A Victorious Life of Faith 1 Corinthians 15:55-58, NIV “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. Hallelujah! I would like to share the grace of God under the title, “A Victorious Life of Faith,” which is based on 1 Corinthians 15:55-58. Please repeat after me: A Victorious Life of Faith - A Victorious Life of Faith. No person in this world can consciously go beyond death. Each person has to face death in pain and despair. Neither death nor sin can be resolved with human abilities. Many religious leaders have come and gone through the pages of human history. Each was born, lived and ultimately died in despair of sin, shuddering death. Both sin and death carry the stigma of hopelessness, sorrow and pain to all mankind. God, by the power of His expansive grace, so loved the world; that He sent His one and only Son Jesus to earth to take all men’s sins and die on the Cross. He was then resurrected on the third day, having made mockery of the power of sin and death. When man then believes in Jesus, he will be able to do in Jesus what he has not be able to do in his own abilities ? he will be able to be free from sin and go beyond death into eternal heaven. Although people shudder at death, Christians can encounter death with confidence because of their assurance of having free access to the eternal kingdom of heaven after death. Apostle Paul spoke to the Corinthians about the Resurrection of Jesus in the Fifteenth Chapter of First Corinthians. First, Jesus has conquered the power of death. 1 Corinthians 15:55 says: “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” Verse 57 says: “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ever since Adam and Eve sinned and degenerated, sin has had control over all humankind. Death, the consequence of sin, also has had control over all mankind. Both sin and death have lost their power over mankind the moment Jesus was resurrected on the third day after his crucifixion. Jesus victoriously broke the power of sin and death. When we believe in Jesus, we put on His resurrected life. We have victory over sin and death by living with Jesus. We can live victoriously with joy of eternal life through our Lord. On the other side of His crucifixion and resurrection those people who do not know Jesus, shall live and die hopelessly in their sins trembling at the face of death. The apostle Paul described the entrapment of sin and death on our flesh: Romans 7:24 says: “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” As long as we live in the flesh, our sinful nature will torture us causing us to despair and lead us to death and destruction. If our old self is dead in the Lord and our new self has risen with Him; we will overcome sin and death. However, if we do not have Jesus in us; we are doomed to live and die in hopelessness. Every person shudders at death. Even the most advanced technology and science cannot cure all diseases. No human can solve all problems; only Jesus can do this. Only He can heal all diseases and solve the problem of death. Jesus is mankind's only hope of overcoming the power of sin and death. We are justified by faith in Jesus because he has paid the full price of our sin. We are forgiven by the blood of Jesus which was shed on the Cross. We can live with confidence before the Lord. Romans 4:25 says: “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” “He was raised to life for our justification.” Hallelujah! Therefore, we must always look to the Cross of the Lord. Rev. Reuben Archer Torrey, D. L. Moody’s colleague, once said: “I look at the cross of Christ, and I know that atonement has been made for my sins; I look at the open sepulcher and the risen and ascended Lord, and I know the atonement has been accepted. There no longer remains a single sin on me, no matter how many or how great my sins have been.” When we believe in Jesus, we receive His free gift of forgiveness from sins and eternal life. We are then able to participate in the grace of resurrection. Jesus was raised from the dead, and thus, became the first fruit of the resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:20-21 says: “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man; the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.” Hallelujah! Resurrection signifies our great victory over sin and death. We will live again even after we die. We will go to heaven where we will never die. Strength, joy, and power are the fruits of His life of resurrection in us. We are able to encounter death with confidence because we know that we will be translated from this world into the eternal kingdom of heaven after we die. Thirty-nine years ago, while in junior high school; my grandfather went to be with the Lord. I was with him when he breathed his last. All my family gathered around his bedside and sang hymns and praises. He looked so peaceful - almost radiant. He had a look of mercy and peace on his face. My uncle was holding my grandfather’s wrist to monitor his pulse. As we were singing hymns, my grandfather’s pulse became weaker and weaker until it finally stopped. At the moment grandfather’s pulse stopped, my uncle pronounced: “He has just gone to heaven.” My grandfather’s death was a beautiful death. He was peacefully lying in his bed as if he were asleep. This is why the Scripture says, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.” Hallelujah! We sent him off to heaven on a chariot of hymns and praises. My grandmother went to be with the Lord one year later in the same room in the same way. All our family gathered together and sang hymns with my uncle monitoring, this time, my