Godsword Season Episode 65 — Ken Graves

There is a war going on. A spiritual war. A war between truth and deception. Only one thing cuts through all the lies and opinions of man. It is the truth of an ancient book. The Bible. It is God's word.

God's sword.

Right. It's only logical. Think about this for a second. Creation itself was cursed. Creation itself was damned. And creation can't save itself. Creation can't save creation. The only one that can save creation.

The Resurrection and the Promise of Change

Please join us in 1 Corinthians chapter 15.

Here's a text for you today. A text that is typically preached by ministers on Resurrection Sunday. And for good reason. The whole theme, the whole subject in 1 Corinthians 15 is the resurrection. The resurrection is what this whole chapter is about.

The whole concept that we're all going to experience death. Well, most of us. Almost all of us are going to experience death. And there is, of course, a statement here in verse 51. Everybody is familiar with verse 51.

Behold, I show you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. Yeah, that's the verse for the nursery. Behold, we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. Changed. Change.

That's a familiar word, isn't it? Change we need. Change is kind of the theme for the year in America. Change. The other day, my boy Ben, who's experiencing relative success with potty training. He's doing pretty good, but he's human.

The other day, we went to go get a load of firewood. I said, come on, Ben, let's go. You want to ride in the truck? Oh, truck. And he's like, yeah, lumber. And I go, no, firewood, firewood. Strappy man, we drive out to get this load of firewood.

It's a weekly event. I got him buckled in his seat. You know, he's in his seat. Everything's cool. The truck is warm, idling. I'm going to go out and load the truck. I load the truck. I came back in, and it was very, very, very apparent to me.

He had experienced failure. He was, after all, bound, and it was not like he could go anywhere or tell me anything. So I look in the center console like a good dad. I got a couple of extra pull-ups, but nothing to clean him up with.

Snow. A memorable experience, I'm sure, for my boy Ben. He was not digging it, as you can imagine. Get him right in there under the heater as quick as I could. And he's looking at me like, what? He doesn't have the vocabulary, but he's wanting to go, what is wrong with you, man?

What was that? We shall not all sleep, and we shall all be changed. There is a change that we all need to experience. 1 Corinthians 15 .51 says there's this mystery that not all of us are going to die.

Right in the middle of this whole subject of the resurrection, the fact that we will most likely die and we will live again, in the middle of that is that statement that we shall not all sleep, the sleep of death, but we will all be changed.

Oh, there's a change that's going to take place. The resurrection. Oh, there is this change. So the theme of 1 Corinthians 15 is this change. Change that's going to take place. Change that needs to take place.

Man, there's so much in me and so much in you guys that's just got to change. Wouldn't you agree? There's a lot wrong with us. You can probably give me a list of the things you're aware of. About me, that you need to change.

We can write those lists up for each other. That's an exercise in futility. I'll tell you a few things wrong with you. We already know there's stuff wrong with us. We all got things wrong with us, but we are changing right now.

It's just so slow, isn't it? It's such a slow change, and to some extent it does depend upon us a little bit. We've got to cooperate with the Lord and the work that he's doing in us. All that indication biblically that what is happening in us does in fact require our cooperation to some degree.

Change. We will all be changed. It's guaranteed. We're being changed now, but ultimately all that lacks in the changing is going to happen in an instant. The resurrection. There's something I've got to point out to you.

The reason for this text I've chosen today is for the very purpose of the approaching holiday, Christmas. Again, I say 1 Corinthians 15 is typically preached on Easter, Resurrection Sunday. But there are things about Christmas here that I've got to point out to you.

Adam and Christ: The First Man and the Second Man

There's a contrast made, 1 Corinthians 15, beginning in verse 45. A contrast made between two men. There's a sense in which Adam, being the first man, and Jesus Christ, there's a sense in which they've got some things in common, because those two men, more than any other, by their choices and by their deeds, exercised greater influence on all of humanity and all of human history than any other two men.

So they're mentioned here, verse 45. In a way to contrast them, though they've got a lot in common, in that those two men, Adam, the first man, and Jesus Christ, who is called here the last man. He's called, or probably better translated, the second man.

There's the first guy, and there's the second guy. The first one, who by his sin, he affected all of us. He made us all sinners. Brought the sentence of sin upon us all. And the second one, very different.

Beginning in verse 45, it is written,. And so it is written, the first man, Adam, was made a living soul. The last Adam, a quickening spirit. And here's the first thing to consider. The first man, Adam.

