"THE LAST ENEMY"


A. "THE LAST ENEMY THAT SHALL BE DESTROYED IS DEATH" - I COR. 15:26
  1. You will notice:
    1. That our text is a part of Paul's great exposition on the resurrection of the dead
    2. It is a part of Paul's answer to those who say that there is no resurrection - I Cor. 15:12
  2. The Bible makes it plain:
    1. That man's ho[e centers in the resurrection of the dead - I Cor. 15:12-18
    2. Only a Bible believing Christian can see light and hope beyond the grave B. THE LAST ENEMY
  3. An enemy:
    1. Ever since sin came into this world man has many enemies from the time his is born to the day of his death - Gen. 3:15-22
    2. Satan is the personification of enmity - compare John 8:44 with Matt. 13:25; I Pet. 5:8
  4. Death is man's enemy:
    1. It cuts him off from life and the opportunities of life - compare Eccl. 9:5, 10 with Luke 12:16-20; Prov. 27:1-3
    2. It keeps man in fear and bondage all the days of his life - Rom. 8:21; Heb. 2:15
    3. It brings pain and sorrow to the bereaved
    4. And last, but not least, it seals man's destiny forever
    5. Note these Bible statements
  5. "And as it is appointed unto man once to die, but after that the judgment" Heb. 9:27
  6. "Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live" - Is. 38:1
  7. "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee" - Luke 12:20
  8. Death is man's last enemy:
    1. It is significant, dear sorrowing ones, that while man has many enemies in this present life, God has provided ways and means, even in this present life, to overcome or conquer them through Jesus Christ our Lord - Rom. 8:37
    2. Even Satan, our arch enemy, can be put to flight by the weakest of God's saints - James 4:7; Eph. 6:11
    3. But death still prevails over the righteous and the wicked - just the same C. WORDS OF ASSURANCE AND COMFORT IN THE HOUR OF BEREAVEMENT AND SORROW
  9. Come from our blessed Lord, Jesus Christ:
    1. "Thy brother shall rise again" - John 11:23
    2. Said the prophet Isaiah, "Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they rise" - Is. 26:19
  10. The abolishment of the last enemy, even death is assured:
    1. By Him who cannot lie - "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death; O death, I will be thy plague; O grave, I will be thy destruction; repentance shall be hid from mine eyes" - Hosea 13:14
    2. "He, Christ, also himself likewise took part of the same (flesh and blood); that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil" - Heb. 2:14
  11. The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is our assurance, that we too will be raised from the dead:
    1. This is the great argument of the resurrection of the dead - I Cor. 15:12-22
    2. This blessed hope will be consummated at the second coming of Jesus Christ - Titus 2:13
    3. It will be the voice of Jesus Christ that will raise the dead and abolish death forever John 5:28-29; I Thes. 4:13-17
  12. Factors in human experience that give full assurance and comfort in the hour of bereavement and sorrow:
    1. God's promises to His children - Mal. 3:6; Heb. 6:16-17
    2. The knowledge of having the forgiveness of sin - Is. 33:24; Rom. 8:1
    3. Being clothed with the robe of Christ's righteousness - Is. 61:10; Rev. 19:7- 8
    4. having our name in the Lamb's book of life - Phil. 4:3; Rev. 21:27
  13. There is, therefore, hope even in the hour of bereavement and sorrow:
    1. We can look beyond the grave that is not so with the wicked which die in their sin
    2. Says the prophet Isaiah, "Say unto the righteous that it shall be well with them...woe unto the wicked; it shall be ill with him" - Is. 3:10-11


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