No Jeopardy in Christ

What does jeopardy mean?

1. Jeopardy = risk of loss, harm, or death; peril, danger.
2. Forget the American television game show, Jeopardy! created by Merv Griffin in 1964, for it corrupts the meaning and distracts from the meaningful consideration of it.
3. Jeopardy = risk of loss, harm, or death; peril, danger.
4. Example: He put his finances in jeopardy by taking on that huge loan and its payments.
5. Example: He put his family in jeopardy by taking them sailing without any life jackets.
6. Example: He put life in jeopardy by volunteering for that recon team likely not to return.
7. Jeopardy = risk of loss, harm, or death; peril, danger.
8. This word and its meaning should frighten you. And one jeopardy is worse than others.
9. It is used seven times in the Bible by which we easily confirm the dictionary definition.
   1. In the song of Deborah, Zebulun and Naphtali jeoparded their lives (Judges 5:18).
   2. Three mighty men were in jeopardy to get David water (II Sam 23:17; I Chr 11:19).
   3. The Philistines knew David fighting with them put them in jeopardy (I Chron 12:19).
   4. The apostles were in jeopardy during a great storm on the Sea of Galilee (Luke 8:23).
10. This word and its meaning should frighten you. And one jeopardy is worse than others.

What is I Corinthians 15 about?

1. It is the resurrection chapter of the Bible, all 58 verses of it are about body resurrection.
2. Never let anyone, especially full preterists, steal away the hope of this adoption to come.
   1. False teachers that Paul knew said the resurrection was past (II Timothy 2:16-18).
   2. Full preterists will spiritualize away the resurrection, which is definitely of the body.
3. A simple outline of the chapter will provide us perspective without taking much time.
   1. Verses 1-12 … Paul introduced a controversy of false teachers against apostolic facts.
   2. Verses 13-34 … Various arguments theological and practical proving resurrection.
   3. Verses 35-57 … Detailed information about the resurrection and its glorious victory.
   4. Verse 58 … the glorious conclusion of how the resurrection should affect Christians.

What about our text of I Corinthians 15:30?

1. Here we have the use of jeopardy by Paul for his constant danger and risk of death
2. It is one of two practical arguments Paul made to convince Corinth of the resurrection.
   1. He earlier concluded without resurrection Christianity was miserable (I Cor 15:19).
   2. He appealed to their Baptist baptisms, which were quite foolish without resurrection, for Baptist immersion symbolizes hope of the resurrection of the body (I Cor 15:29).
   3. He appealed to his constant danger and risk as being foolish without resurrection.
3. Verse 30 … is easily understood as another practical argument requiring future reward.
   1. The only reason for Paul to expose himself to constant danger was certain future joy.
   2. As foolish as baptism without a future resurrection, so was Paul facing death hourly.
4. Verse 31 … is Paul’s constant closeness to death, but which had brought Corinth joy.
   1. Paul protested against their excessive joy, since they had obtained it by his jeopardy.
   2. Paul was glad for their joy, but he was not glad for their joy while disregarding him.
   3. Supplying an ellipsis might help some grasp it, I protest by your rejoicing, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord as the fruit of my labors, I die daily.
5. Verse 32 … is a natural comparison to gladiators for the lesson – need for future hope.
   1. Note how Paul carefully states that this is a human analogy to make a point to them.
   2. Paul did not fight beasts, but he faced daily death like a gladiator, needing a motive.
   3. His motivation was the resurrection of the dead and eternal glory, but not gladiators.
   4. Their motivation was Epicureanism, but Paul was not an Epicurean, thus a Baptist.
   5. Most Christians today have made Christianity enjoyable by avoiding all persecution.
6. Paul could face jeopardy of death – its danger, risk, and peril – by hope of resurrection.
7. And that hope of resurrection had been secured by the ultimate jeopardy of the Christ.

Your soul is in jeopardy of death and judgment.

1. No one else will tell you that you are in danger of dying soon, but then worse, judgment.
   1. The apostle Paul did when he reminded Hebrews of their appointment (Heb 9:27).
   2. The world rushes, especially on a holiday weekend, with only thoughts of pleasure.
   3. You could die today, and then what will the Fourth of July tomorrow mean to you?
   4. It matters little if today or a few years from now, its soon arrival should affect you
   5. Most pulpits do not emphasize the certainty and nearness of death and judgment
2. Your sins have violated God’s glory, and the wages of sin is death (Rom 3:23; 6:23).
3. Prophets of old came with the simple, severe news, the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
4. A funeral of a grandfather last week and then visiting retirement homes reminded some.

