Easter

SERMON - The Victory Is Ours!

INI

A Day of Victory

Text: 1 Corinthians 15:21-22, 51-57

For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades (grave), where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

In Christ Jesus, our living and victorious Savior, dear fellow-redeemed:

Death never looks like victory.

It is not uncommon to read in an obituary that someone has “lost a battle with cancer” or some other deadly disease. It just doesn’t seem like victory.

We see news reports of a deadly crash and it’s not victory, a house fire or a murder and they don’t look like victory either. Even a peaceful, natural death doesn’t look very victorious. In one way or another we have all had personal experience with death and it leaves our hearts grieving with sorrow and feeling like anything but victorious.

The death of Jairus’ daughter didn’t look very victorious either. Jairus had gone to find Jesus with the hope that He would heal his sick little girl. But when the servant came out and told Jairus not to bother the teacher anymore because his little girl was dead, there was no victory celebration in Jairus’ heart (Luke 8:41ff). Likewise the widow walking in the funeral procession of her only son, did not see victory in death, nor did Mary and Martha as they stood weeping outside their brother Lazarus’ grave. But in all of these cases, death turned into victory when Jesus came bringing life.

The disciples didn’t see victory or feel victorious Friday night, Saturday, and into Sunday as they mourned Jesus’ death. Nevertheless, there was a victory to behind Jesus’ death because that death had completed the payment for the world’s sin, and there was another important victory yet to come when on the third day He rose victoriously over death. That victory over the debt of sin which was accomplished on Friday and the victory over death which came to pass on Sunday—that glorious victory which seals salvation for sinners is our victory!

Death and its seeming triumph over us is unavoidable. Paul wrote, “By man came death… in Adam all die.” [vv.21-22] He wrote in much the same way to the Romans, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12). This leaves us with a rather gloomy outlook. Death and all that comes with it is all-inclusive. Our condition is one that is non-victorious. We are left with a forecast of utter and total defeat.

The sting of death is sin (cf. v. 56). Like a poisonous scorpion, sin strikes us, injects its venom, and leaves us dying. The strength of sin is the Law. The righteous Law of God condemns each of us to eternal death and judgment in Hell because of our sins.

“Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” [v.57] By one man came death, but “by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.” In Adam all die, but “even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” [vv.21-22] Death is swallowed up in victory because death could not hold Jesus in the grave. After dying in punishment for the sins of the whole world, Jesus rose victorious over death. The third day is a day of victory because death can no longer hold anyone who is joined to the life of Christ!

Several months ago as we prepared to celebrate our Savior’s birth, we sang, “Oh come, thou Rod of Jesse, free thine own from Satan’s tyranny, from depths of Hell thy people save, and give them victory o’er the grave!” [TLH 62:2] Today that victory for which we prayed while anticipating the Savior’s birth, is realized in the victorious emptiness of His tomb.

Jesus, the Son of God, lived a life that met God’s expectation and fulfilled His Law…as our substitute. Then He died on Friday, being forsaken by God and enduring the punishment of Hell for our sins…as our substitute. End of story? No way! It would be the end of the story if Jesus hadn’t been raised, “but now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20).

What looked like defeat on Friday became a great victory—a victory demonstrated by the disciples’ great joy as the news of the day began to sink into their minds and hearts. Jesus won a tremendous victory on Easter morning, but that victory is also ours. Jesus is our substitute—everything He did, He did for us.

Jesus is described as the “firstfruits” from the dead. First fruits imply further fruits and we are that further fruit for we too will rise from death. Jesus promises, “Because I live you will live also” (John 14:19). “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die” (John 11:24-25).

Death still looks like defeat, but only in this life and only for a time. “We shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” [vv. 51-53] Because Jesus has paid the price of setting us free from our sin and has conquered death, we have the certain hope of being raised from our own death to be glorified just as He is and to live with Him forever.

Those who die “in the Lord” still die, their bodies still decay, their missing place on earth is still mourned, but they are victorious! We are victorious because we have a living Savior who day-by-day provides for us, guards us, protects us, keeps us, forgives us, and has fully defeated our worst enemies.

Celebrate THE DAY OF VICTORY—YOUR victory through a risen and living Savior! Amen.

—Pastor Wayne C. Eichstadt

A Life of Victory

Text: Colossians 3:1-4

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”

In Christ Jesus, our risen Lord and Savior, dear fellow redeemed:

Late last week, I commented to someone regarding Easter that it seemed like Christmas had been celebrated only a few weeks ago! She agreed…time travels so fast! Today it is Easter, soon it will be Memorial Day, then July 4, then Labor Day, and then school again…not that I want to discourage any of you youngsters looking forward to summer vacation! Major holidays seem to come and go, ever more quickly as you grow older. Those holidays are generally enjoyable and involve family gatherings and recall important ideas or events, but they all too often come and go without making any lasting impact upon our lives. I would hope that this is not true for your celebration of Easter. Easter is more than merely a spring holiday. It is more than colored eggs and an excuse to eat a good ham! Easter is, as we have already heard, A DAY OF VICTORY! It is A DAY OF VICTORY, however, which is to lead to A LIFE OF VICTORY! THE EVENT THAT IS EASTER—THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST—ALTERS ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING FOR THE CHILD OF GOD! As the apostle Paul explains in our text from Colossians 3, it affects what we do, how we think, and ultimately where we go!