grandmother’s pulse. Her pulse became weaker and weaker. When her pulse finally stopped, my uncle pronounced: “She has just gone to heaven.” My grandmother looked peaceful. She too went to heaven on a chariot of hymns and praises. Hallelujah! Death is not the end. It is a new beginning. Although those who are left may be sad because of being parted from their deceased loved one for a time; the one who has died, be it a parent or friend, has been resurrected in spirit, translated into heaven and is looking down from above upon us. Christians, as great and precious children of God, have victoriously overcome sin and death through participating in the resurrection of the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:57 says: “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory in our fight against sin, death, and hopelessness through our Lord Jesus Christ. We are great victors in the Lord. We are no longer losers. We are not swamped in problems any more. Many people lament and agonize in pain as they dwell in the wounds and bad memories of their past. What has passed is past! Do not allow your past to entangle you any longer. It is long gone. Your painful, sad, and troublesome past is all gone. Remember 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” The old has gone. It has passed away. Now the new has come. We are renewed in the Lord. We have changed into overcomers in the Lord. Jesus Christ, who overcame the power of sin and death, has become our Savior. He will lead our lives according to His grace. Leland Stanford founded Stanford University, one of the most prestigious universities in the United States. Stanford University, located in Palo Alto, near San Francisco, has a beautiful campus. Leland Stanford was once a governor of California and then a U.S. senator. He made his fortune in the railroad industry. He became very wealthy and gave freely to charitable work. He and his wife had only one son. In 1884 while traveling in Italy as a family; Leland Jr. at the age of only fifteen, contracted typhoid fever and died. There is a Korean saying that we bury our parents in the ground but we bury our children in our hearts. The grieving parents went back to California in deep sorrow; but they did not dwell in their grief. Both young Leland’s parents were Christians and understood resurrection after death. They, hand-in-hand rose from sorrow declaring to each other: “The children of California shall be our children. We will take care of them as if they were our own.” The Stanfords lost their only son and in their loss decided to take care of the children of California as if they were their own children. They quickly set about to find a lasting way to memorialize their beloved son and founded Stanford University. Approximately US $20 million (US $400 million in 2005 dollars) initially went into that university. Hallelujah! Thereafter Stanford University has educated students of highest achievement who have gone on to successfully challenge important global jobs. Since Leland Stanford embraced the resurrected Jesus, who had put an end to sin and death; he did not, in hopelessness, give up all things when his son died. Leland Sr. went beyond hopelessness, found hope in the middle of distress and purposed to spread the life of resurrection all over the world. We can in the Lord, with equal adequacy, overcome all kinds of hopelessness, sorrow, pain, and problems. Romans 8:37 says: “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” We are more than conquerors. 1 John 5:4 says: “…for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” I pray that you will put complete trust in the Lord and have absolute faith in Him. I pray that you, by holding on to the Cross, will live victoriously in the name of the Lord. Second, we must possess firm faith by having Jesus in our hearts. Please repeat after me: Possess firm faith. 1 Corinthians 15:58 says: “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you.” Corinth when compared with other cities or countries of its time; was a very developed city, with an advanced culture. However, in spite of the advancement of their culture; greed, misappropriate of money, extravagance, a sybaritic lifestyle and immorality prevailed. Being a Corinthian was synonymous with debauchery. Many Corinthians converted to Christianity after hearing the gospel; however with so much temptation of sin and debauchedness around them, these Christians found it very difficult to keep their lives pure and holy before God. The apostle Paul exhorted the Corinthian church, saying: “Stand firm with the faith of resurrection. Do not be shaken. Do not be tempted by anything. Hold on to your faith.” Paul admonished and encouraged the Corinthian church to not to be shaken by trouble, persecutions, or temptations but to hold on to their faith. Romans 8:35 says: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” Romans 8:38-39 says: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 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.” Paul had the faith of resurrection so he could boldly profess his faith. He said: “I am not afraid of death because I will live again even if I die. I am not worried because the Lord will raise me up even if I am struck down. Even if I am hard pressed on every side, the Lord will keep me from being crushed. I do not fear because the Lord will keep me, protect me, and strengthen me. I am not shaken.” We as well should not be shaken by any means. No matter what others may say, no matter what kind of problems or temptations we may face, we should not be shaken. We must keep our places