Confronting Death: Hope in Christ's Victory

 

Summary

In our journey as Christians, we are called to live with a dual focus: actively engaging in the work of God's kingdom here on earth while keeping our eyes fixed on the eternal kingdom that awaits us. This dynamic relationship between our present labors and future hope is crucial. Today, we reflect on the profound truth that "Death Has Lost its Sting." In a world that often avoids the reality of death, we must confront it head-on, understanding that it is the last enemy we face. The secular world may sentimentalize or deny death, but Scripture calls us to face it with honesty and hope.

Aimee Semple McPherson, a notable figure in church history, once used a hymn to force her audience to confront the reality of death. This exercise reminds us that death is an unavoidable river we all must cross. The question is whether we will be greeted by Christ on the other side or turned away. Psalm 49 and Hebrews 2 remind us of the universal reality of death and the fear it instills. Yet, through Christ's victory over death, we are delivered from this fear.

Revelation 21 offers us a vision of hope: a new heaven and a new earth where death will be no more, and every tear will be wiped away. This promise sustains us through life's struggles and joys. Jesus, the Alpha and Omega, assures us that He will make all things new. Our ultimate hope is not just in heaven but in the new creation where righteousness dwells.

Paul's words in Philippians remind us that to live is Christ and to die is gain. This confidence in Christ is a goal we should aspire to, even if it is challenging. Heaven is not our final home; we await the new heaven and new earth where we will dwell with God in perfect fellowship. The book of Revelation paints a picture of this glorious future, contrasting the harlot Babylon with the pure bride, the new Jerusalem.

As we navigate this world, we are called to overcome, to stand firm in faith, and to resist cowardice. Jesus wins, and we are invited to share in His victory. The promise of a new creation, where the River of Life flows, should inspire us to persevere. Let us hold fast to this hope, knowing that a great day is coming when death will be no more.

Key Takeaways:

1. Facing the Reality of Death: Death is an unavoidable reality that we must confront with honesty. While the world may deny or sentimentalize it, Scripture calls us to face it with the hope of Christ's victory. This understanding frees us from the fear of death and empowers us to live with purpose. [01:58]

2. The Promise of a New Creation: Revelation 21 offers a vision of a new heaven and a new earth where death will be no more. This promise sustains us through life's struggles, reminding us that our ultimate hope is not just in heaven but in the new creation where righteousness dwells. [15:06]

3. Living with Dual Focus: As Christians, we are called to engage in the work of God's kingdom on earth while keeping our eyes fixed on the eternal kingdom. This dynamic relationship between our present labors and future hope is crucial for living a faithful life. [00:28]

4. Confidence in Christ's Victory: Paul's words in Philippians remind us that to live is Christ and to die is gain. This confidence in Christ is a goal we should aspire to, even if it is challenging. Our faith should be built up to the point where we can say, "To die is gain." [21:10]

5. Overcoming and Standing Firm: The book of Revelation calls us to overcome, to stand firm in faith, and to resist cowardice. Jesus wins, and we are invited to share in His victory. Let us hold fast to this hope, knowing that a great day is coming when death will be no more. [40:04]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:28] - Living with Dual Focus
- [01:06] - Secular Views on Death
- [02:37] - Aimee Semple McPherson's Hymn
- [05:14] - The Reality of Death
- [06:49] - Pilgrim's Progress and Ignorant
- [09:20] - Psalm 49's Meditation on Death
- [11:42] - Hebrews 2 and the Fear of Death
- [14:21] - Revelation 21: A New Creation
- [18:06] - Jesus, the Alpha and Omega
- [21:10] - Paul's Confidence in Christ
- [23:48] - Heaven is Not Our Final Home
- [27:32] - The Hope of a New Heaven and Earth
- [31:23] - The Sea and Chaos
- [36:52] - The Bride and the Harlot
- [40:04] - Overcoming and Standing Firm
- [44:32] - The River of Life and Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Revelation 21:1-8
2. Psalm 49:10-12
3. Philippians 1:21-23

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Observation Questions:

1. In Revelation 21:1-8, what are some of the key promises about the new heaven and new earth? How does this vision contrast with our current world? [14:21]