The lake of fire is the ultimate jeopardy

1. The idea of being denied and rejected by Jesus Christ should move you (Matt 7:21-23).
2. Just thinking of condemnation at God’s great white throne is terrifying (Rev 20:11-15).
3. The thought of burning torment forever with smoke ascending is terrifying (Rev 14:11).
4. Jesus warned that violating simple rules of brotherly love brings danger (Matt 5:21-22).
5. Gaining the whole world and losing your soul to hell is not worth it at all (Matt 16:26).
6. Cutting off or gouging out body parts to avoid hellfire is worth the trade (Matt 18:8-9).
7. If jeopardy means danger or risk of harm, then the second death is the ultimate jeopardy.
8. You are not in jeopardy hourly like Paul, but you are in jeopardy to go to hell like Judas.
9. For much more about the lake of fire and salvation from it, consider this sermon.

No jeopardy for believers in Christ.

1. Jesus strongly promised that those coming to Him would never be cast out (John 6:37).
   1. He said, In no wise. These precious words of promise remove all risk in the matter.
   2. What is it to come to Christ? Believe on Him as the Son of God (John 6:29,35,40,47).
   3. How many of these believers that come to Christ will be lost? Not one (John 6:39).
2. On what basis do we come to Christ? How is that some come and others do not come?
   1. Only those that God gave to Jesus will come to Him in faith, as stated (John 6:37,39).
   2. Only those drawn and taught of God internally will come to Christ (John 6:44-45).
   3. It should be a priority today, this minute, to believe and come to Christ for assurance.
3. Therefore, we owe Him all the glory for delivering us from the jeopardy of our souls.
   1. So sure and complete is Christ expunging sins, God forgets them (Heb 8:12; 10:17).
   2. God promised believers they will never be ashamed in Him (Rom 5:5; 9:33; 10:11).
   3. God promised believers they will never be confounded (I Pet 2:6; Isaiah 45:16-17).
4. Jesus jeopardized His health, life, and soul for us by choosing crucifixion death for us.

Jesus secured the opposite of jeopardy for us.

1. God’s plan and Christ’s death guarantee glorification for the past tense (Rom 8:28-39).
2. All the promises of God, including eternal life, are in Him, Yea and Amen (II Cor 1:20).
3. He is the Surety of His people, and it is impossible that even one can perish (Heb 7:22).
4. There is no risk for us at all, and Jesus constantly pleads His jeopardy on our behalf.

Double jeopardy is contrary to justice.

1. Double jeopardy is being tried again, a second time, for the same charges following an acquittal or conviction. Double jeopardy is a common concept in criminal law. It keeps a person from being put at danger or risk legally for crimes acquitted or convicted of.
2. The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says: Nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb by (1) retrial after an acquittal; (2) retrial after a conviction; (3) retrial after certain mistrials; and (4) multiple punishment, meaning, the defendant may not be punished twice for the same offence.
3. If man’s inferior and faulty concepts of justice deny double jeopardy, how much less the Judge of all, who can be questioned by men for righteous fairness (Gen 18:25; 20:4).
4. God’s gift of His Son for us absolutely precludes us from any charges (Rom 8:32-33)
5. Jesus paid for our sins by substitution, and He intercedes (Rom 5:10; 8:34; Heb 7:25).
6. Depending on how you view it, we were acquitted or convicted and punished in Christ, either way we are declared free and innocent by divine justice, or we can revel in both.
7. It is impossible by revelation, by extension, by righteousness to ever face our sins again.

Paul put his life in jeopardy for the gospel and souls.

1. Our text says he and his fellow ministers were in jeopardy every hour (I Cor 15:30).
   1. When told he would suffer in Jerusalem, it did not move him (Acts 20:24; 21:13)
   2. He declared in his resume he was in many dangers and deaths oft (II Cor 11:23-28).
   3. He knew apostles were chosen for severe and regular jeopardy (I Cor 4:9; Rom 8:36).
2. But the lesson is not that Paul was often in jeopardy, but why he risked it so cheerfully.
   1. Our text says it was because of the certain resurrection and the glory that follows it.
   2. He wanted some suffering in his life to fellowship with Christ that way (Phil 3:10).
   3. Death to Paul was nearly a joke – a thing to mock with scripture – by the resurrection.
3. Is your life based on the resurrection and your assurance of it for you to live like Paul?