it’s the evidence of the
fact that there were more fruit
413
00:25:02,320 –> 00:25:04,360
to come.
There was more fruit to come, a
414
00:25:04,360 –> 00:25:07,640
greater harvest that would
inevitably flow through the
415
00:25:07,640 –> 00:25:10,960
process of time.
So what are these three
416
00:25:10,960 –> 00:25:14,080
resurrections?
Well, the first is the Lord
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00:25:14,080 –> 00:25:16,600
Jesus Christ himself, Christ as
the firstfruits.
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00:25:16,600 –> 00:25:19,520
He’s the evidence of the of the
resurrection and the fact that
419
00:25:19,520 –> 00:25:22,800
we have the hope of resurrection
ourself afterward.
420
00:25:22,960 –> 00:25:24,920
They that are Christ’s at his
coming.
421
00:25:25,480 –> 00:25:28,800
So that’s turning talking about
the return of Christ back to the
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earth.
And that’s the hope that we
423
00:25:32,080 –> 00:25:34,800
have, isn’t it?
That’s the hope of resurrection
424
00:25:34,800 –> 00:25:38,800
that we long for, when Christ
will return to the earth and
425
00:25:38,800 –> 00:25:42,560
having returned will raise us
from the dead and following
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00:25:42,560 –> 00:25:45,920
judgment will make us immortal.
That’s the resurrection for us
427
00:25:45,920 –> 00:25:48,880
and our hope.
So what’s this third one that I
428
00:25:48,880 –> 00:25:51,560
talk about?
Well, I believe it’s actually
429
00:25:51,560 –> 00:25:55,080
this one in verse 24.
Then cometh the end or you can
430
00:25:55,080 –> 00:25:57,320
see the word cometh in italics
there.
431
00:25:57,800 –> 00:26:00,760
Then the end.
So the resurrections he talk
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00:26:00,760 –> 00:26:04,520
about he talks about is Christ
the firstfruits afterward they
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00:26:04,520 –> 00:26:08,880
that are Christ’s at his coming
and then the end as he says,
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00:26:08,880 –> 00:26:11,640
when he shall have delivered up
the Kingdom to God, even the
435
00:26:11,640 –> 00:26:14,840
Father.
And in that third resurrection
436
00:26:14,840 –> 00:26:17,640
is talking about the end of the
thousand year period of the
437
00:26:17,640 –> 00:26:20,600
millennial reign.
It’s the end of the thousand
438
00:26:20,600 –> 00:26:24,480
years when we know there is the
what is called the second
439
00:26:24,480 –> 00:26:29,240
resurrection in in in
Revelation, second death.
440
00:26:30,920 –> 00:26:35,840
So so then cometh the end is
talking of the of the work of
441
00:26:35,840 –> 00:26:38,560
resurrection at the end of the
thousand year period.
442
00:26:39,800 –> 00:26:41,560
So there are three
resurrections.
443
00:26:41,800 –> 00:26:45,760
This Christ who becomes the
absolute assurance and evidence
444
00:26:45,760 –> 00:26:47,880
to us of the of our
resurrection.
445
00:26:48,760 –> 00:26:52,880
There was our resurrection who
are who have lived and died
446
00:26:54,280 –> 00:26:59,400
before his coming, and then
there is the final resurrection
447
00:26:59,400 –> 00:27:01,440
at the end of the thousand year
period.
448
00:27:06,160 –> 00:27:09,480
So let’s just read verse 24
through to verse 26 again.
449
00:27:09,480 –> 00:27:12,560
With this in mind, let’s just
see what the focus of the
450
00:27:12,560 –> 00:27:15,600
apostle here is.
Then cometh the end.
451
00:27:15,600 –> 00:27:18,720
This is the end of the thousand
year reign, the end of the
452
00:27:18,720 –> 00:27:21,960
Millennium, when he shall have
delivered up the Kingdom to God,
453
00:27:21,960 –> 00:27:24,920
even the Father, when he shall
have put down all rule and all
454
00:27:24,920 –> 00:27:27,840
authority and power, for He must
reign till he hath put all
455
00:27:27,840 –> 00:27:31,200
enemies under his feet.
The last enemy that shall be
456
00:27:31,200 –> 00:27:37,000
destroyed is death.
It highlights a very important
457
00:27:37,000 –> 00:27:43,880
component of God’s work.
Christ died for our sins.
458
00:27:44,960 –> 00:27:49,800
He was raised for our salvation.
That opens the salvation for the
459
00:27:49,800 –> 00:27:54,800
Saints who are resurrected,
judged and made immortal.
460
00:27:56,040 –> 00:27:59,360
And those Saints then assist in
the explosion of God’s knowledge
461
00:27:59,360 –> 00:28:04,720
to the entire earth in the 1000
years of the Kingdom, who go
462
00:28:04,720 –> 00:28:09,840
through their own process of
probation, death, resurrection,
463
00:28:10,520 –> 00:28:13,360
judgement, and immortality.
Can you see this concept here
464
00:28:13,360 –> 00:28:15,160
that’s coming out?
Even in this idea of the
465
00:28:15,160 –> 00:28:18,640
resurrection is the concept of
the building of God’s glory.
466
00:28:19,960 –> 00:28:23,680
It’s a work that’s begun in
Christ, has been worked in the
467
00:28:23,680 –> 00:28:27,040
Saints down through time until
he returns back to the earth.
468
00:28:27,880 –> 00:28:32,880
And He will take us and reflect
in US the fullness of His glory
469
00:28:32,880 –> 00:28:38,360
in immortality, and then use us
to transform the earth in the
470
00:28:38,360 –> 00:28:44,000
1000 years of the Kingdom, until
the entire earth itself has come
471
00:28:44,000 –> 00:28:48,960
to know and love the Father.
All that is left upon the earth
472
00:28:49,680 –> 00:28:53,280
are people who have gone through
the process of death, who are
473
00:28:53,280 –> 00:28:58,680
now immortal, who understand the
Father completely, and in whom
474
00:28:58,680 –> 00:29:01,880
the Father’s glory shines and
His work is completed.
475
00:29:03,440 –> 00:29:07,560
The interesting thing is that
this focus here in Corinthians
476
00:29:07,560 –> 00:29:11,920
is quite a different focus often
to what we bring to the process
477
00:29:11,920 –> 00:29:16,560
of resurrection.
Here’s a a little section out of
478
00:29:16,680 –> 00:29:18,400
Christian demonstrate from
Brother Roberts.
479
00:29:19,640 –> 00:29:24,240
It will thus be seen that the
Kingdom of the 1000 years is but
480
00:29:24,240 –> 00:29:27,480
a transitional period between
the purely animal and purely
481
00:29:27,480 –> 00:29:29,800
spiritual ages.
It will blend the elements of
482
00:29:29,800 –> 00:29:32,720
both.
It will exhibit the perfection
483
00:29:32,720 –> 00:29:35,640
of the eternal ages in the Lord
Jesus and the Saints who will be
484
00:29:35,640 –> 00:29:39,480
immortal and incorruptible, and
the imperfection of the human
485
00:29:39,480 –> 00:29:42,360
age and the mortal population
who will constitute the subjects
486
00:29:42,360 –> 00:29:44,960
of their rule.
So what he’s saying is the 1000
487
00:29:44,960 –> 00:29:48,640
year period is actually a
process of transition, that the
488
00:29:48,640 –> 00:29:52,720
Kingdom that we so often focus
upon is actually a transitional
489
00:29:52,720 –> 00:29:56,280
period which transitions the
earth between the purely animal
490
00:29:56,280 –> 00:30:00,600
period and the spiritual ages in
which there is only immortality
491
00:30:00,800 –> 00:30:04,000
and spirit beings.
And therefore, he says, as part
492
00:30:04,000 –> 00:30:06,440
of that transition, it blends
elements of both.
493
00:30:06,840 –> 00:30:10,560
It has both those who are
immortal Saints with the Lord
494
00:30:10,560 –> 00:30:15,480
Jesus and are incorruptible, and
it has imperfect humans as we
495
00:30:15,480 –> 00:30:18,920
are today who are the subjects
of our rule.
496
00:30:20,200 –> 00:30:24,000
He continues, both will coexist
for 1000 years and will
497
00:30:24,000 –> 00:30:26,840
constitute a state of things as
superior to the present
498
00:30:26,840 –> 00:30:30,240
dispensation as it will be
inferior to the glory ages
499
00:30:30,240 –> 00:30:34,600
beyond the Kingdom of God will
lead us by a bridge of 1000
500
00:30:34,600 –> 00:30:38,520
years from the age of sin and
death defection to the age of
501
00:30:38,520 –> 00:30:42,120
restoration in the bosom of the
deity in righteousness and life
502
00:30:42,200 –> 00:30:45,920
eternal.
What he’s saying is that the
503
00:30:45,920 –> 00:30:50,040
thousand year period of the
Kingdom will be so immensely
504
00:30:50,040 –> 00:30:52,560
superior to what we know now.
And that’s what we focus on,
505
00:30:52,560 –> 00:30:55,520
isn’t it, that we, we look at
the vision of the Kingdom and,
506
00:30:55,520 –> 00:30:57,760
and rightly so.
And we see the, the beauty and
507
00:30:57,760 –> 00:31:00,760
the power of the Kingdom and we
long for the Kingdom to be here.
508
00:31:01,680 –> 00:31:05,080
But he says the superiority of
the Kingdom to this life
509
00:31:05,400 –> 00:31:09,840
actually is mirrored, he says,
by the superiority of the time
510
00:31:09,840 –> 00:31:13,040
beyond the 1000 years to the
Kingdom itself.
511
00:31:13,040 –> 00:31:16,800
Can you see that, that, that
this transition time of 1000
512
00:31:16,800 –> 00:31:20,480
years will be overwhelmed by the
superiority of what will happen
513
00:31:20,480 –> 00:31:23,800
beyond that time?
