New Bodies Part 2
Living Hope • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 3 viewsNotes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Greet One Another: Before you sit down, say, “Good Morning” to the people around you. (Dismiss Children)
Welcome to North Village Church. My name is Michael. It is great to see you. This morning we are going to continue a series in .
If you don’t have a bible grab one in the back, because we are going to be doing an in depth study of all the way to Easter.
Tablets: We do have a system to stay in touch with people. We have these tablets that we pass through the audience. We ask everyone to fill it out every Sunday, and if you are new, there is a place for you to provide more information so we can get in touch later.
Handout: We also provided a handout for you to follow along with us throughout this series, because this chapter is the premier chapter on the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
We are teaching through , and in verses 1-34 the Apostle Paul is anchoring our lives and death in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, because one day Jesus is going to return, one day our bodies will be resurrected in glory, and one day Jesus will return and all things will be made new in heaven and on earth.
But, don’t you wonder what those new glorified bodies will look like? Just imagine our bodies completely free from sin. Imagine our brains having thoughts that are free from worry, anxiety, fear, shame and condemnation. Imagine our relationships without insecurity, doubt, jealousy, and gossip. Imagine our bodies without aches or pains.
In our passage this morning the Apostle Paul is going to draw out a little what those new glorified bodies might look like one day. Look at verse 42: (SLIDE)
, “42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body”
In verse 42 we see the word, “so” which is a literary reminder to consider the previous words we looked at last Sunday. Lets look at verse 35: (SLIDE)
, “35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?”
In verse 35 the Apostle Paul considers two questions of the Corinthian church is asking, “How are the dead raised, and what kind of bodies?”
Remember the Corinthian church didn’t believe the physical body would be resurrected in the future, therefore, they are asking the question, “How is that possible, and if it is possible, what kind of bodies?”
Last Sunday, Vinnie walked us through the first question, “How is that possible?” and this morning we are focusing on the second question, “What kind of body?” Look at verses 42-44: (SLIDE)
, “42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.”
In verses 42-44 the Apostle Paul draws out a contrast of what our future, glorified bodies will look like one day when Jesus returns.
First, lets see the big picture. When you believe in Jesus you will be eternally with Jesus. At some point your life on earth will come to an end, and the moment that happens your soul is face to face with Jesus for eternity.
You’re not laying in the ground waiting, playing thumb wars. You’re not floating around watching the funeral.
You’re not going to be playing tricks on your siblings as a mischievous angel. You are with Jesus!
But, and I am not sure I fully understand this, you will be with Jesus, and at the same time longing for the day your body is raised in glory.
You can look at copied a portion of the passage in your notes, and if you keep reading the chapter on your own, you can see what I am describing.
Therefore, in verses 42-44 the Apostle Paul is describing what those glorified bodies will look like one day when Jesus returns and our bodies are raised.
Today we see a perishable body, but in glory we will see, (what), an imperishable body. Today we see dishonor, but one day we will see our bodies raised in glory.
Today we see weakness, but one day we will see our bodies raised in power. Today we see natural, but one day we will see raised a spiritual body. You with me?
First, you need to see the emphasis is on a “body.” The word, “body” is repeated 6 times in these verses to make it really clear we don’t become Casper the ghost. We don’t become angels. We don’t become a force of energy. We have bodies that are physically raised in glory, and in verses 42-44 we see the contrast.
One day our bodies will become imperishable. The word “imperishable” means incorruptible and unceasing. One day our bodies will no longer display patterns of dishonor, but we will be pleasing to ourselves, one another, and to God.
One day our bodies will no longer be weak, but we will be raised in power. I remember when we had newborn children I was so sad because I couldn’t sleep as long as I wanted to sleep, and I dreamed of the day when our children would be older, and I could sleep 10-12 hours a day, but now that I am into my 40’s those days are gone.
When I hit 40 there were parts of my body that just started hurting. Now, I wake up at 6am with headaches, knee aches, backaches, and it is because our bodies are physically weak, but one day our bodies will be raised in glory. One day our bodies will be eternal.
But, the key to remember, the key to see, the key to understand in verses 42-44 is that there must be an active agent of transformation. This is what makes Jesus so important!