of faith without being shaken. This world tries to shake us. Sinful temptations try to drag us down. Greed tries to lead us to destruction; but we must keep our faith. When we march forward with faith, not easily shaken but standing firm with the resurrected Lord in our hearts; God will bless us more and more. 2 Peter 3:14 says: “So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.” We must examine ourselves against the Word. We must trust the power of the blood of Jesus; keeping our faith through repentance so that we may greet the Lord Jesus with joy when time comes. We should not grumble or complain. God does not bless those who grumble; helping those who rejoice and give thanks to Him so that they will overcome their problems. As faithful servants of the Lord, their suffering will turn into blessings. Therefore, God looks for His people of faith. Hebrews 11:6 says: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hallelujah! J. Wilber Chapman was a pastor, evangelist, and a hymn writer. In 1878 while studying for the ministry at Lake Forest; Chapman attended a Moody crusade meeting in Chicago. Moody’s sermon that day was on salvation. After the meeting Chapman personally met Moody. Chapman confessed to Moody that day that he lacked an assurance of his salvation: “Reverend, sometimes I feel I am saved but sometimes I do not.” Moody read John 5:24 with him. “I tell you the truth whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” Moody asked, “Do you believe this?” Chapman replied, “Certainly.” Moody asked, “Are you a Christian?” “Sometimes I think I am, and again I am fearful.” Moody said, “Read it again.” “Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” Then Moody asked again if Chapman believed it; and Chapman again said he was unsure. Then Moody seemed to have lost his patience. He glared at Chapman and said, “Whom are you doubting? Read it again.” Moody was asking Chapman whether he doubted the Word of God. That is why Moody asked Chapman whom he was mistrusting. After Chapman read it again as he was told, Moody asked one more time, “Do you believe this?” Chapman replied, “Yes, indeed I do.” Moody asked, “Are you a Christian?” He answered, “Yes, Mr. Moody, I am.” Chapman concluded, “From that day to this I have never questioned my acceptance with God.” With the resurrection Lord in his heart, Chapman studied hard, graduated from college, and received his Ph. D. in Theology. Later he became Vice-president of Moody’s Bible Institute in Chicago and served in some of Moody’s campaigns. God is living. We should believe in our living God and should never doubt Him. And as professing believers in Jesus Christ our Savior; we must proclaim in the face of all troubles and problems: “I am saved. No one or nothing can take salvation away from me.” Why are we so easily shaken? We are shaken because our mood swings. We feel we are saved when we are happy. We feel we are not saved when we are sad. Salvation has nothing to do with our mood. We are saved once and for all when we believe in Jesus; which is based on the promise of the Word of God, not on whether we are happy or not. I pray that you will, with a full assurance of your salvation, march forward with faith in the name of the Lord. Third, we must devote our life to the work of the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58 says: “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord.” Please repeat after me: “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” Hallelujah! Now that we have received salvation and the life of resurrection in our hearts, we must do the work of the Lord until we breathe our last. We must work for the Lord. We must give glory to the Lord through our life. The work of the Lord is giving glory to Him in every area of our life. For students, studying hard is doing the work for the Lord. For businessmen, working hard to make their business prosper so that through their overflow they can contribute to mission work, is doing the work of the Lord. To physicians, treating patients well will be the work for the Lord. God will receive glory from us when we do our best with the resurrected heart given to us by our Lord. John Piper once said: “If you seek your own glory rather than seeing and savoring God’s glory, you will be bitterly disappointed in the end. Because in the end you will not be glorious; and everyone will see that and turn their face away.” Piper also said: “If we live for the glory of God we cannot lose for we have aligned ourselves with God Almighty whose highest purpose is the revelation of His glory.” We will not fail when we stand on God’s side and work for His glory. We will not lose. We will not despair. We will march forward as great victors in the Lord. We must do our best in serving the Lord. Today I arrived in church at 5 a.m. Men’s missionary members, praying and serving the Lord and church, controlling traffic and helping people in various ways had arrived before me. I was very grateful. They come to church before 5 a.m. every Sunday, rain or shine, snow or sleet, on warm or fiercely cold days to serve the Lord. Hallelujah! I am very grateful. 1 Corinthians 4:2 says: “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” The Scripture tells us to be faithful. We must obey our Lord and faithfully do our best in the work that God has assigned to us. Psalm 119:133 says: “Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.” The Lord will bless us when we keep the Word and practice it in our lives. We will receive power when we pray as we hold on to the Word. We will be filled with the Holy Spirit. Colossians 4:2 says: “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” When we devote ourselves to prayer, holding on to the Word, the Holy Spirit will fill us and make us great evangelists. The Spirit will enable us to preach the gospel. 