It’s one that’s difficult to get
514
00:31:23,800 –> 00:31:26,760
our mind around, isn’t it?
So much of the vision of
515
00:31:26,760 –> 00:31:30,880
immortality is given to us in a
picture of the 1000 years.
516
00:31:32,080 –> 00:31:35,000
And in fact, Paul says that when
he was taken up into that time
517
00:31:35,000 –> 00:31:38,200
beyond the beyond the
Millennium, that there were
518
00:31:38,200 –> 00:31:41,040
things almost that he the too
wonderful to add, things which,
519
00:31:41,040 –> 00:31:43,960
which were almost too difficult
for us to get our mortal heads
520
00:31:43,960 –> 00:31:47,520
around the power and the wonder
of what that time post the
521
00:31:47,520 –> 00:31:52,080
Millennium will be like.
But I think it’s important for
522
00:31:52,080 –> 00:31:55,280
us to understand that from God’s
perspective, his focus is not
523
00:31:55,280 –> 00:31:58,960
just on the return of Christ,
but that that ushers in a
524
00:31:58,960 –> 00:32:04,160
transition period which leads us
or leads the entire earth in a
525
00:32:04,160 –> 00:32:07,720
process which is not completed
until its transformation has
526
00:32:07,720 –> 00:32:09,960
been finished at the end of the
thousand years.
527
00:32:10,360 –> 00:32:14,080
God’s focus is not just on the
establishment of his Kingdom.
528
00:32:15,240 –> 00:32:17,880
Now, of course, that is a
fundamental focus for us, isn’t
529
00:32:17,880 –> 00:32:20,240
it?
Because the question of whether
530
00:32:20,240 –> 00:32:24,840
we are accepted and made
immortal without sin at that
531
00:32:24,840 –> 00:32:28,360
time will be answered at the
return of Christ, isn’t it?
532
00:32:28,360 –> 00:32:31,360
For us, the return of Christ
becomes the focal point because
533
00:32:31,360 –> 00:32:35,000
essentially that’s the time of
probation which is ended and and
534
00:32:35,040 –> 00:32:37,120
we are either in or out of the
Kingdom at that stage.
535
00:32:37,120 –> 00:32:41,200
And therefore our focus says
that’s our hope and we desire to
536
00:32:41,200 –> 00:32:44,080
be in the Kingdom.
But from the Father’s
537
00:32:44,080 –> 00:32:48,600
perspective and the sons work
with Him, the focus is not
538
00:32:48,880 –> 00:32:53,400
primarily upon His coming, but
upon the way He transitions His
539
00:32:53,400 –> 00:32:56,720
plan to fill the earth with
people who understand Him.
540
00:32:57,320 –> 00:33:00,840
His work is not completed until
He is all and in all.
541
00:33:01,760 –> 00:33:06,040
And upon the earth every being
is a glorious immortal without
542
00:33:06,040 –> 00:33:09,960
sin, who understands and loves
and follows their Father with
543
00:33:09,960 –> 00:33:14,760
all their spirit being.
The time beyond the Millennium
544
00:33:15,800 –> 00:33:20,640
will transcend the glory of the
Kingdom as much as the Kingdom
545
00:33:21,360 –> 00:33:23,360
will transcend Thee these days
now.
546
00:33:26,280 –> 00:33:28,720
So let’s just come back and have
a wee read of this section
547
00:33:28,720 –> 00:33:31,240
again, because I think there’s
also a little bit more that the
548
00:33:31,240 –> 00:33:33,680
apostle has for us in this
section.
549
00:33:35,920 –> 00:33:40,760
From verse 24, I’m going to read
through to verse 28.
550
00:33:41,280 –> 00:33:43,280
Then cometh the end, when he
shall have delivered up the
551
00:33:43,280 –> 00:33:45,880
Kingdom to God, even the Father,
when he shall have put down all
552
00:33:45,880 –> 00:33:49,000
rule, and all authority and
power, For he must reign till he
553
00:33:49,000 –> 00:33:50,640
hath put all enemies under his
feet.
554
00:33:50,640 –> 00:33:53,040
The last enemy that shall be
destroyed is death, for he hath
555
00:33:53,040 –> 00:33:55,960
put all things under his feet.
But when he saith all things are
556
00:33:55,960 –> 00:33:58,480
put under him, it is manifest
that he is accepted which to put
557
00:33:58,480 –> 00:34:00,600
all things under him.
And when all things shall be
558
00:34:00,600 –> 00:34:04,000
subdued unto him, then shall the
Son also himself be subject unto
559
00:34:04,000 –> 00:34:06,360
him that put all things under
him, that God may be All in all.
560
00:34:07,040 –> 00:34:09,159
OK, is that clear?
We’ve got that all all nicely
561
00:34:09,159 –> 00:34:10,960
sorted.
It’s quite a tongue to us.
562
00:34:10,960 –> 00:34:12,840
There isn’t.
It’s quite hard to get the head
563
00:34:12,840 –> 00:34:15,639
around in terms of what the
Apostle is saying here, So let’s
564
00:34:15,639 –> 00:34:18,120
just take a moment to actually
understand the power of what the
565
00:34:18,120 –> 00:34:22,360
apostle’s talking about here.
It’s talking about the role
566
00:34:22,920 –> 00:34:27,560
working together in tandem of
the Father and the Son in the
567
00:34:27,560 –> 00:34:30,719
transition period of the 1000
years of the Millennium.
568
00:34:31,600 –> 00:34:36,040
The way the Father and the Son
work together in the transition
569
00:34:36,040 –> 00:34:39,960
period to finally accomplish his
purpose at the end of the 1000
570
00:34:39,960 –> 00:34:43,800
years, it becomes complex to
understand because the he and
571
00:34:43,800 –> 00:34:47,400
him and his actually mixes up
between the work of God and the
572
00:34:47,400 –> 00:34:49,000
work of Christ.
So if you’ve got two different
573
00:34:49,000 –> 00:34:51,280
colour pencils, let’s just take
a moment to go through this
574
00:34:51,280 –> 00:34:57,000
verse 24 then cometh the end
when he that is the Son or
575
00:34:57,040 –> 00:34:59,480
Jesus.
So obviously one colour for for
576
00:34:59,720 –> 00:35:05,240
the Son and one colour for God,
when he the Son shall have
577
00:35:05,240 –> 00:35:10,680
delivered up the Kingdom to God,
even the Father, when God shall
578
00:35:10,680 –> 00:35:13,920
have put down all rule and all
authority and power.
579
00:35:15,600 –> 00:35:18,160
So I’ll I’ll be able to you,
you’ll see the sense of that and
580
00:35:18,160 –> 00:35:22,240
why I say that as we go through.
So when the Son shall have
581
00:35:22,240 –> 00:35:25,640
delivered up the Kingdom to God,
even the Father, when God has
582
00:35:25,640 –> 00:35:30,200
put down all rule and all
authority and power for the Son,
583
00:35:30,200 –> 00:35:35,760
verse 25 must reign till God
hath put all enemies under the
584
00:35:35,760 –> 00:35:40,560
sun’s feet.
I’ll, I’ll give you evidence of
585
00:35:40,560 –> 00:35:42,320
that shortly, Just trust me in
the meantime.
586
00:35:43,720 –> 00:35:47,960
For the sun must reign till God
hath put all enemies under the
587
00:35:47,960 –> 00:35:50,840
sun’s feet.
The last enemy that shall be
588
00:35:50,840 –> 00:35:55,240
destroyed is death.
For God hath put all things
589
00:35:55,240 –> 00:36:00,640
under the sun’s feet.
But when God saith all things
590
00:36:00,640 –> 00:36:03,320
are put under him, you’ll see
that’s in in italics.
591
00:36:03,320 –> 00:36:06,520
But nevertheless that is the
sun, when when God saith all
592
00:36:06,520 –> 00:36:11,600
things are put under the sun, it
is manifest that God is accepted
593
00:36:12,120 –> 00:36:14,520
which did put all things under
the sun.
594
00:36:15,880 –> 00:36:20,720
And when all things shall be
subdued unto the sun, then shall
595
00:36:20,720 –> 00:36:27,800
the sun also himself, as the
sun, be subject unto God that
596
00:36:27,800 –> 00:36:32,720
put all things under the sun,
that God may be all and in all.
597
00:36:33,200 –> 00:36:34,720
Hopefully, hopefully you got
that.
598
00:36:34,920 –> 00:36:37,080
I’ll just take you through that.
Now let’s just read through and
599
00:36:37,080 –> 00:36:40,000
see if we can really understand
the sense of what’s coming out
600
00:36:40,000 –> 00:36:42,000
to you.
Then cometh the end, when the
601
00:36:42,000 –> 00:36:45,040
sun shall have delivered up the
Kingdom to God, even the Father,
602
00:36:45,760 –> 00:36:49,280
when God has completed His work
of putting down all rule and
603
00:36:49,280 –> 00:36:52,800
authority and power.
Because the sun’s role is to
604
00:36:52,800 –> 00:36:56,480
reign until God has put all
enemies under the sun’s feet.
605
00:36:57,360 –> 00:37:01,320
The last enemy that shall be
destroyed is death, for God hath
606
00:37:01,320 –> 00:37:04,200
put all things under his Son’s
feet.
607
00:37:05,440 –> 00:37:08,920
But of course, when God says all
things are put under the sun,
608
00:37:09,160 –> 00:37:13,400
it’s obvious that God is
accepted who was the very one
609
00:37:13,400 –> 00:37:15,160
who put all things under the
sun.
610
00:37:16,480 –> 00:37:20,800
And when all things shall be
subdued unto the sun, then the
611
00:37:20,800 –> 00:37:26,640
sun himself becomes subject to
God, who put all things under
612
00:37:26,640 –> 00:37:31,880
the sun in the first place, so
that God can be all and in all.
613
00:37:35,080 –> 00:37:39,200
Can you see the concept that
pours out of this, that even as
614
00:37:39,200 –> 00:37:42,960
Christ reigns upon the earth for
the 1000 years of the transition
615
00:37:42,960 –> 00:37:48,480
process, it is still all God’s
work?
