FOUNDATIONS
The principles of the doctrine of Christ.
Part 6 – Resurrection
John 5:28-29 KJV
…the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, (29) And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
1. RESURRECTION IS A REALITY
A resurrection is an event in which something that is dead becomes alive again. The word comes from ‘resurge’ (1), and literally means, ‘to rise again’. It is made clear to us in the text above, and in many others, that all men will rise from the dead. It is a certainty.
Luke 20:37-38 KJV
Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. (38) For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.
Here Jesus has rebuked the Sadducees for their denial of the doctrine of resurrection; HE even says that they commit a “great error” (2). Paul also writes: those who say the resurrection has already passed do commit an error, and actually overthrow the faith of some (2). So we see that as Resurrection is a foundational doctrine, denying this doctrine, or misrepresenting it, is a great error with terrible consequences.
2. RESURRECTION BODIES
When we are raised we will have a body, but it will be a spiritual body. It will not be like our earthly body that has died. Paul gives us the illustration of planting a seed which has a certain body: small, round, and hard. But when that seed dies, the life that comes from it does not look the same; the plant is tall, green, and bearing fruit (3).
1 Corinthians 15:50-53 KJV
(50) Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God
The new bodies, given to all those who have repented of their sin and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, shall be fit to inherit the kingdom of GOD
3. RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
Perhaps the most important reason why Resurrection is a foundational doctrine is found in 1 Corinthians, chapter 15. Paul states:
1 Corinthians 15:12-19 KJV
(12) Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? (13) But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: (14) And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. (15) Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. (16) For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: (17) And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. (18) Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. (19) If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
It was prophesied that the Messiah would rise from the dead (4). If Christ was not raised, then HE was not the Messiah. Jesus himself also stated that HE would rise again after three days (5). If HE did not keep that promise then HE was not GOD; GOD does not lie, and GOD does not fail. Therefore, if Christ was not raised then our faith truly is in vain; we have no hope.
Hebrews 1:3 KJV
…[Jesus], when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
But Christ was raised. HE has ascended, and is enthroned in heaven, because GOD raised HIM from the dead (6). HIS resurrection is a testimony that HE had completed his work of redemption, and that it was acceptable to the Father.
4. RESURRECTION OF THE FIRST FRUITS
1 Corinthians 15:20-23 KJV
(20) But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. (21) For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. (22) For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (23) But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
A ‘first-fruits’ offering includes two things: praise to GOD for HIS provision, and a declaration of our trust in HIM to bring in the complete harvest at the end of the season. As clearly as the ‘first-fruits’ of barley points to a barley harvest, and the ‘first-fruits’ of wheat points to a wheat harvest, the ‘first-fruits’ of the dead points to a general resurrection. To witness of this, many people were raised immediately after Christ, and were taken by HIM to heaven as the actual ‘first-fruits’ offering (7). In this way the Lord Jesus actually raised the ‘first-fruits’ offering to the Father. But HE also was a part of the ‘first-fruits’ offering, because without HIS resurrection we would have no hope for our own resurrection.
5. THE TWO RESURRECTIONS
Revelation 20:4-6 KJV
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (5) But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. (6) Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
There will be two resurrections (8). In the first resurrection, the just (regenerate) will be raised; they will reign with Christ for a thousand years on this earth. They are called the blessed and holy, the just, the ones who have done good (by GOD's grace), and the ones counted worthy to obtain. The first resurrection is the resurrection unto life.
Those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ will not be raised until after the thousand years. They are the unrepentant blasphemers, the unbelieving, abominable, immoral, and the liars (9). Theirs is the resurrection unto damnation. They will be raised to life, only to be judged and condemned to eternity in hell.
6. REGENERATION
The Resurrection of the body is used to teach us about regeneration. This word is similar to resurrection, but means to take something that is corrupt and re-create it in a new form that is pure and without corruption (10).
Romans 6:3-7 KJV
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (4) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (5) For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: (6) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. (7) For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Here Paul draws a link between Christ’s resurrection from the dead, and our new life in Christ (verse 4). All men are born physically alive, but spiritually dead. We are wholly corrupt and totally depraved, unable to hear GOD or see HIS truth, unable to respond to GOD, in bondage to sin and Satan; we are haters of GOD. This is our nature. But if that nature is killed, then we are freed from it. This is what is meant by the ‘death of the old man’. Our old way of being is no more. Instead, a new nature, a new way of being, and even a new heart is given to us. This is regeneration. So we are no longer spiritually dead, we are spiritually alive; we have been born again.
Ezekiel 36:26-27 KJV
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. (27) And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
CONCLUSION
The resurrection from the dead is an absolute certainty; GOD has said it, HE will do it. The Lord Jesus Christ was raised from the dead; three days and three nights after HIS suffering HE was raised. HIS resurrection was a testimony to his perfect, finished work. HIS resurrection was also a promise of our bodily resurrection, and spiritual regeneration.
Every one who has ever lived will be raised from the dead; either to life, or to damnation. The resurrection of the just will be wonderful, and glorious, and the beginning their eternity with CHRIST. The resurrection of the ungodly will be terrible, fearful, and the beginning of their eternity of suffering. They will have NO HOPE.
REFERENCES
(1) [Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin resurr , resurr cti n-, from Latin resurr ctus, past participle of resurgere, to rise again; see resurge.], www.thefreedictionary.com/resurrection
(2) Error and danger in denying resurrection:
a. Matthew 22:29-32
b. Mark 12:26-27
c. 2 Timothy 2:18
(3) 1 Corinthians 15:35-38
(4) Psalms 16:10
(5) John 2:18-22
(6) Acts 2:32
(7) First-Fruits Offering:
a. Matthew 27:52-53
b. John 20:17-20
c. Luke 24:36-40
d. Acts 26:22-23
e. Revelation 1:5
(8) Two Resurrections:
a. Revelation 20:4-6
b. John 5:28-29
c. Acts 24:14-15
d. Luke 14:12-14
e. Luke 20:34-36
f. Hebrews 11:35-40
(9) Men of the second resurrection:
a. Revelation 21:8
b. Revelation 16:11
(10) 1425–75; late Middle English (adj.) < Latin regenerātus, past participle of regenerāre to bring forth again, equivalent to re- re- + generātus; see generate, http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/regenerate