Gospel: Left alone humanity will continue in the trajectory of perishable, broken, weak, bodies, and we can insert some behavioral modification. We can insert some Kale. We can get better education. We can get better politicians. But, all none of those modifications disrupt the trajectory of humanity.
Our only hope is if the God of Scripture somehow brings an active agent of transformation into our lives. Do you understand?
You need to understand the transformation being described in verses 42-44 isn’t a description for all of humanity. These verses are not poetical language that sounds good at a funeral unless there is an active agent of transformation in Jesus Christ.
If the story of Jesus never shows up in your story, if there is never an intersection, if there is never a disruption in our trajectory where the Spirit of God enters into our lives as an active agent of transformation, then none of this happens.
Illustration: This is why it is so important for us to speak up about our faith in our culture today. I know it is scary. I know it doesn’t help that Donald Trump has identified as a Christian.
But, when people ask us about our faith we must say something more than “I follow Jesus because Jesus brings peace into my life.”
Is it true that Jesus brings peace? Yes, Jesus brings peace that surpasses all understanding, but our culture hears that response and says, “Great. That is you’re your religious systems and self-help systems are supposed to do!”
At that point Jesus is simply reduced to a self-help program just like any other cognitive or behavioral, religious or secular belief system in our culture today.
But, listen to me, Jesus isn’t just a self-help belief system to help you cope with your problems, because Jesus is a supernatural active agent of transformation in our life.
It is by grace through faith in Jesus that the glory of God enters into your biological ecosystem that begins the process being described in verses 42-44. Does that make sense?
The process of what is being described in verses 42-44 isn’t just waiting for the day for Jesus to return. The process of transformation described in verses 42-44 takes place the moment you meet Jesus.
So yes, Jesus brings peace into our live, but also, and more so, faith in Jesus is bringing God’s future glory into your present life the moment you meet Jesus. That’s the gospel! The gospel is you being able to live in the present old world with energy and power from the new world in Christ!
Illustration: It all kind of reminds me of Zoysia grass. Stay with me. Do you know about Zoysia grass? Zoysia grass is incredibly durable.
I have St. Augustine in my yard and you have to work, pray, and care for St. Augustine grass because it just doesn’t stand up under this Texas heat very well.
But, Zoysia grass is strong, resists foot traffic, drought resistant, but most important, if you insert a plug of Zoysia grass into your yard, eventually the Zoysia grass will squeeze out the weeds and take over your yard. It’s like super grass!
In a similar way, when you believe in Jesus there is a plug of God’s glory, the Apostle Peter writes, “In Christ, we become partakers of the divine nature of God.” We are given a plug of God’s glory placed inside your mind, body, and soul, and right now His glory is overtaking you until the day Jesus returns and your body is raised in glory. Do you understand?
That’s why we study the Scriptures. We’re not studying the Scriptures to do our religious duty for the day. We’re studying the Scriptures to accelerate the spreading of God’s glory into our lives.
That’s why we sing songs. That’s why we engage in biblical community with one another. That’s why we want to practice a life of confession and repentance. That’s why we give financially and sacrificially.
The glory of God has taken up residency in our being, and His glory is so powerful perishable is becoming and will eventually become imperishable, the dishonored is becoming and will become glory, and the weak is becoming and will become power. Look at verse 45: (SLIDE)
, “45 So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.”
The first Adam is in , but the last Adam is a title the Apostle Paul uses to refer to Jesus, because Jesus has come to do what the first Adam could not.
The first Adam rebelled against the Father, the last Adam obeys the Father to the point of death on a cross. The first Adam’s brings death, judgment and condemnation. The Last Adam brings life, grace, and glory to all who trust Him.
The first Adam is put to sleep to see a beautiful woman come from his side. The Last Adam is laid in a tomb to produce a glorious bride, a whole new race of people from all cultures, nations and ethnicities.
Your relationship with Jesus isn’t a solo project. You are apart of the body of Christ being transformed and made into His likeness. Look at verses 46-47: (SLIDE)
, “46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. 47 The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven.”
The first Adam is created out of the earth, and gives us life suited for the earth, but the “Last Adam” is from heaven and gives us life suited for heaven. Do you understand? The Apostle Paul is pointing the Corinthian church and us this morning to a transformation. Look at verses 48-49: (SLIDE)
, “48 As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly.”