616
00:37:49,760 –> 00:37:53,400
Even when the sun is reigning as
the King upon the earth, it is
617
00:37:53,400 –> 00:37:57,200
God who’s subduing the enemies
under the feet of Christ.
618
00:37:59,120 –> 00:38:01,040
So now the evidence.
How can I say that?
619
00:38:01,040 –> 00:38:06,480
Well, let’s come back to Psalm
110, Psalm 110.
620
00:38:08,480 –> 00:38:10,560
Now I am cheating slightly
because I don’t believe Psalm
621
00:38:10,560 –> 00:38:14,480
110 is actually quoting directly
from or as where Paul is quoting
622
00:38:14,480 –> 00:38:18,080
directly from.
However, I believe that Psalm
623
00:38:18,080 –> 00:38:22,040
110 is quoting directly from the
source that Paul himself is
624
00:38:22,040 –> 00:38:24,280
directly quoting from.
It’s the same source and the
625
00:38:24,280 –> 00:38:26,400
same ideas behind it.
And, and you’ll see that those
626
00:38:26,400 –> 00:38:28,960
these ideas just come right
through the Psalm.
627
00:38:29,400 –> 00:38:30,960
And there are other connections
as well.
628
00:38:32,280 –> 00:38:37,400
Psalm 110 and verse one.
Yahweh said unto my Lord, sit
629
00:38:37,400 –> 00:38:40,760
there at my right hand until I
make thine enemies thy
630
00:38:40,760 –> 00:38:42,440
footstool.
So that’s the concept, isn’t it?
631
00:38:42,440 –> 00:38:44,440
I’m putting all of the enemies
under His feet.
632
00:38:45,240 –> 00:38:49,440
Yahweh shall send the rod of thy
strength out of Zion, rule thou
633
00:38:49,640 –> 00:38:55,680
in the midst of thine enemies.
So Psalm 110 clearly tells us,
634
00:38:55,680 –> 00:38:57,600
doesn’t it, that this is God’s
work?
635
00:38:58,160 –> 00:39:00,400
It is God’s work.
He says to the Son, Sit at my
636
00:39:00,400 –> 00:39:03,200
right hand until I make thine
enemies thy footstool.
637
00:39:04,040 –> 00:39:07,040
Yahweh shall send the rod of thy
strength out of Zion, rule thou
638
00:39:07,040 –> 00:39:11,440
in the midst of thine enemies.
He’s saying the Father is saying
639
00:39:11,440 –> 00:39:13,720
that He’s doing the work,
although the sun is reigning.
640
00:39:14,200 –> 00:39:17,640
It’s the Father who brings
things in subjection under his
641
00:39:17,640 –> 00:39:21,480
feet.
But notice he says in Psalm 110
642
00:39:21,640 –> 00:39:24,800
that he is to the sun is to sit
at my right hand until I make
643
00:39:24,800 –> 00:39:28,440
thine enemies thy foot still.
And according to one Corinthians
644
00:39:28,440 –> 00:39:31,440
15, that doesn’t happen until
the end of the millennial reign,
645
00:39:31,440 –> 00:39:33,080
does it?
Until the end of the thousand
646
00:39:33,080 –> 00:39:36,240
years, because the last enemy
that is destroyed is death
647
00:39:36,240 –> 00:39:39,920
itself.
So the Son is to remain at the
648
00:39:39,920 –> 00:39:43,920
right hand of God until the end
of the the thousand year reign
649
00:39:44,080 –> 00:39:46,600
when the last enemy itself was
destroyed being death.
650
00:39:46,600 –> 00:39:49,440
How can that be?
He’s in heaven now, isn’t he?
651
00:39:49,440 –> 00:39:51,920
But shortly he’s going to arise
from the right hand of the
652
00:39:51,920 –> 00:39:53,520
Father and come back to the
earth.
653
00:39:53,520 –> 00:39:57,200
He’s going to leave his sight.
Well, the answer to the puzzle
654
00:39:57,200 –> 00:40:00,560
is that even when he has left
his side to physically return to
655
00:40:00,560 –> 00:40:05,120
the earth, he has not left the
right hand of the Father.
656
00:40:06,360 –> 00:40:09,720
The concept of the right hand of
the Father is one of sitting in
657
00:40:09,720 –> 00:40:13,440
authority with the Father, of
sitting to rule with the
658
00:40:13,440 –> 00:40:17,320
authority of the King.
So when the Lord Jesus Christ
659
00:40:17,320 –> 00:40:20,800
leaves the physical presence of
his Father and returns to the
660
00:40:20,840 –> 00:40:24,440
earth, he is still sitting at
the right hand of his Father in
661
00:40:24,440 –> 00:40:26,960
power and great glory.
He’s there with his Father’s
662
00:40:26,960 –> 00:40:31,320
authority and power until he has
finally finished the work, the
663
00:40:31,320 –> 00:40:35,760
Father’s work of bringing all
enemies in subjection underneath
664
00:40:35,760 –> 00:40:38,240
them.
It’s that beautiful sense of the
665
00:40:38,240 –> 00:40:42,520
Lord Jesus Christ returning as
the arm of his Father to
666
00:40:42,680 –> 00:40:47,080
together accomplish this, the
subjugation of all things of all
667
00:40:47,080 –> 00:40:51,080
enemies, including sin and death
itself.
668
00:40:53,160 –> 00:40:57,200
Now this stay here in Psalm 110,
but I’ll just remind you of of
669
00:40:57,200 –> 00:40:59,400
the phrase here out of First
Corinthians 15.
670
00:41:00,080 –> 00:41:05,040
He says then cometh the end when
the son has delivered up the
671
00:41:05,040 –> 00:41:09,080
Kingdom to God, even the Father,
when God has put down all rule
672
00:41:09,080 –> 00:41:13,800
and all authority and all power.
So the work of that thousand
673
00:41:13,800 –> 00:41:17,080
year reign is to put down all
rule and all authority and all
674
00:41:17,080 –> 00:41:20,120
power.
It’s interesting just to note
675
00:41:20,280 –> 00:41:23,320
briefly the the use of of these
these words here.
676
00:41:23,760 –> 00:41:25,480
The idea of rule is the word
arke.
677
00:41:26,080 –> 00:41:30,440
It’s the idea of commencement of
of the first or of a chief.
678
00:41:32,080 –> 00:41:35,800
The idea of authority is is the
idea of privilege or force or
679
00:41:35,800 –> 00:41:39,520
capacity.
And the idea of power is is also
680
00:41:39,520 –> 00:41:42,760
this idea of force or a
strength, but specifically or
681
00:41:42,760 –> 00:41:45,600
often used in relation to
miraculous power.
682
00:41:47,480 –> 00:41:52,240
Now have a look in Psalm 110 and
verse 5.
683
00:41:53,760 –> 00:41:58,640
The Lord at thy right hand.
So the Lord Jesus Christ upon
684
00:41:58,640 –> 00:42:03,920
the earth, but still sitting at
God’s right hand, shall strike
685
00:42:03,920 –> 00:42:06,040
through kings in the day of his
wrath.
686
00:42:06,680 –> 00:42:08,720
He shall judge among the
heathen.
687
00:42:09,400 –> 00:42:11,600
He shall fill the places with
the dead bodies.
688
00:42:11,800 –> 00:42:13,960
He shall wound the heads over
many countries.
689
00:42:13,960 –> 00:42:16,600
He shall, he shall drink of the
brook in the way, and therefore
690
00:42:16,600 –> 00:42:18,760
shall he lift up the head.
That’s exactly what the Lord’s
691
00:42:18,760 –> 00:42:21,240
doing, isn’t it?
He’s putting down all rule and
692
00:42:21,240 –> 00:42:25,680
all authority and all power.
He’s the Lord at the right hand
693
00:42:25,680 –> 00:42:28,760
who’s striking through kings in
the day of his wrath.
694
00:42:28,960 –> 00:42:31,200
It’s interesting actually to
note verse 6.
695
00:42:31,360 –> 00:42:34,480
He judges among the nations, He
fills the places with the dead
696
00:42:34,480 –> 00:42:37,080
bodies.
He shall wound the Roche over
697
00:42:37,080 –> 00:42:39,200
many countries.
It’s this idea of the head,
698
00:42:39,200 –> 00:42:42,000
isn’t it, of the chief over many
countries.
699
00:42:42,720 –> 00:42:47,520
And so here he is.
He’s putting down all rule, all
700
00:42:47,520 –> 00:42:52,560
the archae, the Roche, the chief
of the nations, and he’s taking
701
00:42:52,560 –> 00:42:55,960
away the authority and power of
the nations.
702
00:42:55,960 –> 00:42:58,680
Now it’s just interesting to
note in passing the connection
703
00:42:58,680 –> 00:43:01,360
with authority with a sense of
strength and perhaps the
704
00:43:01,360 –> 00:43:05,280
military capacity and power with
that of a miraculous or or
705
00:43:05,280 –> 00:43:07,160
potentially spiritual component
to it.
706
00:43:07,840 –> 00:43:10,960
I’ll leave you to to expand on
those concepts.
707
00:43:12,680 –> 00:43:18,680
So Psalm 110 here is a perfect
context, not just of the work of
708
00:43:18,680 –> 00:43:23,640
Christ, but of the work of the
Saints with Him in immortality.
709
00:43:25,040 –> 00:43:26,280
It talks.
Verse 3.
710
00:43:26,280 –> 00:43:29,200
Thy people shall be willing in
the day of thy power, in the
711
00:43:29,200 –> 00:43:31,840
beauties of holiness, from the
womb of the morning there hast
712
00:43:31,840 –> 00:43:35,000
the Jew of thy youth.
Yahweh hath sworn and will not
713
00:43:35,000 –> 00:43:37,160
repent.
Thou art a priest forever after
714
00:43:37,160 –> 00:43:41,280
the order of Melchizedek.