2 Timothy 4:2 says: “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction. Hallelujah! We must pray to God, holding on to His Word. We must be full of the Holy Spirit to be witnesses of the gospel. We must receive a fresh grace of God everyday. We must worship the Lord to give glory to God. The Lord blesses His worshippers. Worship is the channel of God’s blessings. You are moving away from the Lord when you do not worship often. Some may think, “How can God know even if I skip a Sunday worship service? God, excuse me, please.” The Lord will be grieved if you skip a worship service. Because we have so many people worshiping, people may not know that you have skipped church but the Lord would say: “I am waiting for you every Sunday but you skipped again. When can you come to your senses?” Are you not happy when you receive a perfect attendance award at school? Would it not be great if you received a perfect Sunday worship attendance award in heaven? I pray that you will put first priority on worship services. John 4:23 says: “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth,…” Repeat after me: “…for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” God seeks those who worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. We must devote ourselves to worship and live for the glory of God until we breathe our last, sharing the grace of God with others. Hymn No. 376 sings: My one wish is this alone; To serve Thee all my days, Then rise to stand before Thy throne And sing Thy deathless praise. My one wish is this alone; To serve Thee all my days, Then rise to stand before Thy throne And sing Thy deathless praise. We want to meet the Lord with joy. I pray that you will preach the Word and work for the Lord with all your heart until you breathe your last, giving glory to God. Our labor in the Lord will never be wasted. So do not give up in the middle. Do not step backwards. We should never step backwards just because we are offended. Rather we should march forward more ardently with faith when we have some problems. Galatians 6:9 says: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” God will award us in His time when we do our best. 1 Corinthians 3:8 says: “The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.” Hallelujah! May the Lord receive glory through your life! I pray that you will strive to give glory to God. I adore and respect Missionary David Livingstone very much. I want to live like him. I want to close today’s sermon by relating a story about Livingstone. In 1871 after the missionary and explorer David Livingstone was in Africa for some time and feared lost; Henry Morton Stanley, an atheistic journalist and explorer, went to Africa to find him. Stanley wondered what of importance Missionary Livingstone was doing in the remote jungles of Africa; that he was not even able to communicate with the outside world. Hoping to be inspired, Stanley found and joined Livingstone in his explorations. Later he wrote: “I went to Africa as prejudiced as the biggest atheist in London. But there came for me a long time for reflection. I saw this solitary old man there and asked myself, ‘How on earth does he stop here? Is he cracked, or what? What is it that inspires him?’” “For months after we met I found myself wondering at the old man carrying out all that was said in the Bible ‘Leave all things and follow Me.’ But little by little his sympathy for others became contagious; my sympathy was aroused; seeing his piety, his gentleness, his zeal, his earnestness, and how he went about his business, I was converted by him, although he had not tried to do it.” Stanley became a Christian even though Livingstone did not try to convert him. Stanley added, “It was not Livingstone’s sermons but his life that converted me.” I pray that your life will be touching and loving enough to change your neighbors. I pray that your life will resemble the life of Jesus. When each of us changes, it will change our homes. It will change our work places. It will change our business sites. It will change our schools and campuses. When we change, when each of us becomes a little Christ, people around us will be touched and they will also want to live the way we do. Henry Stanley had been an atheist before meeting Livingstone. He spent a few months with David Livingstone; and became converted. In the same way, if we live like Livingstone; people will also know that the Lord Jesus is with us. They will feel the love of Jesus through what we do. They will know by just being around us, that the Lord Jesus is with us. They will be blessed through us. I pray that we will each become a little Christ. As we sing the hymn: “My one wish is this alone; To serve Thee all my days, Then rise to stand before Thy throne And sing Thy deathless praise,” let us spread the fragrance of Jesus Christ wherever we go. I pray that you will accomplish the work of Christ so that you will give glory to God and that you will make a great effect on other people. It is my earnest prayer for you. Let us pray. Our Father of infinite love, grace, and mercy, we give thanks to You. We thank You for giving us the life of resurrection. We thank You for giving us Your great victory. Make us victors in the Lord, not easily shaken but standing firm in our faith, so that we will work for the Lord until we breathe our last. I pray in the Name of Jesus. Amen. 2