Now the Hebrew for Adam is not Adam. It's, I don't know why we translate names. I don't know why it's always been a mystery to me. God, in Hebrew, called him Ish. Ish means man. And we have a translation of that, Adam.

I don't get it, don't have to, but anyway, Adam, he was Ish. Ish. First man was Ish. In fact, it was him who said she shall be called Buman. Was, in Hebrew, Isha. For she was taken out of man. So the first man, whose name was man, was made.

That's what verse 45 says, he was made. He was created. The first man, in quoting as he does, Genesis 2 -7. The Lord God formed man of the dust of the earth, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.

Man became a living soul. He became a living soul. He was made. He's not the maker. He was made. But look at the rest of this, and if you've got the King James Version, as I do here, you'll look with me at the last statement.

The last statement says the last Adam was made a quickening spirit, and was made. It's really not there, and that's why they've changed the font. It's in italics. Your translator, your Bible publisher, in being honest, wants you to know that that's not a word for word translation.

But they try to make it make more sense and flow a little bit better in English. They threw in words, and they put them in italics so that you know that that really wasn't there. So literally it is the last Adam, or the last man, a quickening spirit.

Not was made, but rather a quickening spirit. The contrast is being made here. That the first man was made, the second man was not made. He is a life-giving spirit. The first man was made a living soul.

The last man is a life-giving spirit. Contrast here between Adam and Christ. You get this. The first one was made, he's created. He was made a living soul, but the second, the last man, he's a life-giving spirit.

That is to say, he's the maker. Life-giving spirit, a quickening spirit. Guys, it's only right, it's only logical. Think about this for a second. The creation itself was cursed. Creation itself was damned.

And creation can't save itself. Creation can't save creation. The only one that can save creation is the creator. Jesus Christ was not a man created. He is the creator. You've got to understand that. He's the creator.

The creator stepped into time, space, and matter, became human. He's the maker. He's a life-giving spirit. He was not made a living soul. He's the one who makes life. But the contrast continues. In verse 46, it says,.

Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural. And afterward, that which is spiritual. And then this contrasting statement in verse 47. The first man is of the earth. Earthy.

He began here, see. Again, Genesis 2 -7. The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. Genesis 2 -7. He's of the earth. This is where he began. He originated here.

He's made of earth. He is earthy. He's of earth. The first man. But the last half of that sentence in verse 47 says,. The second man is the Lord from heaven. The second man. He's not of earth. He's the Lord from heaven.

The Lord from heaven. He's from heaven. He is the only one who preexisted his conception. All of us here have a beginning. He has no beginning. Even before he was conceived, he was. He's the Lord from heaven.

All of us are from earth. We're earthy. Like the first man. But not him. He is the Lord from heaven. You see, this has a lot to do with Christmas. You guys do see my point here, right? He's the Lord from heaven.

The one who was born in Bethlehem. The one who was laid in a manger. Existed. Long before. He's from eternity past. He's the Lord from heaven. He has no beginning. He's God the Son. But the contrast is that the first man.

Check this out. There's a sense here as you read this. There's a sense in which what God made man to be. Was so forfeited. So lost. In the fall. In sin. That there wasn't another one. That God would actually call a man.

Until Christ. That's how messed up manhood is. That's how marred. That you could refer to Adam as the first man. And you could refer to Christ as the scripture does here. As the second man. First man.

Second man. Verse 48 says. As the earthy. As is the earthy. Such are they also that are earthy. And as is the heavenly. Such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy.

We shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Get this guys. All of us. Bore the image of the earth man. Adam. Just as we did. We will all of us. Bear the image of the heavenly man. That's the change we're talking about here okay.

We all know we gotta change. We all know. Every one of us know. That we must change. And change for us means. We gotta become like him. And we all are very aware of how we're so not. Like him. I know I am.

Sometimes more than other times I'm aware. I have these moments where I think. Wow. Man. I'm pretty godly. I'm pretty. I'm so spirit. I mean I've grown. And as soon as I catch myself thinking. Wow. That's pretty gross.

That's pride. That's not Christ like at all. So I go. I'm not like him. I'm so not. I see change happening to me. You do too right. Happening in you. We've experienced a degree of that. It's like me. But it ain't enough.

And we're not done. We will bear. That's future tense. We will. We shall bear the image of the heavenly. We don't as much right now as we will. See that's what the whole theme of this chapter. Is the resurrection.