So this is talking not just of
715
00:43:41,280 –> 00:43:45,080
the Melchizedek and high priest,
but it’s talking of those who
716
00:43:45,080 –> 00:43:48,600
are after His order, who are
also after the power of an
717
00:43:48,600 –> 00:43:53,560
endless life, who are kings and
priests going forth to work His
718
00:43:53,560 –> 00:43:57,720
work of striking through kings,
of overthrowing all rule and
719
00:43:57,720 –> 00:44:02,080
authority and power.
It’s the picture of God working
720
00:44:02,080 –> 00:44:07,560
through his Son to accomplish
the subjection and subjugation
721
00:44:07,560 –> 00:44:11,960
of all authority and power
against him and his rule.
722
00:44:13,160 –> 00:44:17,120
And we are there, brothers and
sisters, as part of that work,
723
00:44:18,720 –> 00:44:22,480
working with the Lord to do the
Father’s work.
724
00:44:26,280 –> 00:44:30,920
It’s interesting to note that
the use if we come back to First
725
00:44:30,920 –> 00:44:34,120
Corinthians 15, it’s interesting
to note the use of this phrase
726
00:44:34,120 –> 00:44:38,240
to put down all rule and all
authority and and all power.
727
00:44:48,040 –> 00:44:53,240
Clearly we’re told in verse 25
and 26, he must reign till he
728
00:44:53,240 –> 00:44:56,000
hath put all enemies under his
feet and the last enemy that
729
00:44:56,000 –> 00:45:01,120
shall be destroyed is death.
But this concept of of the power
730
00:45:01,120 –> 00:45:04,240
and also the concept of
authority are also key themes
731
00:45:04,680 –> 00:45:06,480
that flow throughout the book of
Corinthians.
732
00:45:06,480 –> 00:45:09,360
We’re just going to focus just
briefly on this concept of the
733
00:45:09,360 –> 00:45:13,880
power, that phrase, the Greek
word phrase there comes up 15
734
00:45:13,880 –> 00:45:15,720
times in the book of
Corinthians.
735
00:45:16,040 –> 00:45:20,400
I’ll give you 3 chapter 1 verse
18 unto us, which are saved.
736
00:45:20,400 –> 00:45:25,680
It is the power of God, chapter
one, verse 24, Christ, the power
737
00:45:25,680 –> 00:45:30,360
of God, chapter 2, verse five,
that your faith should not stand
738
00:45:30,360 –> 00:45:33,320
in the wisdom of men, but in the
power of God.
739
00:45:34,000 –> 00:45:37,160
And so this theme of power in
the particular Greek word there
740
00:45:37,160 –> 00:45:39,800
for power becomes a key theme
throughout the book.
741
00:45:40,040 –> 00:45:43,120
And it is nearly always, not
exclusively, but nearly always
742
00:45:43,120 –> 00:45:46,600
used in the context of God’s
power to save.
743
00:45:47,720 –> 00:45:51,880
But what’s happening here in one
Corinthians 15 is that Christ as
744
00:45:51,880 –> 00:45:55,680
the ruler on behalf of God is
having to put put down another
745
00:45:55,680 –> 00:45:59,000
power.
It’s another power that is
746
00:45:59,000 –> 00:46:01,920
challenging God and his
authority and his power.
747
00:46:02,600 –> 00:46:07,320
So here is Christ, here is God’s
power to save through his Son,
748
00:46:08,520 –> 00:46:11,680
but there is another power that
challenges God’s ability to do
749
00:46:11,680 –> 00:46:13,600
so.
And so the thousand year
750
00:46:13,600 –> 00:46:17,840
transition becomes this contest
in its in its fullness.
751
00:46:18,000 –> 00:46:22,200
The 1000 years is actually this
contest against the power of God
752
00:46:22,640 –> 00:46:25,720
versus the power of sin and of
death.
753
00:46:26,080 –> 00:46:28,720
It’s the power that is
challenging God and His
754
00:46:28,720 –> 00:46:32,520
authority and His power.
Hosea 3 and verse 1413 and verse
755
00:46:32,520 –> 00:46:36,360
14.
Excuse me, I will ransom them
756
00:46:36,360 –> 00:46:39,720
from the power of the grave.
I will redeem them from death.
757
00:46:40,120 –> 00:46:43,880
O death, I will be thy plagues.
O grave, I will be thy
758
00:46:43,880 –> 00:46:46,080
destruction.
Repentance shall be hid from
759
00:46:46,080 –> 00:46:48,160
mine eyes.
Interestingly, you may just note
760
00:46:48,160 –> 00:46:52,840
this what is a a echo into one
Corinthians 15 later on which we
761
00:46:52,840 –> 00:46:55,480
won’t have time to look at.
O death, I will be thy plagues,
762
00:46:55,920 –> 00:46:57,640
a grave I will be thy
destruction.
763
00:46:58,040 –> 00:47:01,120
But the interesting thing there
is, he says, I will ransom them
764
00:47:01,120 –> 00:47:05,760
from the power of the grave.
So the grave is the thing that
765
00:47:05,760 –> 00:47:09,600
has power, isn’t it?
Or Hebrews 2 and verse 14.
766
00:47:10,640 –> 00:47:13,280
For as much then as the children
are partakers of flesh and
767
00:47:13,280 –> 00:47:17,320
blood, He also himself likewise
took part of the same that
768
00:47:17,320 –> 00:47:20,880
through death He might destroy
him that had the power of death,
769
00:47:21,400 –> 00:47:25,280
that is the devil, and deliver
them who through fear of death
770
00:47:25,880 –> 00:47:28,040
were all their lifetime subject
to bondage.
771
00:47:28,040 –> 00:47:31,600
So the work of Christ was to
come and to destroy him that had
772
00:47:31,600 –> 00:47:37,160
the power of death.
And that power is that because
773
00:47:37,160 –> 00:47:43,000
of death in our mortality and
our fear of mortality, we, we
774
00:47:43,000 –> 00:47:47,520
end up spending all of our life
subject to bondage under the
775
00:47:47,520 –> 00:47:50,640
power of death.
And so you can see the
776
00:47:50,640 –> 00:47:52,440
importance in, of this, of this
concept.
777
00:47:52,440 –> 00:47:55,040
He’s put down all rule and all
authority and power.
778
00:47:55,320 –> 00:47:57,720
And it’s the sense, isn’t it,
from the beginning of the 1000
779
00:47:57,720 –> 00:48:00,840
years that he commences this
work of systematically working
780
00:48:00,840 –> 00:48:04,000
through and putting down rule
and authority and power.
781
00:48:04,200 –> 00:48:08,000
All those who challenge God, all
those who set themselves up as
782
00:48:08,000 –> 00:48:13,200
another form of, of authority or
rule or power are put down 1 by
783
00:48:13,200 –> 00:48:15,560
1.
And the easy ones, in a way, are
784
00:48:15,560 –> 00:48:17,640
done first, aren’t they?
The military power of
785
00:48:17,640 –> 00:48:21,360
Armageddon, the overthrow of the
Catholic system and the whole
786
00:48:21,360 –> 00:48:26,360
sense of of its antagonism
against God, but as he works
787
00:48:26,360 –> 00:48:30,200
through the millennial period,
becomes the most difficult
788
00:48:30,200 –> 00:48:35,280
power, the most difficult enemy
that has to be faced and
789
00:48:35,280 –> 00:48:41,960
overcome, because it is the
power of sin and death in the
790
00:48:41,960 –> 00:48:46,920
mortal population.
It’s the power of the grave, the
791
00:48:46,920 –> 00:48:50,800
power of death.
And so there is this beautiful
792
00:48:50,800 –> 00:48:53,040
sense here, isn’t there in verse
25.
793
00:48:53,040 –> 00:48:56,680
He must reign until he hath put
all enemies under his feet, and
794
00:48:56,680 –> 00:49:02,920
the last enemy that shall be
destroyed is death, for he hath
795
00:49:02,920 –> 00:49:06,880
put all things under his feet.
And so the work of the Father
796
00:49:06,880 –> 00:49:10,640
and the Son together throughout
that thousand year period is
797
00:49:10,800 –> 00:49:13,840
brought together in the end in
this beautiful way where death
798
00:49:14,080 –> 00:49:19,000
itself is destroyed.
The power that is challenging
799
00:49:19,000 –> 00:49:21,240
God is destroyed and put under
him.
800
00:49:24,240 –> 00:49:27,440
So verse 25, when he says he
must reign till he hath put all
801
00:49:27,440 –> 00:49:31,280
enemies under his feet, as I’ve
said, Psalm 110 is a reference
802
00:49:31,280 –> 00:49:34,880
to that, but the quotation
itself actually comes from Psalm
803
00:49:34,880 –> 00:49:36,840
8.
So let’s come back to Psalm 8.
804
00:49:57,320 –> 00:50:01,800
And we read in Psalm 18 and in
verse 6, Thou maidest him to
805
00:50:01,800 –> 00:50:04,120
have dominion.
That’s the Lord over the works
806
00:50:04,120 –> 00:50:07,440
of thy hands.
There has put all things under
807
00:50:07,440 –> 00:50:09,360
his feet.
There has put all under his
808
00:50:09,360 –> 00:50:11,520
feet.
So this is the exact quotation
809
00:50:11,520 –> 00:50:12,880
that the apostle is quoting
here.
810
00:50:12,880 –> 00:50:15,000
He’s put all things under his
feet.
811
00:50:16,840 –> 00:50:21,000
But the interesting thing is
that the apostle Paul uses this
812
00:50:21,080 –> 00:50:25,880
reference in connection with the
final overthrow of the enemy and
813
00:50:25,880 –> 00:50:30,240
of death itself.
And yet so often we use Psalm 8
814
00:50:30,240 –> 00:50:34,760
to say or within the context of
the crucifixion and the victory
815
00:50:34,760 –> 00:50:37,400
of the Lord Jesus Christ himself
over sin.
