The Enemy Defeated
Isaiah 53:4–9
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 10Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
He seemed almost to strut into the garden and it was not at all sure why he was there initially.
No one recalls to have invited him and yet there was a genuine expectation that, should the correct circumstance present itself, an invitation to come and remain with man was inevitable.
None reprimanded him, not a single person rebuked him, not God nor Man accosted him to ask “what doest thou?”, and yet he would be the enemy of all mankind for all his days until the day would come when this final enemy of man is destroyed (1 Cor 15:26).
From the day he entered into the garden to visit with Adam and with Eve, it was certain that he would visit with almost all people on earth and he would do so PERSONALLY.
Some would expect him, others he would visit completely unawares, but visit them he will.
Everyone knows his name, he is the most famous enemy of all of mankind and ALL people of the world SHOULD FEAR HIM, unless this enemy is defeated for them PERSONALLY.
Yet, he has claimed the lives of prophets, of priests and of kings, of the common man and of the rich man, of the greatest of all men and the weakest of all men.
He cannot be withstood by any weapon of warfare, indeed it is through such weapons his dominance is demonstrated.
And, though he may be averted and avoided for a time by other means, he will inevitably visit every man, and most often when they are least expecting him.
No, he is not the subject of any Rolling Stones song, no “Ode” will ever be sung in his honour, he is not the devil, he is DEATH.
Some will die once but live twice, most however will live once but die twice.
Revelation 20:6
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Revelation 20:13–15
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Turn to;
1 Corinthians 15:21–26
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
____________________
When Death Came
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
There is an assumption present in the fifth verse that we are considering this morning.
It is inferred by the text that there are “transgressions” about which are another was “wounded”, “iniquities” another was “bruised” for, a “chastisement” inflicted upon another through which WE receive “peace”, and “stripes” by which we ourselves are “healed”.
There is a suffering by one that has been attended to for the vicarious atonement of no one less that you and I.
The passages from verses 4 to 10 speak grammatically in the FIRST PERSON PLURAL and, if it were not the entire world that is assumed by the context of verse 6, ie All we like sheep have gone astray. we might press the notion that it was someone else who had “gone astray”;
The Bible says For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans 3:23
Scripture goes on to tell us in Romans 5:12
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
The entire concept of the Vicarious atonement of Christ for our sins INCLUDES THE DEFEAT OF THE FINAL ENEMY OF MANKIND, that is, DEATH.
While we think that death is the normal course of life, we discover that DEATH made an entrance into the world, indeed he had the most formal of all INVITATIONS to visit and to remain with man.
Genesis 2:16–17
16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
The very next chapter we see MAN invite death into life.
Genesis 3:6
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
God’s warning then affirmed in verse 19
Genesis 3:19
19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Such now are the famous words stated at burial sites around the world, “From DUST, to DUST”.
Man was now BANISHED from the Garden of Life;
Genesis 3:22–24
22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: 23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. 24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
The fall of man, the fall of the entire created order, instituted at the hand of man.
The LAW of Entropy, discovered by Science, testifies to the historical background of this ancient event, all of creation. It was not ONLY the fall of mankind, but as this entire universe was created for the perfect existence of man, CREATION fell when man fell.
There was evidently a point of ORDER in this UNIVERSE and a point at which all things were in perfect balance and eternal, but DISORDER came to this creation.
NOW entropy (disorder) can NO LONGER DECREASE, disorder can longer return to ORDER, disorder will only continue to increase. UNTIL man is finally redeemed, creation remains in a bondage of corruption.
Romans 8:21–22
21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
In other words, creation itself is winding down. There was a point where all was in perfect order in this universe, where it was ‘wound up’ at the first, but death has laid its claim on it all.
It was man who invited death into the world.
Romans 5:12
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Creation as well as MAN, needs a Saviour.
Death, the Reward.
Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
What we see in this verse is that which is now the REWARD OF MAN, it is no longer life, but death.
“The wages (The reward) of sin is death”.
This is not something that we can escape from without that “Gift” spoken of in that text. Life can ONLY come through Jesus Christ and there is NO Man upon the earth that is expempt from NEEDING that gift.
Ecclesiastes 7:20
20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
Romans 3:23
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
We cannot escape it, we cannot outrun death. Trying to ignore it is a waste of time.
Far too many are they who think that death will not overtake them. They live lives in prosperity or wilful ignorance even as their friends die around them in their later years.
We may be shocked at an untimely event, but soon wave it away and move on, to the envy of some and the consternation of others.
Psalm 73:3–5
3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. 5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
But he will visit both you and I my friends.
He won’t appear looking like a grim reaper, more likely he will appear more heavenly than Brad Pitt’s portrayal of “Death” in the movie ‘Meet Joe Black’.
And he will not be avoided.
The story is told of a certain man who was walking in his neighborhood when he came face to face with Death. He noticed an expression of surprise on the creature’s horrid countenance, but they passed one another without speaking. The fellow was frightened and went to a wise man to ask what should be done. The wise man told him that Death had probably come to take him away the next morning. The poor fellow was terrified at this and asked how ever he could escape.
