THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD

                         THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD

INDEX:
-  WHY IS THE RESURRECTION SO IMPORTANT?
-  GOD'S INTENT FOR  JUSTICE
-  WHAT ABOUT THE RESURRECTION OF THE UNJUST? 
-  CONCLUSION

“Jesus said unto her, ‘I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE, he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?’” John 11:25-26

“ …that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” Acts 24:15

“For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God, Whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another, though my reins be consumed within me.” Job 19:25-26

"Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed, 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." 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 

 "And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which sees the Son, and believes on Him, may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:40 

       OUR FAITH IS BUILT ON THIS HOPE(and in Christ it is so exciting)

Why is the Resurrection so important?

1 – The resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ - From the standpoint of the Gospel it is so absolutely PARAMOUNT because  A. confirms that Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten Son of God Romans 1:4, and B. that His sacrifice for our sins as the Sinless Lamb of God was accepted by God the Father John 1:29 “Behold the Lamb of God Which takes away the sin of the World.” “Who was delivered for our offences, and was RAISED again for our justification (just as if we never sinned).” Romans 4:25, “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain, you are yet in your sins; Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished(lost).” 1 Corinthians 15:17-18, What this means that our entire being, our spirit, our soul, and our BODY has been REDEEMED! Jesus' physical resurrection guaranteed the redemption of our bodies as well.
  Who alone but the sinless Son of God could conquer sin, the devil, death, hell, the grave, and take away the sins of the world?!

2 – Why the Resurrection of the Body?

Seeing that most all our troubles, sins, pain, fears, and temptations, are products of our physical body, would it not be better to be without it and spend eternity with the Lord as spirits?
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6;23 Because the penalty for sin is death, the result of sins being wiped away would have to mean that death is also defeated and Eternal Life Attained.

a.    The atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ was perfect because of Who He is, and for our sake. His resurrected body was completely without fault or weakness, wherein even death has no more dominion over Him Romans 6:9.

b.    Consequently the atonement for our sins was so thorough that  even our natural bodies, and not just our souls, have become part of the ‘purchased possession’ in our redemption, the end result being that when we receive our new bodies, they will be like His glorious immortal body. Ephesians 1:14, Philippians 3:21, 1 John 3:2

c.     Furthermore, because we were created as human beings, we are incomplete without our physical body; hence, the necessity of Christ’s physical death and resurrection to purchase our complete redemption and recreate, as it were, a whole, new, and perfect human being, truly created in His image and likeness.

  Romans 8:23, 1 Corinthians 15: 35-58, 2 Corinthians 5:1-4 From the description in these last verses 5:1-4, "If so being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle (body) do groan, being burdened, not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life." it appears that while in the state without our physical bodies, is similar to the sensation of being unclothed. So they must be reunited. And thanks to the glorious work of the cross of Christ, as was divinely ordained, He procured a perfect work where nothing can be added to it, and nothing can be taken away from it. Now both He and we are awaiting the day when He will raise us up with a glorious body like His ! Ecclesiastes 3:14, Philippians 3:21

 

 3 – GOD 'S INTENT FOR JUSTICE

       “Marvel not at this, for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His (Jesus, the Son of God) voice, 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.” John 5:28-29
 Obviously, for the same reason we are to expect a resurrection of our body, equally so will the unjust. Their fate, however, will be fully contrary.

  The resurrection of both the Just and the Unjust is a testimony of the deliberation of our creation, meaning that the redemption of our being in its entirety is the complete will of God our Creator Who will bring to order everything according to His intended design - flawless, sinless, perfect. This, however, also indicates the seriousness of the plight of man in this world and the deep concern that God has for the welfare and suffering of each individual, and His full intent for just retribution, not only for the evil we do, but for the injustice and sufferings that people endure while in the flesh. "But Abraham said, ' Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things, but now he is comforted , and you are tormented.'" Luke 16:25
  Jesus' ministry on earth demonstrated this in miraculous ways by healing every sickness and disease brought to Him, casting out devils, and feeding the thousands "...least they faint on the way." Matthew 15:32, Mark 8:3,  Matthew 4:29.  In light of this it can be concluded, especially with regard to the perfect understanding and compassion of God, how seriously He takes even the 'small' concerns and hardships of each individual "But the very hairs on your head are all numbered.". He realizes how important, or perhaps as with certain issues, how insignificant they can be. Every starving child, every form of abuse, neglect, cruelty, injustice, will He not make right?! God did not design us with a physical body to experience injustice and suffering. That is the result of our selfishness and sin, and in general, the curse that came on the creation as a result of our sin. He is making,  "a new heavens, and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness." 2 Peter 3:13, "For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together, and not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption - the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope, but hope that is seen is not hope...but if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it." Romans 8:22-24

4 - WHAT ABOUT THE RESURRECTION OF THE UNJUST?
       “Marvel not at this, for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His (Jesus, the Son of God) voice, 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.” John 5:28-29
 Obviously, for the same reason we are to expect a resurrection of our body, equally so will the unjust. Their fate, however, will be fully contrary.   
 What is the difference between the Resurrection of the Disciples of Jesus and the Unbeliever/Unjust?
 The Resurrection of the Dead is what is reserved for final judgment. What the believers in Jesus are hoping for, is that if we 'attain' to the Resurrection of the Dead ("But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead..." Luke 20: 35) as promised through the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, will mean that we have been judged worthy to receive the salvation provided through the judgment Jesus took for us at the cross.  We therefore are cleansed and justified before God the Father, and thus the fruit of our faith is accepted on His account. We will not only be fully reunited with the Lord when He returns, but also with our new bodies, perfect just like His when He rose from the dead. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

  On the other hand, those who have lived rebellious and unrighteous lives while in the flesh, will be raised to face the judgment of condemnation with their flesh. They had forsaken the grace provided for them by Jesus' sacrificial work on the Cross, pursued their own appetites, and will reap their just due...and with their bodies they will be cast into the Lake of Fire. They will physically reap the choices, hate, and behavior they entertained while in this life. "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have  good, unto the resurrection of life; and they THAT HAVE DONE EVIL, UNTO THE RESURRECTIN OF DAMNATION." John 5:28-29
"...And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the Lake of Fire." Revelation 20:11-15

In Conclusion - The Resurrection of the Dead for Disciples of Jesus means that our sin has been paid for in full through Jesus' Sacrificial Life, Death, and Resurrection, and ultimately death, our final enemy, has been DEFEATED. We will be raised to life with our new bodies which are perfect, and will never suffer fatigue, hunger, thirst, pain, sickness, disease, or death again. And furthermore we will never be tempted with evil again!!! Thus we will be with Him FOREVER!!!  "...and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be aught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 1 Thessalonians 4:15-16
There is a Resurrection of the Dead for all - but it is our choice as to which one we will be awaiting us - Next - Eternal Judgment