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New Hope Church – March 17, 2013
As In Adam, So In Christ
1 Corinthians 15:21-34
Ben Deaver
Announcements:
· Spring Break
· St. Patrick’s Day
· Welcome Cards
· KidsLIFE
· 1300 Fremont
· Jeri Stroade at Gambino’s
· ???
· ???
· Mingle Question: Have you filled out a March Madness bracket? If so, who do you have winning it all?
Big Idea: We are deeply affected by two men’s actions. Our identity is entirely formed by the results of these two men.
Review: Study of 1st Corinthians (Mountain Slide)
· The Cross & Unity (1:10-4:16)
o 1 Corinthians 2:2 2For I decided to know nothing among you exceptJesus Christ and him crucified.
· Sexuality & Marriage (4:17-7:40)
· Freedom & Responsibility in Relating to the World (8:1-11:1)
· Good Meetings (11:2-14:40)
· Last week we started a new essay in 1 Corinthians on The Resurrection (15:1-58).
o The Corinthians had mucho problems. One of these was that there were some who were denying the resurrection of the dead. That’s a big problem.
Who do you think you are?
· Where do you get your identity from? Let me reflect on some of the aspects of my identity and you do the same. I am…
o A follower of Jesus
o The husband of Maris
o The father of Kate
o The father of Maddox
o A pastor at New Hope Church
o The son of Terry and Karen Deaver
o The son in law of Joe and Maris Haster
o An America
o Alive in the 21st century
o A tall guy
o A guy with a big beard
o A guy in his early 30s with high blood pressure and high cholesterol
o A guy with insecurities
o A guy with a weird birthmark
o A guy whose wife has had a miscarriage
o A sinner
o A saint
o Etc.
o There are things about our identity that we tend to hide from others.
o There are things about our identity that we aren’t even aware of. Or at least that we’re not aware of how they affect us.
o Our identity has been mostly handed to us by the actions and perceptions of others.
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· I am who I am primarily because of the actions of two men in history. I am not a self-made man.
TODAY – As In Adam, So In Christ: 1st Corinthians 15:21-34
PRAY
We are IN Adam.
1 Corinthians 15:21a, 22a 21For asby a man came death… 22Foras in Adam all die…
· Consider Adam’s life and death…
o Adam ate the fruit. What resulted from that one action? Death! Not just physical death. Total death of every kind. Death = separation…
o Total Death in Adam
o What happened: Adam brought death.
o Result: In Adam all die.
o Our nature is fallen. We come out of the womb spiritually dead.
§ Psalm 51:5 5 Behold,I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
§ Ephesians 2:1-2 1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins…
§ Ephesians 2:3 ...and were by nature children of wrath
o Two theological truths that flow from this reality is original sin and total depravity.
o The truest thing about Maddox when he entered this world is that he received his identity from Adam. Adam acted on your behalf. Whether or not you are a follower of Jesus this is true of you. You may have convinced yourself that you’re a “good” person but there is more than meets the eye.
· The theological term for this truth is Federal Headship.
· Adam was our federal head. Adam acted on behalf of every person who came after him.
· Here are some thoughts to ponder together from Walking in Victory: Why God’s Love Can Change Your Life Like Legalism Never Could by Dennis McCallum.
o We were not personally in the Garden of Eden. “I wouldn’t know him from Adam.”
o We did not decide to eat the forbidden fruit.
o We did not sense Adam eating the fruit.
o We have no tangible experience that confirms our relation to Adam as a federal head.
o Yet, if we believe the Bible, we are obligated to accept God’s testimony here that our identity comes from Adam.
§ Paul has to write to believers to tell them of this truth. You won’t discover this on your own.
§ It is an act of the will to believe this to be true. You may not feel like this is true at times but it is true. Believe it!
o We do, however, experience the results of having this identity.
· The Results of Being IN Adam
§ Spiritual death
§ Psychological death
§ Social death
§ Physical death
o Read the news
o Look at your own life
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o We often expect life to be smooth sailing with a few bumps along the way. The reality is, if you open your eyes to see it, that life on this fallen planet is generally difficult and full of tragedy with a few bright spots along the way.
· But, that’s not fair! This is terrible news.
o You’re right, that is not fair. Life is not fair. This world is not a fair world. This world runs on cause and effect. The actions of others do affect my life in a very real way whether or not it’s fair. This is the world in which we live. This is reality.
§ Maris and I chose to have kids. Kate and Maddox came about as a result of that decision. They had no say in the matter.
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o Do you think that you would have done better than Adam and Eve? Really? Hmm…
§ I probably would’ve screwed things up as well. You would’ve too! Then everyone who reads the Bible would be frustrated with me or you. Let’s just accept that Adam brought death into the world.
o We are in Adam. Our nature is fallen.
o But, in the same way, we are also in Christ! As in Adam, so in Christ!
o Let’s turn back to our text in 1 Corinthians 15.