In the earthy we see the broken image of God stirring up pain, strife, and death, and we see this around us every day, but in the heavenly we will bear the image of the heavenly.
Therefore, if we want to know what our glorified bodies will look like one day we simply need to look at the body of the resurrected Jesus.
When we read the Gospels and Acts we see the resurrected body of Jesus is physical, the resurrected body of Jesus is recognized by others, and the resurrected body of Jesus eats food, and interacts with people, which gives us an indication of what our physical bodies might look like in glory.
But, also the resurrected body of Jesus walks through walls, which is kind of cool, and somehow the people don’t recognize the resurrected Jesus, and then they do recognize the resurrected Jesus, so that our glorified bodies will be physical, felt, and familiar, but also, radiant, glorious, and mysterious, so that verses 42-49 are lifting our eyes not only look forward to a glory that will come one day, but also to rest in, enjoy and expect His glory today.
Remember the Corinthian church was convinced, “Eat, drink, and live for tomorrow we die.” But, the Apostle Paul is saying, “No, how we live matters. This is who we are going to become in Christ, therefore, don’t wait.”
Enjoy Jesus today. Walk in His glory today. Submit your lives to His Word every day. Gather with His people every day. Reflect His glory to this world every day. This is who you are!
Illustration: It’s possible the image of the earthy that we have been given in Adam is so overwhelming that you find it hard to lean into that heavenly image you have been given in Christ.
It reminds me of what it is like to drive a car. Do you remember when you couldn’t wait to get your license? Or, those times you have been out of town in planes and trains, and then you finally come home and you get to drive your car?
I hear our teenagers today don’t like to drive, because they like to be on their phones, but driving a car 70 MPH down the road with the windows down, music blaring is just amazing!
The problem is owning a car takes responsibility. The car needs to be maintained. You need to do oil changes, clean the interior, put some black magic on those tires, deal with recalls, argue with mechanics, watch a lot of YouTube videos, and you have to take care of the car.
As a result there are going to be days that you say to yourself, “I wish I didn’t have this car!” You are going to get so discouraged by flat tires, lost keys, insurance, and maintenance that you are going to wish you didn’t have a car.
It could be similar with our relationship with Jesus, and waiting for the day are bodies are raised in glory. There are some really hard parts of Jesus. I know Joel Osteen makes it sound easy and when you know Jesus everything is great, but that’s a lie. There can be some really difficult parts of walking with Jesus.
There is interacting with our culture. There is self-denial. There is humility. There is putting aside your own interests. There is holding your tongue. There is speaking up when everyone is quiet. There is a lot of mundane parts of walking with Jesus.
But, if you never take time to roll-down your windows, turn up the music and enjoy driving your car you are going to forget the glory of car ownership, and in a similar way, if we never take the time open the Scriptures, submit our hearts and mind to His Word, foster relationships with one another, confess and repent of our sin, and fix our eyes on the living hope in us through faith in Jesus we are going to miss out and reduce Jesus to some self-help tips on how to cope with the stress of life.
Therefore, we must take time to bathe our souls in the truth, “In Christ, this life on earth is just a little while.” In Christ we have the power of God walking with us every step of the way.
Are there going to be some mundane things along the way? Sure, but the power of God is running through our soul and one day His power will completely overtake us when we are raised in glory.
Passage: “New Bodies Part 2”
Reflect: Are you taking time every day to soak your mind, body and soul in God’s Word?
Repentance: Turn to Jesus, seek His forgiveness, and ask for His help to obey.
Rejoice: Just as we see the earthy, we can become confident that we will see the heavenly.
Communion
This morning we are going to celebrate communion as a church family. The cracker is a symbol of Jesus’ body being broken at the cross, and the juice is a symbol of His blood being poured out at the cross.
The reason Jesus gave up His life is so that He might give us His glory, therefore, let us place our thoughts on those truths and what it means for our life today as we celebrate communion as a church family.
If you have yet to believe in Jesus, and I say, “yet” because the reason Jesus has you in a cafeteria on a Sunday morning is because the Spirit of God is drawing you to Himself. Therefore, if you have yet to believe in Jesus then we ask you to hold off on coming forward, and instead use this time to identify what is keeping you from believing in Jesus.
Prayer:
Announcements:
· Easter
· Harvey