Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1942-04-02

LESSON TEXT-Mark 12:24-27: Cor
inthians 15:50-58.
GOLDEN TEXT-But thanks be to God,
which giveth US the victory through our
Lord Jesus Christi Corinthians 1851
v for Victory! By that sign have
many peoples indicated their con-
fidence in victory to come. It is
well to have a victorious outlook,
but it is even better to be able to
look back to victory already at
tanned That is just what we are
able to do as we consider mans
great and final enemy-death. That
victory has been won on behalf of
all who believe, by the risen Christ
of whom we think in special way
on this Easter day.
He is the Lord of the living, not
of the dead; those who, even though
they may have left this world. have
only laid aside the corruptible body
for the incorruptible They are vic
torious, even as we are, over death.
l. Living, Not Dead mark 1924
81.
The Sadducees, a rationalistic sect
of Christ's day, denied the resur-
rection. and so they were much
distressed by His plain teaching Of
that truth. They therefore devised
an intricate hypothetical case (see
Mark 12:18-23) and sought to set
trap for Him. But they only caught
themselves, for He pointed out to
them and to the people that what
was wrong with them was that they
did not understand the Scriptures
nor the power of God.
That is precisely what is wrong
with the modernists of our day
they misinterpret Gods Word. and
they deny His power.
Then Jesus turned to them and
in place of their fantastic 'suppos-
ing story He spoke Of three real
characters from the books of Moses
which they taught. He said that
God still calls Himself the God Of
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, because
though they had long been in their
graves, they were still alive. Gods
fellowship with His people is not
merely for the brief life span Of this
earth, but for eternity. That fact,
Of course, carries with it the truth
Of the resurrection.
II. Incorruptible, Not Corruptible
Il Cor. 15:50-54).
Man knows that his earthly body
is marked for decay and death. That
fact is written in its very members.
He also knows that such a body
would be entirely inappropriate for
beaverton eternity. Is he then
barred from Gods eternal kingdom?
No. indeed, for there is to be a
glorious change - the corruptible
shall put on incorruptibility.
Whether we shall tarry until Je-
sus comes and be transformed with
out dying, or whether we shall await
His coming for a time among those
who sleep, there will come that
trumpet sound, and in the twinkling
Of an eye we shall be clothed upon
with incorruptible bodies like unto
His glorious resurrection body (Phil.
3:2D. There we have an assurance
of victory already won on our be-
half, which can and does strengthen
our souls against the trials and sor-
rows of life.
III. Victorious, Not Defeated Il
Cor 15:55-58.
When Satan after long struggle
finally had Christ's body laid away
in the tomb, he thought he had the
victory, but just then came his great
hour of defeat
up from the grave He arose,
With mighty triumph Ger His
foes"
Death could not hold its prey"
for it sought to hold one stronger
than itself-the Lord of Life Him
self He had broken the bonds of
sin by His sacrifice on Calvary;
and since it was sin (the violation
of the law which brought death in
the first place Gen. ait; 3:17-19),
there was now complete victory
over both sin and deaths
The one who knows Christ need
no longer fear death. For him it
is not leap into the dark, or 60
ing as a trembling wayfarer into
an unknown land. President John
Quincy Adams was right when, aged
and frail, he replied to a question
as to his welfare: "Quite well, thank
you The house in which live is
lettering and trembling, and / may
soon have to move out, but am
quite WE'LL" He was ready for the
departure into better land and a
better body
Such hope has. splendid practi-
cal application, which Paul stresses
in verse So With victorious assur-
ance the believer stands steadfast
and unmovable at the center of life,
while always Astounding in the joys
and duties which come at its cir
conference. Like the wheel which
can be useful only as its center is
established and steady. so man can
serve the Lord and enjoy satisfy.
ing life only as he has the stead.
fastness of which Paul here speaks