816
00:50:38,400 –> 00:50:41,480
So Psalm 8 and in verse one, O
Yahweh our Lord, how excellent
817
00:50:41,480 –> 00:50:44,080
is Thy name, and all the earth,
who has set Thy glory above the
818
00:50:44,080 –> 00:50:46,760
heavens.
Verse 4, what is man?
819
00:50:46,760 –> 00:50:48,800
That thou art mindful of him,
and the Son of man that thou
820
00:50:48,800 –> 00:50:50,720
visitest him?
And we say that’s the Lord Jesus
821
00:50:50,720 –> 00:50:53,480
Christ, Thou madest him to be a
little lower than the angels,
822
00:50:53,640 –> 00:50:56,880
and has crowned him with glory
and honour, and made his Tim to
823
00:50:56,880 –> 00:50:58,440
have dominion over the works of
thy hands.
824
00:50:58,440 –> 00:51:01,440
And we rightly say, and we can
do so with evidence because it’s
825
00:51:01,440 –> 00:51:04,600
picked up by the Apostle Paul in
Hebrews to say so and in other
826
00:51:04,600 –> 00:51:08,280
places to say that that
references the overthrow of the
827
00:51:08,280 –> 00:51:11,800
dominion of sin by the Lord
Jesus Christ in his body, in
828
00:51:11,800 –> 00:51:16,440
himself in the process of
crucifixion, That he was made a
829
00:51:16,440 –> 00:51:18,840
little lower than the angels for
the suffering of death.
830
00:51:19,800 –> 00:51:23,440
And having overthrown death is
now crowned with glory and
831
00:51:23,440 –> 00:51:26,360
honour, sitting at the right
hand of the Father himself.
832
00:51:26,360 –> 00:51:29,200
And we rightly relate that to
the work of Christ.
833
00:51:30,120 –> 00:51:33,880
But Paul in Corinthians has
picked that up and expanded it
834
00:51:33,880 –> 00:51:39,640
and, and said that Psalm is not
just talking about the overthrow
835
00:51:39,640 –> 00:51:42,680
of death by the Lord Jesus
Christ in himself in his
836
00:51:42,680 –> 00:51:46,600
crucifixion, but is actually
talking in its entirety of the
837
00:51:46,600 –> 00:51:51,600
work of subduing all enemies.
The the anything that that that
838
00:51:51,600 –> 00:51:55,040
would set itself up and rule or
authority or power against
839
00:51:55,360 –> 00:52:01,160
against God and that God would
have dominion over them until
840
00:52:01,160 –> 00:52:05,080
the end of the thousand years
until the time when the last
841
00:52:05,120 –> 00:52:08,880
enemy itself being death was put
to death in victory.
842
00:52:08,880 –> 00:52:12,360
So let’s have a look at the
Psalm in this light, reading the
843
00:52:12,360 –> 00:52:15,920
Psalm in the context of it being
at the end of the thousand year
844
00:52:15,920 –> 00:52:20,920
time when God has finished His
work and there is no more sin
845
00:52:20,920 –> 00:52:24,080
and death upon the earth.
Oh Yahweh our Lord, how
846
00:52:24,200 –> 00:52:28,080
excellent is Thy name in all the
earth.
847
00:52:29,040 –> 00:52:31,560
So Yahweh’s name, he, he’s
saying He is going to be
848
00:52:32,040 –> 00:52:34,760
manifest in a whole group of
people, has now been
849
00:52:34,760 –> 00:52:37,960
accomplished in its entirety in
all the earth.
850
00:52:38,560 –> 00:52:41,560
Can you, can you see the power
of, of this, of the Psalm there
851
00:52:41,840 –> 00:52:46,720
as it, as it talks of the final
glory of, of God himself as all
852
00:52:46,720 –> 00:52:49,040
the earth becomes full of his
glory.
853
00:52:49,680 –> 00:52:52,760
Who has set thy glory above the
heavens?
854
00:52:53,280 –> 00:52:56,200
The fullness of his glory and of
his work that has been built
855
00:52:56,200 –> 00:53:00,120
through his Son and has become
that we become part of, as we
856
00:53:00,120 –> 00:53:03,160
have seen through Corinthians,
the extension and growth of his
857
00:53:03,160 –> 00:53:06,920
glory as that glory grows and
grows and grows is now a
858
00:53:06,920 –> 00:53:09,640
position where it’s set above
the heavens as it, as it were,
859
00:53:10,440 –> 00:53:14,160
that Yahweh’s name is excellent
and all the earth and his glory
860
00:53:14,440 –> 00:53:16,400
is magnificent above the
heavens.
861
00:53:17,320 –> 00:53:19,880
Out of the mouth of babes and
sucklings has thou ordained
862
00:53:19,880 –> 00:53:23,960
strength, because of fine
enemies, that thou mightestil
863
00:53:23,960 –> 00:53:26,080
the enemy and the avenger.
And there it is.
864
00:53:26,760 –> 00:53:33,080
Death, the worst and great enemy
of all time, has been stilled
865
00:53:34,040 –> 00:53:40,600
and brought to nothing.
When I consider thy heavens, the
866
00:53:40,600 –> 00:53:44,840
work of Thy fingers, the moon
and the stars which Thou hast
867
00:53:44,840 –> 00:53:50,520
ordained, what is man?
That Thou art mindful of Him,
868
00:53:51,800 –> 00:53:53,560
and the Son of Man that Thou
visitest Him?
869
00:53:53,560 –> 00:53:56,400
You can look at the broad
expanse of all of the Father’s
870
00:53:56,400 –> 00:53:59,360
creative work across the
heavens, the work of His
871
00:53:59,360 –> 00:54:02,600
fingers, as it were, to pull out
the moon and the stars which had
872
00:54:02,600 –> 00:54:06,720
God had ordained.
But he says the greatest work
873
00:54:07,920 –> 00:54:12,080
has been in man, and
particularly the Son of Man,
874
00:54:13,120 –> 00:54:17,480
that He should visit Him, that
He made Him for a while just a
875
00:54:17,480 –> 00:54:21,240
little lower than the angels,
and had now crowned Him with
876
00:54:21,240 –> 00:54:24,880
glory and honour, and finally
had given Him in verse 6, to
877
00:54:24,880 –> 00:54:28,440
have dominion over the works of
Thy hands, and put all things
878
00:54:28,440 –> 00:54:32,440
under His feet, including
subduing death itself.
879
00:54:32,760 –> 00:54:34,760
All sheep and oxen.
Yeah, and the beasts of the
880
00:54:34,760 –> 00:54:37,400
field, the fowl of the air, and
the fish of the sea, and
881
00:54:37,400 –> 00:54:40,480
whatsoever passeth through the
paths of the sea, every
882
00:54:41,000 –> 00:54:44,920
component of the Father’s
creative work has come under the
883
00:54:44,920 –> 00:54:49,440
dominion of the sun.
And the Father’s work of putting
884
00:54:49,440 –> 00:54:53,800
down all rule and all authority
and power against Him is
885
00:54:53,800 –> 00:55:00,760
completed, and upon the earth is
just those who show forth His
886
00:55:00,760 –> 00:55:03,080
glory in their fullness.
Verse 9.
887
00:55:03,080 –> 00:55:11,600
O Yahweh our Lord, how excellent
is Thy name in all the earth.
888
00:55:13,600 –> 00:55:20,560
God’s work is accomplished and
all the earth is full of His
889
00:55:20,560 –> 00:55:28,120
glory.
All of a sudden we can
890
00:55:28,120 –> 00:55:31,360
understand why Paul uses this
beautiful phrase back in First
891
00:55:31,360 –> 00:55:38,880
Corinthians 15, that God may be
All in all because finally at
892
00:55:38,880 –> 00:55:41,400
the end of that thousand year
period, His work has been
893
00:55:41,400 –> 00:55:50,720
accomplished and everything and
anything left upon the earth is
894
00:55:50,720 –> 00:55:54,120
a magnificent reflection of and
part of God himself.
895
00:55:55,720 –> 00:55:58,400
Because finally, His name is
excellent in all the earth.
896
00:55:58,400 –> 00:56:05,600
You know, God gave that promise.
God gave that surety of that
897
00:56:05,600 –> 00:56:09,480
work from the from the very
beginning of creation.
898
00:56:09,480 –> 00:56:14,520
Genesis 1 and verse 28 on the
screen here, God’s foundation
899
00:56:14,520 –> 00:56:20,760
statement, the first statement
that He made to man be fruitful
900
00:56:21,680 –> 00:56:27,720
and multiply and replenish the
earth and subdue it, and have
901
00:56:27,720 –> 00:56:30,640
dominion over the fish of the
sea, and over the fowl of the
902
00:56:30,640 –> 00:56:34,320
air, and over every living thing
that moveth upon the earth.
903
00:56:35,600 –> 00:56:42,200
The psalmist tells us in Psalm 8
that that is a prophecy, that
904
00:56:42,200 –> 00:56:45,840
that is a foundation of hope
that was given to Adam and Eve
905
00:56:46,800 –> 00:56:52,920
before the full.
That transcended the work of the
906
00:56:52,920 –> 00:56:56,680
ages.
It was a foundation statement of
907
00:56:56,680 –> 00:57:00,280
hope that transcended not just
the work of Adam and Eve.
908
00:57:01,680 –> 00:57:06,040
It transcended even the work of
the Lord for us in these ages.
909
00:57:07,040 –> 00:57:10,000
And look right forward to the
end of the thousand year period
910
00:57:10,000 –> 00:57:14,000
when the whole earth, the whole
purpose of the Father’s
911
00:57:14,000 –> 00:57:20,200
creation, would be utterly full
of the glory of the Father and
912
00:57:20,200 –> 00:57:27,000
of His glory alone, because
dominion would be had over
913
00:57:27,000 –> 00:57:33,160
everything upon the earth.
