| Subject: The Resurrections Post 1 |
Author:
Hillbilly
| [ Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: 17:02:27 01/12/10 Tue
The Resurrections
Preface
If there is one thing or biblical subject that ought to get the Christian excited it is the prospect of being able to live forever in a body free from all the constraints and sin of this present house of clay we live in. Just think of being able to live free of pain, sickness, weakness, fear, sorrow and death. This is what the Christian is promised in the Word of God. In a word he is promised immortality. Immortality with a caveat. It is immortality that comes with being raised from the dead or for some, being translated without dying.
Immortality has been sought from ancient times. Achilles in Greek mythology almost achieved it but had a fatal weakness to be found in his heel. Ponce de Leon sought for the fountain of youth in more recent times that he might be forever young. He searched through Florida and possibly even into Georgia but evidently no one could convince him the fountain was to be found in John's gospel in chapter 4. Elixirs, potions, oils, baths and whatever else might be thought of to keep a person young bears testimony to man's desire to live forever in a youthful body.
In this study we will look at what the Bible has to say about the resurrections and the resultant immortality. I say resurrections and not resurrection because in reality the Bible lists at least seven resurrections. 7 is the number of completion in the Bible so we would expect or at least should not be surprised that God has broken down the resurrections according to His dispensations. We will examine each of the seven plus one figurative resurrection that God has placed prominently in His Holy Word. All scriptures will be from God's Holy Word as found in the A.V. 1611 K.J.V. bible.
Establishing The Facts of a Resurrection
John5:25-29 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28 Marvel not at this: for 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.
One of the central themes of Christianity is the resurrection. The central theme of the Bible is Jesus Christ and He said: "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:" (John 11:25). As we shall see in this study the resurrection centers on the resurrection of Jesus. If Jesus was raised from the dead then we, as believers, will be raised from the dead. If Jesus was not resurrected then we are without hope. Paul, in his first letter to the Church at Corinth said: "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. (1 Corinthians15:12-18 ).
The resurrection is our greatest hope and indeed has been the greatest hope of all true worshipers of God through the ages. The resurrection is attested to in both testaments although there is much more information in the New Testament than in the Old Testament. The Old Testament Saints may not have had oue understanding of the Son of God and His substitutionary sacrifice for us and resurrection but they knew of their coming resurrection.
Job had great assurance that the grave was not the end. He said in Job19:25-27 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. He testified to his 3 visitors that even though his body had been consumed by worms and nothing was left, he would one day behold his Redeemer. His expectation was to be clothed again with flesh and with his own two eyes behold his God on the earth. There was not a doubt in his mind as to his serving a living God and not a dead idol. His God would one day clothe him again with flesh and on the earth his eyes would feast upon his Redeemer.
Isaiah wrote in Isaiah26:19 Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. The old saying is; "You can't keep a good man down". The grave can't hold those who have put their trust in God. The God of the Old and New Testaments created the body from dust and it is to return to dust but even though it returns to the dust it is not to remain in that state forever. One day there will come a call from heaven's portals and the Saints will hear the shout of the voice of God saying come up hither and the graves will burst open and the earth will truly cast out it's dead.
Isaiah25:8-9 states: " He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke rof his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. 9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation."
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
] |
|
Feedback: 