2. According to Psalm 49:10-12, what is the psalmist's perspective on the inevitability of death and its impact on both the wise and the foolish? [09:20]

3. How does Paul describe his perspective on life and death in Philippians 1:21-23? What does he mean by "to live is Christ and to die is gain"? [21:10]

4. What role does the concept of overcoming play in the book of Revelation, and how is it related to the promise of a new creation? [40:04]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the promise of a new heaven and a new earth in Revelation 21:1-8 provide hope and encouragement for believers facing the reality of death? [16:31]

2. In what ways does Psalm 49 challenge the secular view of death, and how does it encourage believers to face death with honesty and hope? [10:54]

3. What does Paul's statement in Philippians 1:21-23 reveal about his confidence in Christ, and how might this perspective influence a believer's approach to life and death? [22:55]

4. How does the sermon emphasize the importance of living with a dual focus on both present labors and future hope, and what challenges might believers face in maintaining this balance? [00:28]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on the promise of a new creation in Revelation 21. How can this vision of hope influence the way you handle current struggles and challenges in your life? [16:31]

2. Psalm 49 speaks to the inevitability of death. How can you confront the reality of death in a way that aligns with your faith, rather than avoiding or sentimentalizing it? [10:54]

3. Paul's confidence in Philippians 1:21-23 is a goal for believers. What steps can you take to build your faith to the point where you can say, "To die is gain"? [22:55]

4. The sermon calls believers to overcome and stand firm in faith. What are some practical ways you can resist cowardice and share in Christ's victory in your daily life? [40:04]

5. How can you actively engage in the work of God's kingdom on earth while keeping your eyes fixed on the eternal kingdom? What specific actions can you take this week to live with this dual focus? [00:28]

6. Consider the contrast between the harlot Babylon and the pure bride, the new Jerusalem, as described in Revelation. How can this imagery inspire you to pursue holiness and resist worldly temptations? [34:37]

7. The sermon mentions the River of Life in the new creation. How can this imagery encourage you to persevere through life's challenges, knowing that a great day is coming when death will be no more? [44:32]

Devotional

Day 1: Confronting Death with Hope
Death is an inevitable part of life that many choose to ignore or romanticize. However, as Christians, we are called to face it with honesty and hope, recognizing it as the last enemy we must confront. The secular world often avoids the reality of death, but Scripture encourages us to acknowledge it while holding onto the hope of Christ's victory over it. This understanding liberates us from the fear of death and empowers us to live purposefully, knowing that death has lost its sting through Jesus' resurrection. [01:58]

Psalm 49:10-12 (ESV): "For he sees that even the wise die; the fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others. Their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they called lands by their own names. Man in his pomp will not remain; he is like the beasts that perish."

Reflection: How does acknowledging the reality of death change the way you live your daily life? What steps can you take today to live with the hope of Christ's victory over death?


Day 2: The Vision of a New Creation
Revelation 21 provides a powerful vision of a new heaven and a new earth where death will be no more, and every tear will be wiped away. This promise sustains us through life's struggles, reminding us that our ultimate hope is not just in heaven but in the new creation where righteousness dwells. As we navigate the challenges of this world, we are encouraged to hold onto this vision, knowing that Jesus, the Alpha and Omega, will make all things new. This future hope should inspire us to persevere in faith and live with a sense of purpose and anticipation. [15:06]

Isaiah 65:17-19 (ESV): "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness. I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress."

Reflection: In what ways does the promise of a new creation impact your perspective on current struggles? How can you actively remind yourself of this hope in your daily life?


Day 3: Engaging in God's Kingdom with Eternal Focus
As Christians, we are called to live with a dual focus: actively engaging in the work of God's kingdom on earth while keeping our eyes fixed on the eternal kingdom. This dynamic relationship between our present labors and future hope is crucial for living a faithful life. By maintaining this balance, we can navigate the complexities of life with purpose and direction, knowing that our efforts are part of a larger divine plan. This dual focus encourages us to invest in both the present and the future, trusting that our work in God's kingdom has eternal significance. [00:28]

Colossians 3:1-2 (ESV): "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."

Reflection: How can you balance your daily responsibilities with the call to focus on God's eternal kingdom? What practical steps can you take to ensure that your earthly work aligns with your heavenly focus?


