Scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 15:22-26

Which would you rather be? Stanford research: Most competitive? Men 45-54

A victory that really matters! 1 Corinthians 15:22-26 NLT “Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised first, then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back. After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power. For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet. And the last enemy to be destroyed is death.”

1. The enemies are many and powerful! Psalm 110:1, 2 “The Lord (Jehovah) said to my Lord (Jesus), ‘Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’ The Lord shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies!” 1. The enemies are many and powerful!

Satan is our enemy! 1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” Mt 10:25 “Beelzebub” Jn 12:31 “the ruler of this world” 2 Cor 4:4 “the god of this world” Eph 2:2 “the prince of the power of the air” Rev 12:9 “the great dragon and ancient serpent”

He was cast out of heaven and now works for the destruction of man! Why? He knows this is the best way to hurt God He resents mankind receives a 2nd chance Psalm 103:14 “For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.”

It is aligned against God! The world is our enemy! It is aligned against God! John 17:14 “I have given them your word and the world hates them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” James 4:4 “Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.”

1 John 2:15-17 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God abides forever.”

yet to enlist with Jesus Every person who has yet to enlist with Jesus makes himself an enemy! Luke 11:23 “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.” Someone objects: “But I’m not against Jesus!” If not, then take His side!

Death is the ultimate enemy! It robs us of everything of value in life! Hebrews 9:27 “It is appointed unto man once to die . . .” Ecclesiastes 9:4 “a living dog is better than a dead lion” Why? Because life is over!

Death wasn’t God’s idea! sinned and brought death In Eden, Adam and Eve sinned and brought death 1 Cor 15:22 “in Adam all die” Romans 5:12 “Just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned” How? Expelled from the Garden & Tree of life Is it fair and just? Yes! Why? Rom 5:14 “Death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam.”

2. Christ reigns until the last enemy is destroyed Death sneaks up on you! 2 Corinthians 4:16 “our outward man is perishing”

It is simply a matter of time! Each day is one day closer to the 2nd Coming! 1 Corinthians 15:55-58 “’O grave, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”