## Second Place or First Place?

## Mark 10:28-31

Do you remember the Avis ads of a few years ago? "When you are number two, you try harder." That didn't really go over very good. We want the best, we want number one, not number two. Most of the time that is the case. If we are having surgery, we want the best surgeon. We don't want a trainee. But, we will get on an airline and be thrilled that we got the cheapest flight available!

When it comes to sports teams, we want nothing other than first place. Our society is so First Place oriented that there is no consolation in just participating. To many, "Winning isn't everything - it is the only thing". Now there is nothing wrong with having a competitive spirit, as long as it doesn't cause us to violate Christian principles. But, being first isn't always best. As a matter of fact, tonight I want us to see that in some areas, the Bible teaches us that second is better than first!

Read: Mark 10:28-31

- In our text, Jesus is challenging the disciples to give up everything in following Him.
- In v 31, He states, "Many that are first…"
- First in what? First in possessions, riches, materialism.
- Those who have all of the world's goods are considered in first place in success.
- But Jesus goes on to say that they shall be last.

(Mark 8:36) "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"

- In Hebrews 10:9-10, the writer is instructing us that God has taken away the O.T. sacrifice offering for the atonement of sin and replaced it with the offering - sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ.
- The first sacrifice was taken away for the Second Sacrifice which is eternal.

(Heb 10:9) "Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second."

I. The Second Birth Is Better Than The First Birth

(Job 14:1) "Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble."

A. Sin Takes Over Immediately After The First Birth.

1. Sin rules every person's life, even a child.

2. Man is born in sin.

3. We don't become sinners, we are born sinners.

4. We aren't sinners because we sin; we sin because we are sinners.

5. Sin will dominate someone that has only the first birth.

(1 Cor 2:14) "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

6. The natural man knows nothing but natural ways.

B. One birth = Two deaths

1. He that is born once dies twice, but he that is born twice dies but once.

2. Without the new birth, there is no home of heaven.

3. Death will mean being separated eternally from God in the lake of fire.

4. Jesus Said, "Ye Must Be Born Again." Cf Jn 3:7

C. The Second Birth is by far greater than the First Birth.

II. The Second Adam Is Better Than The First Adam

A. The terms:

1. The term 'first Adam' refers to the man Adam who was created by God in Ge. 2:7.

2. The term "Second Adam" refers to Jesus Christ. 3. Cf. 1 Co. 15:45

B. Note the comparisons:

1. The first Adam was created from the dust of the earth; The Second Adam has been with the Father for all eternity past.

2. The first Adam was created in the image of God, but through self will brought sin to the entire world; the second Adam came to the world to destroy the sin brought on by the first Adam.

3. The second Adam became the sin of the first Adam so that he could once again be whole; the disobedience of the first Adam brought death to all men.

(2 Cor 5:21) "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

(Rom 5:19) "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."

III. The Second Body Is Better Than The First Body

A. The First Body = The Physical body.

1. The physical body is inferior.

a. It gets old.

b. It gets sick.

c. It becomes incapable of functioning in the later years.

d. It becomes overpowered with pain.

e. It requires much maintenance and repair.

f. It eventually dies, is buried in the ground, and turns to dust.

2. The physical body is hard to discipline.

a. It seeks what it wants.

b. It seeks its own way.

c. It seeks to go against the will of God.

d. It seeks to rule.

e. It seeks to be the king of our kingdom.

f. It seeks to have others serve and bow down to it.

B. The Second Body = The Glorified body.

1. This is the body that we will all be changed into in the twinkling of an eye.

(1 Cor 15:52) "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."

2. The second body lives forever.

3. It will last forever.

a. We won't be able to abuse it.

b. We can't use it up.

c. It won't grow old, nor will it grow helpless.

d. It will never die - it will never get cancer - it will never have a stroke - never have to have surgery.

(1 Cor 15:53) "For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality."

IV. The Second Coming Of Christ Is Better Than His First Coming

A. This is not to say that His first coming was insignificant.

1. Without His first coming there would be no second coming.

2. Without His first coming there would be no reason for his second coming.

3. His first coming was the way of preparation.

4. His second coming will be the way to consummation.

5. Had there been no plans for His first coming, there would have been no one to participate in His second coming.

6. His first coming makes His second coming necessary.

B. Consider the Greatness of His Second Coming.

1. The first coming was to condemn sin, He came to die;

2. But The second coming is to consummate a marriage, to abolish death, to destroy sin.

(1 Tim 1:9-10) "Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, {10} For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;"

3. At His first coming the world crucified Him; at His Second Coming the world will confess Him Lord Jesus Christ.

4. At His first coming the world spat upon Him, mocked Him, laughed at Him, and rejected Him; at His Second Coming all the earth will bow down before Him.

(Phil 2:9-11) "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: {10} That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; {11} And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

- The 2nd Birth is greater than the 1st Birth.
- The 2nd Adam is better than the 1st Adam.
- The 2nd Body is greater than the 1st Body.
- The 2nd Coming of Christ is better than His 1st Coming.

What is most important, to be first or to be second? In so many areas of our lives, we are programmed to strive for the world's view of success. In this coming year what will be our goals? Will they be to honor God, regardless of what some might think?

Do you know Christ as Savior? Have you experienced the 2nd birth? Come today and receive salvation. Come whatever the need might be. God will meet us at the cross.