This is a sermon that Fred preached for a dear friend and faithful deacon a few years ago. I thought about separating it from the occasion and renaming it, but decided to present it just as he did.


Funeral Sermon for Raymond H. 'Bill' Wilson


I Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:


Intro; This is not intended to be a traditional funeral or memorial message. It will be what Brother Wilson asked that it be; A message of Jesus Christ and him Crucified. So while not the norm, it is certainly fitting, for Brother Bill had no greater desire, than that others have that glorious hope which was his in Christ. He expressed this to me often, that his passing might be the occasion for others to hear the wonderful 'good news' of the Gospel.


He did not want to be eulogized and I’ll not attempt to do so. There is nothing I can say that would make him any dearer to any of you than he already is. Therefore I shall honor his wishes, and preach Christ, that all might know how to prepare to join him at the throne of the King.


Let us, then examine the text.
I Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:


I. Christ hath once suffered for sins
A. Our minds are drawn, not to his birth, life or miracles but to the CROSS.
Gal.6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.


B. We are reminded of His suffering
Isa.53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.


C. It was a 'one time' event.
Heb.9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
There is no use waiting for anything else. You will be saved by the death of Christ or be eternally lost!


II. The Just for the unjust. The self righteous will never know the forgiveness of sins through Christ.
Luke 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.


Mark 2:17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.


III. That He might BRING US TO GOD
A. This journey begins with a powerful force which man's intellect can neither fathom nor explain, but which continues to work!
John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.


B. From the cross to eternity, He is with us each step of the way.
Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.


C. Paul experienced His presence.
II Tim.4:16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.


D. He awaits to hold back the terrors of death. (The Ark in the midst of Jordan.)
I Cor 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.


E. He welcomes his children home. Stephen;
Acts 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.


F. He will Personally call us out of the grave.
I Thes.4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.


16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.


G. He will be present as he brings the faithful to their eternal home, the New Jerusalem.
Rev. 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.


3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.


5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.


H. Brother Bill awaits us now in the presence of the Lord.
II Cor.5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.


Are you ready to join him there?