We are IN Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:21-22 21For asby a man came death,by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.22Foras in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
· Consider Jesus’ life, death and resurrection…
o What happened: Christ’s resurrection.
o Result: In Christ all are made alive; that is all who belong to Christ.
· As Adam was our federal head and acted on our behalf to form our identity, so also Jesus is our federal head. He acted on our behalf to give us our identity.
o “No one comes to death except through Adam, and no one comes to life except through Christ.” – St. Augustine
o 1 Corinthians 15:45 45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving Spirit. (quoting Genesis 2:7)
o 1 Corinthians 15:49 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, let us also bear the image of the man of heaven.
o There is life in Christ.
· Jesus is our federal head.
o We did not live the perfect life that Jesus lived.
o We were not personally at Golgotha when Jesus died on our behalf.
o We were not personally at the tomb when Jesus rose from the dead.
o We did not sense Jesus rising from the dead.
o We have no tangible experience that confirms our relation to Jesus as a federal head.
o Yet, if we believe the Bible, we are obligated to accept God’s testimony here that our identity comes from Jesus.
§ Paul has to write to believers to tell them of this truth. You won’t discover this on your own.
§ It is an act of the will to believe this to be true. You may not feel like this is true at times but it is true. Believe it!
§ “If you believe the Bible, you should realize that God’s view of us is the true view. If he views us a certain way, then that is, in the ultimate sense, the way we really are! Even if the majority of our peers look at things a different way, we would know they were wrong by referring to the infinite external reference point – the God and creator of all. Not only could we know that the view of our peers was wrong in some cases, we could even discover that our own view is wrong as well. If we come to view things a certain way, but God declares they are another way, we need to change our minds.” – Dennis McCallum in Walking in Victory, p. 22
o We do, however, experience the results of having this identity.
· The Results of Being IN Christ
§ Spiritual life
§ Psychological life
§ Social life
§ Physical life
· The Results of Being IN Christ
o Here are a few examples of the results of being in Christ. Take note of one that you need to hear this morning… Jot it down…
o Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
§ Freedom from condemnation
o Romans 8:2 2For the law ofthe Spirit of lifehas set youfree in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
§ Freedom from the law of sin
o Romans 8:38-39 38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
§ Security and permanence in God’s love
o Romans 12:5 5…so we,though many,are one body in Christ, and individuallymembers one of another.
§ Unity with other Christians
o 1 Corinthians 1:5 5…that in every wayyou were enriched in him in allspeech and all knowledge—
§ Spiritual gifts
o 1 Corinthians 1:30 30And because of himyou are in Christ Jesus, who became to uswisdom from God, righteousness andsanctification andredemption…
§ God’s wisdom, goodness, etc. imparted to us
o 2 Corinthians 2:14 14Butthanks be to God, who in Christ alwaysleads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreadsthe fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.
§ Triumph or victory in spiritual war
o 2 Corinthians 5:17 17Therefore, if anyone isin Christ, he isa new creation.The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
§ New identity
o 2 Corinthians 5:21 21For our sake he made him to be sinwho knew no sin, so that in him we might becomethe righteousness of God.
§ The righteousness of God
· Next Slide
o Galatians 2:20 20I have beencrucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who livesin me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,who loved me andgave himself for me.
§ Death to the old person
o Galatians 3:28 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slavenor free,there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
§ Basis for social, racial, and gender equality before God
o Ephesians 1:3 3Blessed bethe God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessingin the heavenly places…
§ Every blessing, note the past tense
o Ephesians 2:6 6 …and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…
§ Seated with Christ in the heavenly places
o Philippians 3:9 9…and be found in him, not havinga righteousness of my own that comes from the law, butthat which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—
§ Righteousness imparted to us
o Philippians 4:7 7And the peace of God,which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
§ Inner peace
o Colossians 3:3-4 3Foryou have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.4When Christwho is yourlifeappears, then you also will appear with himin glory.
§ Future inheritance and eternal life
o 1 John 5:20 20And we know that the Son of God has come andhas given us understanding, so that we may knowhim who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God andeternal life.
§ Truth and understanding
· We get all of this because of what Jesus did… Not because of anything we have done or could do…
· But that’s not fair! This is Good News!
Back to our passage to see more of the results of the Resurrection.
The Results of the Resurrection
1 Corinthians 15:23-26 23But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, thenat his comingthose who belong to Christ.24Then comes the end, when he deliversthe kingdom to God the Father after destroyingevery rule and every authority and power.25For he must reignuntil he has put all his enemies under his feet.26The last enemy to bedestroyed is death.
§ This world has been under the rule of the father of lies.
o The one who deceived Eve initially.
o The one who has ruled Adam since and continues to reign in this world now.
§ Jesus will take over this world and put all his enemies under his feet. He will destroy death. He will deliver the Kingdom to His Father, God.