1 Cor. 15:55-57 ..........................................TRUTHS THAT SILENCE DEATH
Intro: No one likes to think about death. It is an enemy that stalks everyone, 1 Cor. 15:26; Heb. 9:27. Some die in old age, some die in infancy and others at all ages in between. Some die by disease, wrecks, wars and murder. Some hasten the arrival of death by cooperating with the enemy through engaging in bad habits and harmful lifestyles.
The bible tells us that death is our enemy!  First of all; Death is unnatural. Man was made “a living soul”, Gen. 2:7. Death entered the world because of sin, Gen. 2:17; Rom. 5:12; 6:23. Only two, Enoch and Elijah, have escaped death, so far!  Secondly; Death is painful – Jesus WEPT when Lazerus died!-John 11:35. As hateful and as hurtful as death can be, it does not have the last word! There are some truths found in the Bible that muzzle the wild beast called death.
I. THE PLAN OF SALVATION SILENCES DEATH
Jesus came to restore everything that death took away, Luke 19:10; John 11:25-26. He came to bring life back to dead sinners.  What does death take from a person?  EVERYTHING in the absense of this gospel message!!!
Jesus conquered two forms of death. 1.) Spiritual Death – Eph. 2:1-9; 2.) Physical Death – 1 Cor. 15:55-57. Faith in Jesus brings instant everlasting life, John 3:16; 5:24. Everlasting life is the present possession of every child of God, John 3:36; 10:28; 1 John 5:12.
II. A PLACE CALLED HEAVEN SILENTCES DEATH
Salvation destroys death’s power over the soul. Salvation also changes the soul’s eternal destiny. The lost soul is headed to Hell CONTRARY TO POPLAR BELIEF~~~ Psa. 9:17. The redeemed soul is going to Heaven, Phil. 1:21, 23; 2 Cor. 5:1-8.    Heaven, as Paul said, is “far better” than this world, John 14:1-3; Rev. 21:4. The Lord, our departed loved ones, the saints of all, all await us in glory!
There is something beyond the door of death! It is not the end!--Every civilization that has existed on earth believed something pertaining to the afterlife-(Egypt, Incas & Mayas, Semitic Tribes of the Middle East, Indians of North America!)  But Christ's resurrection is LIVING PROOF of a power that exists in etenity!!!
III. THE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION SILENCES DEATH
A. It Guarantees Our Saviour – Rom. 1:4
B. It Guarantees Our Salvation – 1 Cor. 15:14-20
C. It Guarantees A Similar Resurrection For Us – 1 Cor. 15:20
· Jesus will raise our bodies – 1 Thes. 4:13-17
· Jesus will change our bodies – 1 Cor. 15:49; 53-54
· We will be like Him – 1 John 3:1-3
· A better day awaits us in Heaven – Rom. 8:18
Conc: Note the contrast between the taunting questions of verse 55, and the statement of victory in verse 57.