I.

Paul says, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.” Easter is a very personal holiday, because it connects us directly with our risen Savior! The Book of Romans assures us that we are connected both to Jesus’ death and resurrection through our baptisms and the faith those baptisms created within our hearts (cf. Rom. 3:3-5). It tells us, essentially, that when Jesus was placed in the grave by Joseph of Arimathea, through that baptism-faith connection we were laid out beside Him, and that when the angel rolled back the stone from the tomb to reveal that Jesus had arisen, through our baptism-faith connection it was as if we too had been raised from the dead! If then we have been raised with Christ, Paul concludes in our text, it is only natural that we are also tied to that ascended Christ, who sits at God’s right hand. It is only natural then that we pursue those things that God desires—those things, “which are above!”

That means that our lives of victory will look very different than the lives of those people around us. Whereas the lives of many people in this world seemed focused simply on pursuing the material things of this world and fulfilling their own earthly dreams and desires, the child of God will want to pursue his or her particular calling in this world to the glory of God and the benefit of his or her neighbor. Later in this same third chapter of Colossians Paul summarizes this by saying: “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (3:17). The resurrection of Jesus Christ alters absolutely everything for the child of God. It affects what we do, as we live A LIFE OF VICTORY!

II.

It also affects how we think! Paul writes, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” Consider the effect that Jesus’ resurrection had on His early disciples. The women who sadly went to the tomb Easter Sunday morning, returned to Jerusalem excited and breathless as they reported what they had seen and heard from the angels and from Jesus Himself. The two men on the way to Emmaus were troubled and tentative as they headed to Emmaus, but jubilant and determined as they made their way back to inform the others. The disciples in the upper room were afraid when Jesus first appeared to them, but later they boldly proclaimed His name as the one and only way to be saved. The resurrection of Jesus affected how they thought about everything!

Even so, that resurrection event that is Easter can, does, and should affect how we think! Paul, in writing to the Romans, urges us, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (12:2). Setting your mind on things above, does not mean that you do not think about the things of this life, but that you think about them differently. You think about them as you are led by the Spirit to understand the will of God. Setting your mind on things above frees you from the fears and addictions so common among men. Therefore, I recognize that I am but a steward of my possessions, for instance, and therefore I approach the use of them from a different perspective. They do not possess me, but rather I possess them as trusts from God. Therefore, I strive not to use them selfishly, but rather selflessly in service to others. I do not think in terms of seeking vengeance on my enemy, but rather recognize that God is in charge of every situation and every relationship. I, therefore, try to understand my enemy, pray for him, and think of ways I might actually help him. In this way the resurrection of Jesus Christ alters absolutely everything for the child of God. It affects how we think, once again as we live A LIFE OF VICTORY!

III.

It also and ultimately affects where we go! Paul writes, “When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” After Jesus died the hopes and dreams of the disciples were crushed. Everything they thought was true, they now deemed false. But the resurrection changed their thinking completely, affected their actions entirely, and gave them a sense of purpose and direction that has ultimately changed the course of human history!

Jesus’ resurrection was the beginning of His exaltation and glory! He truly does sit at God’s right hand, possessing all authority, and exercising all power on behalf of us, His Church. Consequently, while Satan continues to rage, and the world continues to mock, the truth is that the Kingdom of our Savior continues to grow, as individuals throughout this world are led to repentance, faith, and hope regarding the promised end of God’s plan of salvation! The end of God’s plan is not that we live as redeemed children of God here in this sin-filled world, but that we share in the glory of our Savior, Jesus Christ, in heaven.

The Book of Revelation, which seems at times so mysterious and which can raise so many questions, has one undeniable theme—Jesus Christ, our risen Savior, is winning the battle against Satan on our behalf! One day, when everything God desires is accomplished, that is, when the very last among God’s elect has come to faith, Jesus will return to this world in glory, and all who embrace His saving name will appear with Him in glory! That my dear friends, is the ultimate message of Easter! THE EVENT THAT IS EASTER—THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST—ALTERS ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING FOR THE CHILD OF GOD! It affects what we do, how we think, and ultimately where we go! IT ALL ADDS UP TO A LIFE OF VICTORY!

Amen.

—Pastor Paul D. Nolting