This is Yahweh’s glory, that God
914
00:57:33,400 –> 00:57:36,360
may be all and all as we saw
yesterday, but expanded so
915
00:57:36,360 –> 00:57:42,960
beautifully here.
You see, yesterday when Paul was
916
00:57:42,960 –> 00:57:47,720
talking about God being all and
all, he was dealing with us in
917
00:57:47,720 –> 00:57:52,760
our mortality, in our weakness.
He was dealing with the fact
918
00:57:52,760 –> 00:57:55,440
that in our life now as an
ecclesia, we are to be bound
919
00:57:55,440 –> 00:57:58,920
together in a way that starts to
produce God being all and all in
920
00:57:58,920 –> 00:58:03,960
us.
But here in First Corinthians 15
921
00:58:04,960 –> 00:58:10,200
is the final climax of all of
Yahweh’s work, that Yahweh’s
922
00:58:10,200 –> 00:58:13,600
glory has been utterly
transformed in each one of us
923
00:58:13,640 –> 00:58:16,360
because we are there in
immortality.
924
00:58:17,120 –> 00:58:19,960
And what the apostle is doing so
beautifully in this chapter is
925
00:58:19,960 –> 00:58:24,560
to show the power and the
transformation of that work in a
926
00:58:24,560 –> 00:58:27,800
way that is absolutely beautiful
and powerful to us.
927
00:58:28,360 –> 00:58:30,520
Yes, God is working our life
now.
928
00:58:31,200 –> 00:58:34,800
Yes He is working in us to
develop us and to to help us to
929
00:58:34,800 –> 00:58:38,680
grow and we become part or Co Co
labourers together with Him to
930
00:58:38,680 –> 00:58:40,360
build and to assist in His
glory.
931
00:58:40,560 –> 00:58:42,960
But brothers and sisters and
young people understand that
932
00:58:42,960 –> 00:58:47,120
Paul is saying in First
Corinthians 15, we work now, but
933
00:58:47,120 –> 00:58:51,360
we can scarcely comprehend the
enormity of the transformation
934
00:58:51,360 –> 00:58:55,440
and the power that will occur as
we stand in immortality upon the
935
00:58:55,480 –> 00:58:57,960
earth able to do God’s work in
that day.
936
00:58:58,800 –> 00:59:02,040
That God’s work will take this
massive leap forward as there
937
00:59:02,040 –> 00:59:06,240
are a group of immortal beings
under the the rulership of His
938
00:59:06,240 –> 00:59:11,560
Son who can go forth upon the
earth to work his work and to
939
00:59:11,560 –> 00:59:16,680
have dominion over sin itself
until finally he is revealed in
940
00:59:16,680 –> 00:59:21,040
a group of spirit beings who are
completely and utterly like Him.
941
00:59:22,000 –> 00:59:26,040
Just contemplate the concept of
God being All in all.
942
00:59:26,040 –> 00:59:29,000
In that context, it means what
it says.
943
00:59:30,240 –> 00:59:34,240
It means that every person upon
the earth is in the Father in
944
00:59:34,240 –> 00:59:37,680
their entirety.
It means that there is nothing
945
00:59:37,800 –> 00:59:41,600
left in those individuals which
contradicts or goes against
946
00:59:41,600 –> 00:59:44,880
anything in the Father’s
character or His principles.
947
00:59:45,560 –> 00:59:49,440
That every component of their
life, that every fibre of their
948
00:59:49,440 –> 00:59:52,760
being and every thought they
they have is lived in a
949
00:59:52,760 –> 00:59:56,160
beautiful and a perfect harmony
with the Father and His
950
00:59:56,160 –> 00:59:58,680
intentions.
And that is us.
951
00:59:58,680 –> 01:00:03,320
It’s talking about every one of
us with no element of sin, none
952
01:00:03,320 –> 01:00:06,600
of the weakness of mortality,
and no longer presiding over an
953
01:00:06,600 –> 01:00:10,480
earth with its own struggles.
We’re part of a glorious throng
954
01:00:10,480 –> 01:00:14,280
of people whose entire focus is
on the glory of God and of Him
955
01:00:14,280 –> 01:00:17,080
alone.
And in that sense, I say it
956
01:00:17,080 –> 01:00:20,120
carefully, God is all that is
left.
957
01:00:20,800 –> 01:00:24,960
In that sense, we have become
part of God because that’s all
958
01:00:24,960 –> 01:00:29,160
that’s left us.
As an expansion of the Father’s
959
01:00:29,160 –> 01:00:36,800
glory, our hearts an expansion
of Him, it’s almost too
960
01:00:36,800 –> 01:00:41,040
wonderful to contemplate, too
large to get our heads around
961
01:00:41,040 –> 01:00:44,600
that there could be such a
glorious time upon the earth.
962
01:00:45,760 –> 01:00:50,760
Never anything bad, never a
struggle, never any weakness.
963
01:00:52,040 –> 01:00:56,200
But the Father exists alone in
the hearts and and with his
964
01:00:56,200 –> 01:01:01,240
people.
This concept of being All in all
965
01:01:01,560 –> 01:01:04,160
is actually picked up in
relation to the work of the Lord
966
01:01:04,160 –> 01:01:07,400
Jesus Christ.
Come across to to Ephesians and
967
01:01:07,400 –> 01:01:21,760
chapter 1
Ephesians 1 and in verse 19.
968
01:01:24,600 –> 01:01:27,040
And what is the exceeding
greatness of his power?
969
01:01:27,040 –> 01:01:30,360
Interesting use of phrases and
of his power to us who who
970
01:01:30,360 –> 01:01:34,800
believe according to the working
of his mighty power, which he
971
01:01:34,800 –> 01:01:38,080
God wrought in Christ, when God
raised him from the dead, and
972
01:01:38,080 –> 01:01:42,000
set him at his own right hand in
the heavenly places, far above
973
01:01:42,040 –> 01:01:45,600
all principality and power, and
might and dominion, and every
974
01:01:45,600 –> 01:01:48,040
name that is named, not only in
this will, but also in that
975
01:01:48,040 –> 01:01:51,000
which is to come, and hath put
all things under his feet.
976
01:01:51,000 –> 01:01:53,200
It’s exactly the same concept
being talked about, isn’t it?
977
01:01:53,760 –> 01:01:56,720
And gave him to be the head over
all things to the ecclesia,
978
01:01:57,200 –> 01:02:02,400
which is his body, the fullness
of him that filleth All in all.
979
01:02:03,160 –> 01:02:06,760
And so in a in a very real
sense, Christ becomes this body
980
01:02:07,440 –> 01:02:10,160
in which we become All in all in
Christ.
981
01:02:11,360 –> 01:02:15,240
And that All in all in Christ is
then used to expand and work
982
01:02:15,240 –> 01:02:17,880
upon the earth until God becomes
All in all.
983
01:02:17,880 –> 01:02:20,200
We are.
He’s our head over the ecclesia,
984
01:02:20,200 –> 01:02:23,440
His body, the fullness of Him
that that worketh.
985
01:02:23,440 –> 01:02:30,160
All in all, the work of the
Father with us is the work which
986
01:02:30,160 –> 01:02:32,080
is working to the end of the
millennial reign.
987
01:02:33,560 –> 01:02:37,680
Interestingly, it is, as we see
here, a work that is mirrored or
988
01:02:37,680 –> 01:02:41,080
replicated by the work of the
Lord Jesus Christ with us today
989
01:02:41,080 –> 01:02:44,800
in our ecclesial environment.
He’s the head over all things
990
01:02:44,800 –> 01:02:46,960
over the ecclesia.
He’s put all things under His
991
01:02:46,960 –> 01:02:50,640
feet and in the same way that
the Father is working towards
992
01:02:50,640 –> 01:02:53,320
the end of the thousand year
period to be All in all, in
993
01:02:53,320 –> 01:02:57,400
exactly the same way, the Son is
working with us now so that we
994
01:02:57,400 –> 01:03:02,600
can be All in all with him.
Am I taking it too far?
995
01:03:03,360 –> 01:03:12,320
We’ll come across to Colossians
chapter 3, Colossians 3 and
996
01:03:12,320 –> 01:03:16,080
verse 10.
Well, let’s read verse 9 for
997
01:03:16,080 –> 01:03:17,920
context.
Lie not one to another, saying
998
01:03:17,920 –> 01:03:20,480
you have put off the old man
with his deeds and have put on
999
01:03:20,480 –> 01:03:23,720
the new man, which is renewed in
knowledge after the image of him
1000
01:03:24,120 –> 01:03:27,280
that created him.
There is neither Greek nor Jew,
1001
01:03:27,280 –> 01:03:30,840
circumcision nor uncircumcision,
barbarian, Scythian bond nor
1002
01:03:30,840 –> 01:03:34,240
free, but Christ is all and in
all.
1003
01:03:35,280 –> 01:03:38,040
And so absolutely, He’s picking
up that same phrase of the
1004
01:03:38,040 –> 01:03:42,360
Father’s work, but he’s saying
on a smaller scale on a subset
1005
01:03:42,360 –> 01:03:45,280
of the Father’s work, that work
is mirrored by the work of the
1006
01:03:45,280 –> 01:03:48,720
Lord Jesus Christ today, that he
is working in our ecleses.
1007
01:03:49,360 –> 01:03:53,720
He’s working with us as the Son
in his own millennial time, as
1008
01:03:53,720 –> 01:03:59,640
it were, to bring his people to
be all and all with Him until he
1009
01:03:59,640 –> 01:04:03,960
returns to the earth to do God’s
broader work upon the earth.
1010
01:04:06,080 –> 01:04:09,720
So Paul tells us in Corinthians
that that work of Christ, as he
1011
01:04:09,720 –> 01:04:13,240
works with us in the ecclesia to
be all and all in Him, is then
1012
01:04:13,240 –> 01:04:16,560
expanded with the sun and with
us as we are All in all with
1013
01:04:16,560 –> 01:04:21,800
Him, to fulfil God’s greater
purpose of being all and all
1014
01:04:21,840 –> 01:04:27,440
upon the earth.
