The Last Enemy

The Last Enemy

Part of Old Made New—1 Corinthians 15

January 14, 2024

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1 Corinthians 15:12-26 (New International Version)

12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

I. Futile Faith (vv. 12-17)
• If the resurrection of Jesus didn’t happen, then no

standard matters.
• If the resurrection of Jesus didn’t happen, then

is not real.
•

and

are useless if the resurrection is not real.
• If the resurrection is not real then your beliefs for

don’t
matter.
• If the resurrection is not real then we are

lost in our sin.
II. Fallen Asleep (vv. 18-23)
• At the moment of death our

transports to heaven or hell.
• The most pitiful people have

hope.
• If there is no

, then the present and past do not matter.
• We do not become

or

after we die.
• Death is not God’s design but is a

of sin.
• Sin is a spiritual

that results in spiritual,
emotional, or physical predispositions of unhealth.
III. The Last Enemy (vv. 23-26)
• All

of sin or unhealth will be permanently healed in heaven.
• A new body is received at the Second Advent of Christ –

.
• Jesus will destroy all demonic dominion after his

.
• Fasting breaks

and

bondage (Mk. 9:28-29, Isa 58:6)
• The last enemy Jesus will defeat is death which is also an

(Ex. 12:23, Rev. 6:8, 20:14)
• Fasting provokes us to pray for what is

missing by using our feelings of temporary missing.

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TAKE OFF
Share about one thing that you are hopeful/expectant to happen this year. Why would you like it to happen?

TEXT
1. What thoughts or feelings did you have during this week’s sermon?
2. How does Christ’s resurrection from the dead confirm the reality of our future resurrection? What consequences does the apostle Paul state result if “Christ was not raised from the dead” (vv. 14-15, 17-18)?
3. Paul states in verse 19 that Christians have no hope without the resurrection. How does the reality of the resurrection give us hope? How does this affect how you view your daily life?
4. Discuss the sequence of end time events that Paul specifies in verses 23-26, paying close attention to when the resurrection of the dead takes place. When will death be destroyed and how does that make you feel?

TAKE AWAY
What are some examples of things we can do to help us focus on the resurrection of Jesus, regardless of what happens in our lives?