Sunday, May 25, 2025 AM
MEMORIAL DAY: Victory In Jesus
Mike Teel, Pastor
FOCAL PASSAGE:
51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. —I Corinthians 15:51-57
We can have Victory in Jesus when we understand that …
DEATH IS A
, NOT A PERMANENT END
1. DEATH IS NOT A PERIOD, BUT A COMMA IN THE STORY OF THE BELIEVER
—It marks the beginning of eternal life in the presence of God.
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. —Philippians 1:21
2. OUR PHYSICAL BODIES MAY
, BUT OUR SPIRITS LIVE ON
—The soul of the redeemed is precious and cannot be destroyed.
28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. —Matthew 10:28
3. HEAVEN IS THE TRUE
OF EVERY BELIEVER
—We are but pilgrims on earth, heading for an eternal city.
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. —Hebrews 11:13-16
4. FOR THE CHRISTIAN, TO BE
FROM THE BODY IS TO BE PRESENT WITH THE LORD
—Death simply brings us face-to-face with our Savior.
8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. —II Corinthians 5:8
Even in death, the believer continues to live – in Glory. This is VICTORY IN JESUS.
We can have Victory in Jesus when we understand that …
CHRIST’S RESURRECTION
OUR RESURRECTION
1. THE
—Without it, our faith would be in vain.
14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. —I Corinthians 15:14
2. JESUS
THE GRAVE, MAKING DEATH A DEFEATED ENEMY.
—He rose on the third day to secure eternal life for all who believe.
18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. —Revelation 1:18
3. THE SAME
THAT RAISED CHRIST WILL RAISE US
—The Holy Spirit within us is a guarantee of future resurrection.
13 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. —Romans 8:11
4. BELIEVERS SLEEP IN HOPE, NOT
—There is a sure promise that we shall rise again in glory.
13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. —I Thessalonians 4:13-14
BIBLICAL EXAMPLE:
Raising of Lazarus from the dead – Jesus stated He was the Resurrection.
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” —John 11:25
Because He lives, the grave cannot hold us captive! VICTORY IN JESUS!
We can have Victory in Jesus when we understand that …
ETERNAL LIFE IS THE BELIEVER’S
1. ETERNAL LIFE IS NOT A
, BUT A GIFT OF GRACE
—It comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. —Romans 6:23
2. IN HEAVEN, THERE IS
PAIN, TEARS OR SORROW
—All the former things will be passed away.
4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” —Revelation 21:4
3. THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL SHINE LIKE
IN GOD’S KINGDOM
—There will be joy unspeakable and full of glory.
3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. —Daniel 12:3
4. DEATH
SEPARATE US FROM GOD’S LOVE
—Our inheritance is secured in Christ for eternity.
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. —Romans 8:38-39
Biblical Example:
The thief on the cross received eternal life with Jesus on the very day he believed.39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” —Luke 23:39-43
Heaven is not a dream—it is our destination because of our Victory in Jesus.
We can have Victory in Jesus when we understand that …
THE
HAS LOST ITS VICTORY
1. THE
OF DEATH IS SIN, BUT JESUS PAID THE PRICE IN FULL
—His sacrifice on the cross took away our guilt.
26 Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. —Hebrews 9:26-28
2. THE GRAVE HAS NO
ON THE REDEEMED
—Christ has taken the keys and rendered it powerless.
55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. —I Corinthians 15:55-57
3. THE FEAR OF DEATH IS
BY THE ASSURANCE OF SALVATION
—Perfect love cast out fear.
18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. —I John 4:18
4. WE DO NOT MOURN AS THOSE
HOPE
—Our grief is tempered by confidence in God’s promises.
13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. —I Thessalonians 4:13
BIBLICAL EXAMPLE: Paul, facing death, declared confidently that a crown of righteousness awaited him in heaven
6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. —II Timothy 4:6-8
We stand on the Victory in Christ, even at the grave.
We can have Victory in Jesus when we understand that …
A LIFE IN CHRIST LEAVES A LASTING
1. THE
OF THE JUST IS A BLESSING
—Righteous people leave behind a fragrance of grace and godliness.
7 The name of the righteous is used in blessings, but the name of the wicked will rot. —Proverbs 10:7
2. A LIFE LIVED IN CHRIST IS NOT
—Its fruit continues in those influenced by it.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. —John 15:5
3. THE WORKS OF THE
FOLLOW THEM INTO ETERNITY
—Heaven keeps a record of what is done in love and faith.
13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.” —Revelation 14:13
4. EVEN IN DEATH, THE RIGHTEOUS STILL
—Their faith and example live on to inspire others.
14 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
—Hebrew 11:4
A life yielded to Christ is never forgotten, neither on earth nor in heaven.
Are you not glad we have Victory in Jesus?
LIVE IT OUT
At some point we either have or will lay our loved ones to rest. Hopefully we do so with faith, not fear. Yes, there is pain in parting, but there is also joy in knowing they have entered into their reward. Death did not win. The grave did not claim the final word.
—We have VICTORY IN JESUS.
—Do you have VICTORY IN JESUS TODAY?
—You can, let me help you understand how.