Our Sermons

Bible Passage: 1 Corinthians 15:19-26
Pastor: Pastor Berg
Sermon Date:  April 21, 2019

You’ve all seen the commercials. Mournful, soulful music is playing in the background. Images of malnourished dogs and cats, underprivileged children flash across the screen. Why do we see those images? You know, don’t you? They’re pitiful images. They’re meant to garner sympathy. They tug at our heartstrings and move us to show pity. “For just a few cents a day,” we are told that we can make a difference in that dog or cat or child’s life.

What do you think would be the reaction if people saw your picture up there? Does it belong there? Maybe, initially we recoil and think that there’s no way that our pictures should be up there. Why would anyone pity us? That’s certainly what the members of the church in Laodicea would have thought. In Revelation chapter 3, we hear their confidence and their boast: “I am rich. I have become very wealthy and need nothing.” Putting them on one of those commercials wouldn’t tug at our heartstrings. It might makes us jealous, but it certainly wouldn’t invoke pity. And yet, Jesus calls them pitiful.

There’s only one other place the Bible uses that word. It’s here in 1 Corinthians 15. Paul says, “If our hope in Christ applies only to this life, we are the most pitiful people of all.” Friends, the only thing keeping our faces off of those commercials is today. What a difference a day makes for us! Why? Listen to what Paul tells us: “If our hope in Christ applies only to this life, we are the most pitiful people of all. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came by a man, the resurrection of the dead is also going to come by a man. For as in Adam, they all die, so also in Christ they all will be made alive. BUt each in his own order: Christ as the firstfruits and then Christ’s people, at his coming. Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has done away with every other ruler and every other authority and power. For he must reign “until he has put all enemies under his feet.” Death is the last enemy to be done away with.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Most people fear death. The reasons are varied. There is a fear of the unknown. There is a fear of the pain that can come with death and the pain of watching a loved one die. Dying people confront us with our own mortality. That’s not a confrontation we welcome. For most, death represents the pain of loss. Death leaves us alone. But unfortunately this is only a poor image of a more profound and spiritual death. God’s gift to us was life. Through the sins of our fathers and through our own sinful rebellion we’ve said, “no” to God’s gift of life. We’ve chosen eternal death. That’s why death is so serious. Is it any wonder that people are afraid?

But, let’s imagine that wasn’t the case. Let’s say that you didn’t fear death because it had been defeated. Let’s say that you saw death as but the gateway to a much better, much fuller life. That’s what today is all about. The fact that Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead changes our view of death. We see that death has lost its power, its sting, because the power of death has been broken. It was broken by the death of God himself and proven by his resurrection. Death could not hold him and it will not hold us either. Already we can see that! Already we have been raised with Christ to a new life of faith through Baptism. Already we dwell with Christ and rule with him as he lives in our hearts through faith. And when he comes again in glory on the Last Day with all of his enemies under his feet, death will be shown powerless once and for all as we spend our eternity with him in paradise.

Our hope in Christ is not just for this life, but for the life to come! Jesus’ resurrection makes our hope sure and certain. We are not to be pitied, but envied. But there’s no reason to envy, because this same sure and certain hope is there for all. Believe what you’ve heard today! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed. That’s what makes all the difference! AMEN