And the completion. The change. Oh. You know what. Obama was right. Change we need. Oh we need change. I think he's got something else in mind. Verse 49 says again. As we have borne the image of the earthly.

We shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now here's where you got to follow me on this. Because there's something you've got to see. Out of this passage. Verse 50 he goes. Now I say. Now this I say brethren.

Corruption, Mortality, and the Necessity of Transformation

That flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. So what good would it do you. To go to heaven. If you're still mortal. What good would that do you.

It'd do you good for a little while. Be a visit. And you die and leave. You know I couldn't even enjoy heaven as much right now. Because I'm still corruptible. Let's talk about this concept. Unpleasant though it may be.

We are all of us. Corruptible. We are so corruptible. If we don't bathe we stink. We are so corruptible. You know what corruptible means. I mean literally rottable. Any of you who have ever had the experience.

Whether you were in a third world country. And there is no modern convenience. No plumbing. No nearby body of water. Especially if you've been in a desert or semi-desert. Where water is scarce. You've gotten a chance to experience what it's like to really become conscious.

Of how corruptible you are. How stinky you can get. Or if you've been really sick. Really sick. And on a bed. And dependent perhaps on people to clean you to a degree. You become very very conscious. Of how corruptible you are.

How rottable. If you've ever had a wound. And you've experienced the fight to keep it from being infected. And we get all these weird different kind of infections in our bodies. You become very conscious at times like that.

If you ever. I had a wound. As a kid in my early teens. It was the result of a back head of a hatchet. That I was driving a nail with. And I hit my middle finger. Right on the tip. You guys have experienced what that is like.

To have that throb. Your pulse in your fingertip. And then the whole nail turns black. And the pain just kept throbbing and throbbing. So I, being the surgeon. Some other medical amateur. Told me you need to drill that nail.

Relieve that pressure. That's what you got to do. Don't ever listen to people. And tell you stuff like. And I did. I went to all the trouble. Of drilling it. And it was not an easy task. It bled. Oh man.

And it didn't feel any better as a result. Then. It got infected. Under the nail. This is really gross. And I'm still having to go to school. I remember. I'm in middle school. That. This is gross. It actually.

You could smell it. I had to keep it in my pocket. My finger. Was rotting. I really had no. Great appreciation for how. Dangerous that could be. Anything like that. I became very conscious. Watch this infection.

Spread and it was. It was horrible. And you know. It was ugly too. And I kept it kind of wrapped. I remember being. In school. Somebody goes. What is that? I don't know. Don't know. Find someone else to be.

It's pretty gross. I'm sorry. But I just. I want to remind you. Just how. Mortal. How rottable. Corruptible. We are. Ultimately. I had to go and rip the whole thing off. I will never forget how bad. That.

Hurt. And had to come off. I had to use needle nose pliers. And just tear the thing all the way off. And then really be able to. To clean that wound. All the agony. I've learned. I've had many black. Fingernails and toenails since.

And I've just. Appreciate it. I'm being black. Leave them right there. Leave them alone. No self surgery. We rot. We die. And we rot. And sometimes. We rot before we die. We can't. We are so corruptible.

Now it's kind of. You know what? We. We're kind of used to it. Sadly. And we don't have any appreciation. For how really gross it is. We. Are. Rottable. Corruptible. And mortal. But we're told here. That we're going to change.

We. This. Corruption. Is going to put on incorruption. This mortal. Will put on immortality. Isn't that a wonderful thought? Isn't it? That has changed. Now. We. We are going to experience. Change. That we could never have made happen by ourselves.

We're going to experience. Change. Our maker. Our creator. Is going to change us. From this nasty state of existence. That we are in. But here's a thought for you. Maybe. You hadn't. Considered it. But let me read on.

And I'm going to give you this thought. This is the focus of today. Again. Verse 51. We've already quoted. Behold I show you a mystery. We shall not all sleep. But we shall. All. Be. Changed. In a moment.

And the twinkling of an eye. At the last trump. For the trumpet shall sound. And the dead shall be raised. Incorruptible. And we. Shall. Be. Changed. For this corruptible. Must put on. Incorruption. And this mortal.

Must. Put on. Immortality. Must. So when this corruptible. Shall have put on. Incorruption. And this mortal. Shall have put on. Immortality. Then shall be brought. To pass. The saying. That is written.

