Kingship of Christ in 1 Corinthians 15:25, 26

In this part of the sermon: Martin outlines Paul's argument in 1 Corinthians 15: Christ's resurrection is an indispensable fact of the gospel, denying it has horrendous implications, and Christ's…

The concept of 'firstfruits' is used to illustrate that Christ's resurrection is a pledge and foretaste of the entire harvest of believers' resurrections.

The firstfruits, you see, were the first gatherings of the harvest that had come to full bloom or had come to the place of maturity. And you would gather the firstfruits and bring them as an offering to God in acknowledgement that the entire harvest was his. And when people saw the firstfruits gathered, it was pledged that the entire harvest was soon to come. So he says that in the very nature of Christ's resurrection is this concept of a harvest.

14:38 - 15:09 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He extracts four key statements from the text: union with Christ guarantees resurrection, this occurs at His coming, it represents triumph over all hostile powers (especially…

Martin quotes Candlish's vivid description of Christ's coming forth from the Father to a rebellious province (earth) to expiate sin, subdue enemies, and ultimately deliver up the kingdom, clarifying the nature of Christ's mediatorial reign.

Well perhaps the best description of this adjustment in a short compass is given in the reprint of a classic exposition of this chapter by Candlish. Notice how perceptively he picks up as it were the very heart of the issue. Contemplate our Lord's coming forth from the Father. A province in the great universe of God has apostatized that's the earth.

21:47 - 22:14 Read in full sermon

The point: Find comfort in Christ's present kingship, knowing He is actively subduing all enemies, including death, for His people.

Martin shares his personal meditation on the experience of dying and the separation of body and soul, emphasizing the natural fear of death and the need for comfort.

All your life, you've been a body-soul entity. You never fought. Without your soul, you never fought without your body. And to think of that soul and body being wrenched apart, and to think that these hands that now serve me when I eat and drive and when I preach, that these eyes that serve me and become, as it were, the inlet to the soul, that as I look upon your faces, I can, as it were, read your thoughts and responses to the Word, to think that these eyes will be rotting in a grave and the worms will eat them.

42:25 - 43:00 Read in full sermon

The point: Face death squarely, not with a view of a vacated throne, but with the comfort that Christ is on His throne, committed to raising His people to life with glorious bodies for eternal service.

He notes that his congregation is young and has not experienced much death, apart from infants and one elderly member, to highlight that many have not squarely faced death and its implications.

The elders were talking about this last night. We're a young congregation. The last death we had apart from the death of two infants, and I say that tenderly, was someone who had long since lived out her three score in ten plus her bonus ten plus fourteen more in the ninety-third year when the Lord took Mrs. Blair.

46:07 - 46:31 Read in full sermon

The point: Preach Christ as the reigning King, not just a pleading figure, to foster Holy Spirit-born conviction in sinners.

The common image of Jesus standing outside a locked heart, languidly pleading for admission, is used to contrast with the reality of a reigning King who entreats with regal power, making defiance a serious offense.

You see, the whole idea of Jesus standing outside the locked door of the heart with the languid look in his eyes pleading for admission, that doesn't make you feel too uncomfortable. When the...

51:36 - 51:49 Read in full sermon

The point: Examine your relationship to Christ: are you His friend or His enemy? Give yourself no rest until you know you are His friend.

He references Abraham Kuyper and the Netherlands to illustrate the dangers of trying to structure Christianity downward by legislation, leading to a cultural Christianity rather than genuine conversion.

But if you come to me with human reasoning, if you tell me what Abraham Kuyper did in the Netherlands, I'll say, fine. If you want what the Netherlands is now, then you can have it. I don't. If you want people who think that being Dutch is being Christian, you may have it.

59:23 - 59:40 Read in full sermon