Day 4: Confidence in Christ's Victory
Paul's words in Philippians remind us that to live is Christ and to die is gain. This confidence in Christ is a goal we should aspire to, even if it is challenging. Our faith should be built up to the point where we can say, "To die is gain." This perspective transforms our understanding of life and death, allowing us to live with boldness and assurance in Christ's victory. By embracing this mindset, we can face life's uncertainties with courage, knowing that our ultimate hope and security are found in Jesus. [21:10]

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 (ESV): "So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord."

Reflection: What areas of your life require a deeper confidence in Christ's victory? How can you cultivate a mindset that embraces the truth that "to die is gain"?


Day 5: Overcoming and Standing Firm in Faith
The book of Revelation calls us to overcome, to stand firm in faith, and to resist cowardice. Jesus wins, and we are invited to share in His victory. This call to perseverance is a reminder that, despite the challenges and trials we face, we are not alone. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to stand firm and overcome, knowing that a great day is coming when death will be no more. This assurance should inspire us to live courageously and faithfully, holding fast to the hope we have in Christ. [40:04]

1 John 5:4-5 (ESV): "For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"

Reflection: In what ways are you currently being called to stand firm in your faith? How can you rely on the Holy Spirit to help you overcome the challenges you face today?

Quotes

"Those two aspects of the Christian life must constantly remain in a dynamic relationship with one another. We have to work, as long as Christ gives us time and energy to work in this world, to advance the cause of His kingdom, but we always have to keep at least our one eye on the eternal kingdom that He will bring into this world when time has come." [00:28]

"The Bible is never hesitant to talk about death. It refuses to let us sentimentalize death or speak in vague, optimistic terms. It's interesting that secularists, who most of their lives don't seem to want to think about an afterlife at all, try to cope with the reality of death because no one can actually avoid the reality of death." [01:41]

"One of the things that she did, at least at one of her rallies, was to really sort of force people, before she spoke, to think about the reality of dying. And she did that in a very interesting way. She asked everyone in the crowd to sing the hymn, 'My faith looks up to thee, thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine.'" [03:15]

"Psalm 49, there's a great meditation on death. Verse 10 says, 'For he sees,' that is anyone looking at the world, 'For he sees that even the wise die. The fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others.' This may be the origin of the phrase, 'You can't take it with you.'" [09:20]

"There's that amazing statement in Hebrews chapter 2 where we read, 'Since, therefore, the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise,' that is Jesus, 'partook of the same things that through death, he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.'" [11:42]

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.'" [14:21]

"Paul wrote about that, didn't he, in 1 Corinthians 15? 'In fact, Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.'" [19:12]

"And so, here we have this wonderful encouragement. No matter what the tears are you are shedding today and tomorrow and throughout your life, if you're a Christian, if you know Christ, if His life has wrought life into your soul, then you need to raise up your eyes, not to deny the reality of the suffering of this time, but to know that suffering is not the last word." [19:50]

"I've always thought this is not an easy thing to say. What Paul says here is an expression of a lifetime of building up his faith. And so, if you're Christian who, in your heart of hearts, is not sure you can say, 'My desire is to depart and be with Christ, which is far better,' let me say to you that you ought to want to be able to say that." [22:02]

"Our real hope, according to the New Testament, is not ultimately heaven; it's a new heaven and a new earth. A new heaven and a new earth. Leon Morris, a great New Testament biblical scholar, said that according to his reckoning, one out of every thirteen verses in the New Testament is about the second coming of Christ and the establishment of a new heaven and a new earth." [27:32]

"And here is a picture of the final peace treaty, the final end of war, the real marriage of heaven and earth. Because now earth has been made holy in the second coming of Christ. And the way in which that is pictured for us is that the heavenly Jerusalem now, at last, could come to earth because earth is now, in the newness of Christ's re-creation, a holy place." [33:10]

"That's the big part of what the whole book of the Revelation is about. Jesus wins, so don't be a deserter. Jesus wins, because He's God. He's King of kings and Lord of lords today, and we'll see it visibly one day. He's ruler of the kings of the earth today, and we'll see it visibly one day. So, don't give up. Don't lose heart. Don't be a coward. Don't be faithless." [40:04]

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Transcript
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