It’s telling us that the work of
1015
01:04:27,440 –> 01:04:31,640
a Millennium in placing all
enemies under the sun’s feet and
1016
01:04:31,640 –> 01:04:37,440
subduing all flesh is exactly
the same work that is going on
1017
01:04:37,440 –> 01:04:41,520
in our lives today.
That the Son is working with us
1018
01:04:41,520 –> 01:04:46,360
to that same extent to subdue
our flesh under His feet and to
1019
01:04:46,360 –> 01:04:50,480
bring us victorious with Him
when He comes to establish God’s
1020
01:04:50,480 –> 01:04:52,880
Kingdom upon the earth.
It’s that beautiful mirror image
1021
01:04:52,880 –> 01:04:56,160
that works, the parallel of of
Christ’s work with us personally
1022
01:04:56,440 –> 01:05:01,240
to remove sin and God’s work
with Christ and their Saints to
1023
01:05:01,240 –> 01:05:07,200
remove sin upon the earth.
But The thing is, if we wish to
1024
01:05:07,200 –> 01:05:12,080
be part of that work, if we want
to be part of that resurrection,
1025
01:05:13,600 –> 01:05:21,560
then we have to die and we have
to die now, Paul says back in
1026
01:05:21,760 –> 01:05:33,520
First Corinthians 15 verse 30.
Why stand we in jeopardy every
1027
01:05:33,520 –> 01:05:35,960
hour?
I protest by your rejoicing,
1028
01:05:35,960 –> 01:05:38,280
which I have in Christ Jesus our
Lord.
1029
01:05:39,160 –> 01:05:47,480
I die daily.
Our work in this life is to die
1030
01:05:47,480 –> 01:05:54,600
with Him, to put life and flesh
and sin to death in subjection
1031
01:05:54,600 –> 01:05:58,800
under the sun’s feet, so that
when He returns, we can be all
1032
01:05:59,280 –> 01:06:04,920
and all with Him.
I want to skip across now to
1033
01:06:04,920 –> 01:06:08,480
verse 42.
There’s some beautiful sections
1034
01:06:08,480 –> 01:06:11,080
here which we’re going to have
to skip just to get through to
1035
01:06:11,080 –> 01:06:14,520
the end of the chapter.
I just want to pick up the
1036
01:06:14,520 –> 01:06:18,240
concepts of what’s talked about
here in verse 42 through to
1037
01:06:18,240 –> 01:06:22,080
verse 45.
So also is the resurrection of
1038
01:06:22,080 –> 01:06:23,640
the dead.
So the question being asked here
1039
01:06:23,640 –> 01:06:26,680
by the Corinthian brethreners in
what body are people raised?
1040
01:06:26,680 –> 01:06:29,480
How could people possibly be
raised was their question and
1041
01:06:29,480 –> 01:06:31,360
he’s answering that.
What is the sense of of how
1042
01:06:31,360 –> 01:06:33,480
they’re raised?
Verse 42, So also is the
1043
01:06:33,480 –> 01:06:36,480
resurrection of the dead.
Note that it’s not the death and
1044
01:06:36,480 –> 01:06:38,480
resurrection, It’s the
resurrection of the dead.
1045
01:06:38,480 –> 01:06:40,480
It’s the process of resurrection
being talked about.
1046
01:06:40,840 –> 01:06:43,160
It’s sown in corruption.
It’s raised in incorruption.
1047
01:06:43,440 –> 01:06:45,360
It’s sown in dishonor.
It’s raised in glory.
1048
01:06:45,360 –> 01:06:47,320
It’s sown in weakness.
It’s raised in power.
1049
01:06:47,520 –> 01:06:49,840
It’s sown a natural body.
It’s raised a spiritual body.
1050
01:06:50,040 –> 01:06:52,560
There is a natural body and
there is a spiritual body.
1051
01:06:52,560 –> 01:06:54,800
And so it’s written.
The first man atom was made a
1052
01:06:54,800 –> 01:06:57,200
living soul.
The last man atom was made a
1053
01:06:57,200 –> 01:06:59,120
quickening spirit.
Now you can see the comparison
1054
01:06:59,120 –> 01:07:01,040
of the two ideas that flow
through there, can’t you?
1055
01:07:01,520 –> 01:07:05,120
There’s corruption, there is
dishonor, there is weakness.
1056
01:07:05,120 –> 01:07:07,200
There’s a natural body, there’s
the first atom.
1057
01:07:07,840 –> 01:07:10,320
On the other hand, there’s
incorruption, there’s glory,
1058
01:07:10,440 –> 01:07:13,280
there’s power, there’s a
spiritual body, there is the
1059
01:07:13,280 –> 01:07:17,680
last atom and he’s he’s
contrasting or or using this
1060
01:07:17,680 –> 01:07:21,440
idea of of two different two
different ideas.
1061
01:07:21,440 –> 01:07:26,920
Here brother Thomas suggests an
Anastasis and he has all his
1062
01:07:26,920 –> 01:07:29,760
reasoning behind it, which I
find very convincing.
1063
01:07:30,080 –> 01:07:33,520
He says this passage then in
first Corinthians 15 should be
1064
01:07:33,520 –> 01:07:37,320
read the resurrection body
springs or is sprouted or born
1065
01:07:37,320 –> 01:07:39,600
in in corruption.
He goes back to the to the
1066
01:07:39,600 –> 01:07:42,600
original Greek that rather than
saying that the body in verse
1067
01:07:42,600 –> 01:07:46,560
42, it is sown in corruption.
Should it actually be read to
1068
01:07:46,560 –> 01:07:50,280
say it’s it’s sprouted or
springs forth in corruption?
1069
01:07:50,840 –> 01:07:53,240
His, his, his point there
essentially is if we say, if we
1070
01:07:53,240 –> 01:07:56,560
say it’s a the idea of sowing,
then we’re actually putting the
1071
01:07:56,560 –> 01:07:59,440
seed into the into the ground
and it dies, isn’t it?
1072
01:08:00,000 –> 01:08:02,080
But he’s actually showing the
point from the Greek, which, as
1073
01:08:02,080 –> 01:08:05,200
I say, he, he argues quite
convincingly that actually this
1074
01:08:05,200 –> 01:08:07,720
form of the Greek word here is
more of the idea of, of the
1075
01:08:07,720 –> 01:08:10,840
sprouting up.
So it’s actually talking about a
1076
01:08:10,840 –> 01:08:13,520
two step process in resurrection
that occurs.
1077
01:08:13,840 –> 01:08:18,319
The resurrection body springs
first in corruption and then
1078
01:08:18,319 –> 01:08:21,319
it’s built up or reared up or
raised in in corruption.
1079
01:08:21,920 –> 01:08:24,840
So the the apostle is actually
taking us through or telling us
1080
01:08:24,840 –> 01:08:29,760
very simply that process of the
the resurrection is a 2 step
1081
01:08:29,760 –> 01:08:34,640
process from being dead.
The person who is dead is raised
1082
01:08:34,640 –> 01:08:39,359
first in a corruptible body.
The process of judgement then
1083
01:08:39,359 –> 01:08:44,240
occurs, and having been found
worthy of immortality, they are
1084
01:08:44,240 –> 01:08:47,319
then built or read up or raised
into incorruption.
1085
01:08:48,160 –> 01:08:51,120
And the phrase just is repeated.
It’s sprouted us in dishonor.
1086
01:08:51,240 –> 01:08:54,000
It’s raised in glory.
It comes forth in its weakness,
1087
01:08:54,720 –> 01:08:58,439
in its in its weak body, but
it’s built up in power.
1088
01:08:58,840 –> 01:09:00,640
It’s born of the earth, a
natural body.
1089
01:09:00,640 –> 01:09:05,040
It’s read up or transformed by
the spirit into a spirit body.
1090
01:09:06,319 –> 01:09:09,560
And so we’re being told quite
simply, that there is a 2 step
1091
01:09:09,560 –> 01:09:11,800
process here of, of
resurrection.
1092
01:09:13,720 –> 01:09:20,200
It comes because of death.
People are dead, but they are
1093
01:09:20,200 –> 01:09:22,399
raised up not immediately into
mortality.
1094
01:09:22,399 –> 01:09:24,279
That makes sense, isn’t it?
Because there’s a, there’s a
1095
01:09:24,279 –> 01:09:25,920
judgement process that occurs
first.
1096
01:09:25,920 –> 01:09:32,800
So they’re raised up into a body
of mortality or of corruption.
1097
01:09:33,880 –> 01:09:37,680
They go through the process of
judgement and then a raised into
1098
01:09:37,680 –> 01:09:42,640
the spirit being.
So the faithful person is raised
1099
01:09:42,640 –> 01:09:46,680
up not as an as an immortal, but
as a body that is corruptible
1100
01:09:47,160 –> 01:09:48,840
goes through the process of
judgement.
1101
01:09:49,359 –> 01:09:52,359
And then in the final process of
judge of resurrection, when it’s
1102
01:09:52,520 –> 01:09:57,760
raised into its immortal glory,
the seed has not just put out
1103
01:09:57,760 –> 01:10:00,600
its little sprout in terms of
it’s resurrected to to a
1104
01:10:00,600 –> 01:10:04,640
corruptible life, but has been
expanded so beautifully to bring
1105
01:10:04,640 –> 01:10:06,920
forth fruit in the glory of
immortality.
1106
01:10:07,120 –> 01:10:12,960
It’s a 2 step process that gives
the earthly body new life and
1107
01:10:12,960 –> 01:10:15,520
transforms it into a glorious
spirit being.
1108
01:10:16,600 –> 01:10:20,080
So why is that the case?
Why has the Father deemed it
1109
01:10:20,080 –> 01:10:23,280
important to have this process
of resurrection?