The only solution the two could think of was that the victim should drive all night to a distant city and so elude Death. So the man drove to the other city—it was a terrible journey that had never been done in one night before—and when he arrived he congratulated himself on having eluded death.
Just then, Death came up to him and tapped him on the shoulder. “Excuse me,” he said, “but I have come for you.”
“Why,” exclaimed the terrified man, “I thought I saw you yesterday near my home!”
“Exactly,” said Death. “That was why I looked surprised—for I had been told to meet you today in this city.”
Michael P. Green, Ed., Illustrations for Biblical Preaching: Over 1500 Sermon Illustrations Arranged by Topic and Indexed Exhaustively, Revised edition of: The expositor’s illustration file., (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1989).
Further, Trying to use our minds to think there are no consequences to death is meaningless if at death direction is PURPOSED.
Romans 2:3
3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
Luke 16 tells of the rich man who was surprised at death,
Luke 16:22–23
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
There is a ‘DIRECTION’ purposed at death.
There is a tombstone in Indiana, one of the States in the United States, that is over a hundred years old that bears this epitaph:
Pause, Stranger, when you pass me by,
As you are now, so once was I.
As I am now, so you will be,
So prepare for death and follow me.
An unknown passerby had read those words and scratched this reply below them:
To follow you I’m not content,
Until I know which way you went.
There is a DIRECTION that is PURPOSED at death and this is what makes death such a fearful thing.
While today there are SO MANY who presume death is mearly the absence of Life, and are so perfectly sure that simply because they have no fear of death, they think there is nothing to fear, they will not take warning.
Fathers drive their bus on their chosen road with entire families in tow, the road seems in perfect order with no evidence whatever of any concerns warning sign after warning sign speaks to an IMMINENT and abrupt end to the road ahead, but no caution is taken.
Like the parachutist in mid air saying, “so far, so good, so far, so good, so far, so good”
All seems good for now, the father driving his family, suddenly and with so little notice the last sign warns, cliff ahead!
Tragically, fathers are often the determiner for their children.
80% of the Children follow their fathers faith for all their lives.
There is a DIRECTION purpose at Death, but the fork in the road is chosen in LIFE.
Isaiah 53:5-6 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
When Death Dies
Acts 2:29–36
29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. 32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. 34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Long ago it was spoken that one would come and both defeat death and remove our reproach. One who would defeat death by rising from the dead on the third day.
He is the “first resurrection”, he is the “resurrection and the life” and he bids all to follow him, to trust in him.
In him there is life, for he claimed to die for all
1 Corinthians 15:22
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
Are you “In Christ”?
Turn to 1 Cor 15
1 Corinthians 15:1–8
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
Gary Habermas
FACT 1: THE PUBLIC BURIAL OF JESUS IN THE TOMB OF JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA.
A.T. Robinson, from Cambridge University stated that the burial of Jesus in a well-known tomb is one of “the earliest and best attested historical facts about Jesus.” (John A. T. Robinson, The Human Face of God, Philadelphia: Westminster, 1973, p. 131.)
FACT 2: JESUS’ TOMB WAS DISCOVERED TO BE EMPTY ON SUNDAY MORNING
Dr. Jakob Kremer, an Austrian historian, states, “By far most exegetes hold firmly to the reliability of the biblical statements concerning the empty tomb.” (Jakob Kremer, Die Osterevangelien–Geschichten um Geschichte ,Stuttgart: Katholisches Bibelwerk, 1977, pp. 49-50.) Similarly, Dr. D. H. van Daalen states, “It is extremely difficult to object to the empty tomb on historical grounds; those who deny it do so on the basis of theological or philosophical assumptions.” (D. H. Van Daalen, The Real Resurrection(London: Collins, 1972), p. 41.)
FACT 3: MANY PEOPLE WITNESSED POST-RESURRECTION APPEARANCES OF JESUS.
Dr. Gert Lüdemann, a prominent sceptic, admits, “It may be taken as historically certain that Peter and the disciples had experiences after Jesus’s death in which Jesus appeared to them as the risen Christ.” (Gerd Lüdemann, What Really Happened to Jesus?, trans. John Bowden, Louisville, Kent.: Westminster John Knox Press, 1995, p. 80.)
FACT 4: THE EVIDENCE OF THE DISCIPLES’ WILLINGNESS TO DIE FOR THEIR BELIEF IN JESUS’ RESURRECTION.
“I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How? Because 12 men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it. Every one was beaten, tortured, stoned and put in prison. They would not have endured that if it weren’t true. Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world-and they couldn’t keep a lie for three weeks. You’re telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible.”
― Charles Colson (Founder of Prison Fellowship International) One of the “Watergate Seven” for his role in the Watergate Scandal of 1970’s.
The resurrection of Christ PROVES the resurrection of those who have trusted in Christ!
1 Corinthians 15:12–19
12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
1 Corinthians 15:20–26
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
1 Corinthians 15:53–57
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 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, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved
0 Comments