Victory Over Death Through the Resurrection

Death is swallowed up. In victory. Oh death. Where is thy sting. Oh grave. Where is thy victory. The sting of death. The sin. And the strength of sin. Is the law. But thanks be to God. Which giveth us.

The victory. Through our Lord. Jesus Christ. Therefore my brethren. My beloved brethren. Be you steadfast. Unmovable. Always abiding. In the work of the Lord. For as much as you know. That your labor.

Is not in vain. In the Lord. This change. Has to happen. This corruptible. Has got to put on. Incorruption. This mortal. It must put on. Immortality. Here's the thought. Now I'll leave you with this. I won't preach on.

And on. That change. That we're looking forward to. That change. That we long for. You guys all remember. What it was like. To be a little kid. I mean looking forward to. Growing up. Change. I want to get taller.

And bigger. I want to become a man. I want to become a woman. You remember those days. Thinking. Yeah. I'm going to change. And there's a growing up thing. That we're going to experience. Way past. Where we are.

We are not done. Growing up. In fact. You haven't even seen. The real us. Haven't seen the real you. I'm not going to have. Gray whiskers. In heaven. Gray whiskers. I got right now. A pretty good indication.

I'm dying. It's all evidence. Of mortality. I'm losing blood vessels. In my face. In my head. And therefore. Hair no longer. Has color. Flexibility in my skin. I could be a great rodeo clown. It's going.

Because you know what? I'm dying. You haven't seen the real me yet. And you haven't seen the real you. We're all of us going to reach. A state that we can't even imagine. We're going to be like him. We're going to be completely glorified.

Immortal. Incorruptible. As much as you and I have looked forward to something like that. You got to stop right now. And recognize this one fact. It's only possible. Because the change. That we long for.

Already happened. And was already experienced by him. In reverse. Get this. Chew on this. That he who was immortal. Had to put on mortality. He who was incorruptible. Had to put on corruption. In order for this to be possible.

For you and me. Just think about that. The change that you and I long for. Thrilling as it is. Was for him a change. That he could only have dreaded. To an extent. He had to. And he went willingly. He went obediently I should say.

Christ’s Humiliation and Incarnation

He came to the earth. Obediently. We are going to be changed. We long for it. But it's only because. He was changed. That he emptied himself. Divested himself. He became corruptible. Mortal. So he could die.

Corruptible. He had to wash himself just like us. Or he stopped. Corruptible. He was mortal enough that he could die. Remember what the psalmist said. Prophetically. David prophesied. In fact it was quoted by Peter on the day of Pentecost.

That prophecy. Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell. And she all in the grave. Neither wilt thou allow thy Holy One to see corruption. That prophecy. You're not going to let me rot. It was a prophecy. That he would rise from the dead.

You will not allow your Holy One to see corruption. You see he was corruptible. He was mortal. He came here to die. He made himself mortal. So he could die. He was raised. From the dead. And changed. He put immortality down.

And he again took on immortality. He shed that corruptible human. Trait. And became incorruptible. Glorified. As he is now. Having ascended. To the very right hand of God the Father. And one thing I want you to understand.

One thing that's so. A big deal to me. Is that we get this. That he. Did the change. In reverse. Now can you just try to imagine. How. Humiliating. How. How gross. How. Nasty. That experience had to be.

That he emptied himself. That he. Who was. The highest place. Came and took the lowest place. So he could ascend again to the highest place. And as it is written. And now he has given a name that is above all names.

Above all names. Whether they're in heaven or earth or under the earth. That his name. Every single knee will bow and every tongue will confess. That he's Lord. To the glory of God the Father. Why? Because he.

Humbled himself. He's now exalted.

Christ Enters Humanity to Redeem It

The change that we long for. He did it in reverse. To come down and get us. He dove into the cesspool. Of humanity. Became human. Lived among us. Ate with us. You have been watching Godsword. In the ministry of Calvary Chapel Central Maine.

If you're in the Central Maine area. Please drop by to see us. At 154 River Road in Orrington. We meet Sundays at 830 and 1030 a .m. Again at 6 p .m. Or Wednesdays at 6 p .m. If you're in the Southern Maine area.

We meet at the Greater Portland Christian School. 1338 Broadway in South Portland. Saturdays at 7 p .m. You can also check us out on the web. At www .ccbangor .org. There you will find audio and video teachings.

By Pastor Ken. Available for download. As well as many other ministry resources.