1110
01:10:24,760 –> 01:10:28,400
Well, the first answer, brothers
and sisters and young people, is
1111
01:10:28,400 –> 01:10:33,080
that it allows us to be part of
the process of glorification for
1112
01:10:33,080 –> 01:10:36,080
those of us who have not died at
the coming of Christ, which is
1113
01:10:36,080 –> 01:10:37,840
getting more and more likely by
the year.
1114
01:10:39,120 –> 01:10:42,960
That process of resurrection out
of the grave itself is not
1115
01:10:43,040 –> 01:10:47,680
required because we are already
here in our earthly body.
1116
01:10:48,840 –> 01:10:51,800
But the second process following
the judgement seat, when God
1117
01:10:51,800 –> 01:10:54,760
willing, we are changed into
spirit beings, is 1 where all
1118
01:10:54,760 –> 01:10:58,520
the Saints of the ages are
joined together in the glory of
1119
01:10:58,520 –> 01:11:04,560
immortality.
The second reason I believe is
1120
01:11:04,560 –> 01:11:10,800
it allows it to be very clear on
by on, on the basis of by whom
1121
01:11:11,640 –> 01:11:13,400
and on what principle we are
saved.
1122
01:11:14,760 –> 01:11:19,280
Verse 45 as it is written, the
first man, Adam was made a
1123
01:11:19,280 –> 01:11:23,560
living soul and the last man,
Adam was made into a quickening
1124
01:11:23,560 –> 01:11:27,400
spirit.
That’s the Lord Jesus Christ who
1125
01:11:27,400 –> 01:11:29,920
has made this idea of the
quickening spirit, is into a
1126
01:11:29,920 –> 01:11:32,720
life giving spirit, a spirit who
gives life.
1127
01:11:33,560 –> 01:11:38,360
So on the one hand we have Adam,
Adam who made us, who made us a
1128
01:11:38,360 –> 01:11:42,280
living being, but also a dying
being and from whom we had
1129
01:11:42,280 –> 01:11:46,080
mortality.
But the second Adam is the Lord
1130
01:11:46,080 –> 01:11:50,480
Jesus Christ who is raised up
into a spirit being who gives us
1131
01:11:50,520 –> 01:11:55,480
life.
We only have life in Him.
1132
01:11:56,560 –> 01:12:00,440
It’s not our work.
It’s not our work, brothers and
1133
01:12:00,440 –> 01:12:04,520
sisters and young people.
That work is only accomplished
1134
01:12:04,520 –> 01:12:09,520
through one who is able to be a
life giving a quickening spirit.
1135
01:12:11,320 –> 01:12:15,120
And thirdly, it highlights for
us the principle that
1136
01:12:15,120 –> 01:12:17,800
resurrection must come from
death.
1137
01:12:19,240 –> 01:12:22,880
There can be no resurrection to
glorious spirit being unless our
1138
01:12:22,920 –> 01:12:31,080
mortal body is put to death.
So if that is the case, if there
1139
01:12:31,080 –> 01:12:37,080
can be no resurrection to life
without death, where does that
1140
01:12:37,080 –> 01:12:42,960
place us who are alive and
remain at His coming?
1141
01:12:45,320 –> 01:12:50,240
And the answer has to be The
answer has to be that in all but
1142
01:12:50,240 –> 01:12:54,640
the physical sense we have put
to death the flesh.
1143
01:12:55,160 –> 01:13:00,280
Now as Paul says, I die daily,
that we have learnt that we are
1144
01:13:00,280 –> 01:13:06,320
nothing, that no flesh can glory
in His presence, that if we want
1145
01:13:06,320 –> 01:13:09,320
to partake of the resurrection
of the dead, then we must put to
1146
01:13:09,320 –> 01:13:11,920
death the put to death the flesh
in this life.
1147
01:13:11,920 –> 01:13:14,760
Now, as Paul says in
Philippines, he says that I
1148
01:13:14,760 –> 01:13:18,000
might know Him in the power of
His resurrection, being made
1149
01:13:18,000 –> 01:13:22,480
conformable unto His death, if
by any means I might also attain
1150
01:13:22,480 –> 01:13:25,280
to the resurrection of the dead,
the sense of being made
1151
01:13:25,280 –> 01:13:30,040
conformable unto His death, so
that we can share in His
1152
01:13:30,440 –> 01:13:39,190
resurrection.
And then, brothers and sisters
1153
01:13:39,270 –> 01:13:44,430
and young people, shall come the
glorious moment that we all wait
1154
01:13:44,470 –> 01:13:51,160
and long for.
We shall all be changed in the
1155
01:13:51,160 –> 01:13:54,280
moment, in the twinkling of an
eye at the last trump.
1156
01:13:56,040 –> 01:13:59,720
For this, in a moment, in the
twinkling of an eye at the last
1157
01:13:59,720 –> 01:14:01,480
trump.
For the trumpet shall sound, and
1158
01:14:01,480 –> 01:14:03,640
the dead shall be raised
incorruptible.
1159
01:14:03,840 –> 01:14:09,680
And we shall be changed.
We shall be changed.
1160
01:14:12,000 –> 01:14:17,320
And in that phrase, our
mortality and our tendency to
1161
01:14:17,320 –> 01:14:24,160
sin, our daily struggle with
this body, the sadness, the
1162
01:14:24,160 –> 01:14:30,360
weakness, the pain and the
difficulty we face is done away
1163
01:14:32,320 –> 01:14:38,200
and we are ushered in.
We are transformed into the
1164
01:14:38,200 –> 01:14:41,760
glorious spirit power of
immortality.
1165
01:14:43,600 –> 01:14:46,360
We are transformed, brothers and
sisters, because God says this
1166
01:14:46,360 –> 01:14:49,680
corruptible must put on in
corruption and this mortal must
1167
01:14:49,680 –> 01:14:52,160
put on immortality.
And that’s us.
1168
01:14:52,160 –> 01:14:55,120
It’s talking about.
It’s us in our life, in our
1169
01:14:55,120 –> 01:14:59,480
body, who are transformed into
the power and the wonder of
1170
01:14:59,480 –> 01:15:02,880
immortality, together with the
sun and because of the sun, and
1171
01:15:02,880 –> 01:15:06,440
together as this united
ecclesial body, we are there in
1172
01:15:06,440 –> 01:15:10,880
that glorious immortality.
And when this corruptible shall
1173
01:15:10,880 –> 01:15:14,520
have put on in corruption, and
this mortal has put on
1174
01:15:14,520 –> 01:15:17,280
immortality, then shall be
brought to pass the saying that
1175
01:15:17,280 –> 01:15:21,840
is written.
Death is swallowed up in
1176
01:15:21,840 –> 01:15:27,600
victory.
Death is swallowed up in
1177
01:15:27,600 –> 01:15:33,280
victory.
He can sense this triumphant
1178
01:15:33,280 –> 01:15:38,080
cry.
O death, where is thy sting?
1179
01:15:39,520 –> 01:15:46,560
O grave, where is thy victory?
It’s perhaps the most triumphant
1180
01:15:46,560 –> 01:15:48,440
cry of all of Scripture, isn’t
it?
1181
01:15:49,800 –> 01:15:52,560
It’s a cry that mirrors the cry
of the Lord.
1182
01:15:52,560 –> 01:15:57,320
It is done, it is finished,
because the battle is won.
1183
01:15:57,960 –> 01:16:02,680
Our flesh is subdued and dead,
and we are there in the glory
1184
01:16:02,840 –> 01:16:05,880
and the wonder and the power of
immortality.
1185
01:16:06,000 –> 01:16:12,200
But death is swallowed up in
victory, and as death swallows
1186
01:16:12,200 –> 01:16:15,880
up its final victim, this
beautiful irony of death
1187
01:16:15,880 –> 01:16:19,280
swallowing itself as it reaches
out its hand to take its final
1188
01:16:19,280 –> 01:16:23,360
victim and touches the last of
those mortals who will not share
1189
01:16:23,360 –> 01:16:28,360
an immortality.
As it turns to take its next, it
1190
01:16:28,360 –> 01:16:32,920
realizes that there is no more,
that there can be no more death,
1191
01:16:34,160 –> 01:16:38,000
that it’s very power has been
overthrown and shall never ever,
1192
01:16:38,040 –> 01:16:41,600
ever again work its work or its
power upon the earth.
1193
01:16:43,720 –> 01:16:48,240
But thanks be to God, which
giveth us the victory through
1194
01:16:48,240 –> 01:16:51,320
our Lord Jesus Christ.
It’s his work.
1195
01:16:52,360 –> 01:16:57,080
We cannot do it ourselves, but
the power of that victory of the
1196
01:16:57,080 –> 01:16:59,960
work of Christ is going to be
wrought on a scale that we
1197
01:16:59,960 –> 01:17:03,800
cannot comprehend today because
every component of our life is
1198
01:17:03,800 –> 01:17:06,840
transformed by the power of
immortality.
1199
01:17:08,040 –> 01:17:10,000
And the work which He has
accomplished with us as
1200
01:17:10,000 –> 01:17:14,320
individuals, that’s wrought in
our families and in our
1201
01:17:14,320 –> 01:17:19,280
ecclesias, will be wrought
throughout the Millennium until
1202
01:17:19,280 –> 01:17:24,440
every individual upon the earth
are only those who know and love
1203
01:17:24,440 –> 01:17:28,560
their Father with all their
fullness and all their being.
1204
01:17:30,360 –> 01:17:34,400
We become the spirit beings of
the age to come.
1205
01:17:35,880 –> 01:17:42,400
We dwell with God as part of
Him, and God is All in all.
1206
01:17:45,760 –> 01:17:54,360
But thanks be to God which
giveth us the victory through
1207
01:17:54,360 –> 01:18:03,200
our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brethren,
1208
01:18:06,760 –> 01:18:15,080
ye steadfast, unmovable, always
abounding in the work of the
1209
01:18:15,080 –> 01:18:23,320
Lord, for as much as you know
that your labour is not in vain
1210
01:18:23,920 –> 01:18:24,520
in the Lord.
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