The Mystery of the Resurrection

Transcription

1 The Mystery of e Resurrection The Mystery of e Resurrection Thou fool, at which ou sowest is not quickened, except it die (1 Corinians 15:36) INTRODUCTION 1 Corinians 15 has been called e resurrection chapter of e New Testament. Paul devotes is entire chapter to a treatment of e resurrection of e dead. It appears from Verse 12 at some at Corin denied e general resurrection, while at e same time believing in e resurrection of Christ from e dead. There may have been several reasons for is belief based upon Grecian philosophy which permeated e society at Corin. But, whatever e reason, Paul refuted is false belief by reasoning at e fact of e resurrection of Christ implies e general resurrection. The assertion of some in Corin at ere is no resurrection of e dead (Verse 13) was a major doctrinal deviation from e Gospel because it took e very heart out of e Gospel. Noing receives greater attention in e early Gospel sermons an e resurrection of e body of Christ. Yet, is erroneous position about e resurrection led to e logical conclusion at Jesus Himself could not have been raised from e dead, as e Scriptures said He would, and many reliable witnesses testified at He was. Paul clearly teaches at Christ was e firstfruits of e resurrection and at e resurrection of e dead will take place when Christ comes again to deliver up e kingdom to e Faer (1 Corinians 15:23-28). He also reveals some ings concerning e general resurrection: how it will take place, what type of body we will have, and what will happen to ose who are alive when Christ comes again. Then he says in Verse 51, Behold, I shew you a mystery. The wo mystery comes from e Greek wo musterion, which was originally used to describe a scheme, a strategy, or a plan yet to be executed, but not yet revealed. This same wo is used in Ephesians 5:32 to refer to e plan of God to bring salvation to mankind in Christ and His church. So, it simply means someing not revealed or kept secret until e proper time of revelation. Thus, Paul is now revealing trus concerning e resurrection at is time. The resurrection is one of e fundamental principles of Christianity. Certainly, e subject of e mystery of e resurrection is one at is of interest to all classes of people. Wheer you are a sinner or a saint, lost or saved, you should be concerned wi what will happen following your dea. DEFINING THE RESURRECTION In oer to understand is subject we must define e wo resurrection. The Greek wo which is usually translated resurrection in e King James Version (in all but two passages in e New Testament) is anastasis. It is translated resurrection irty-nine times; rising again one time; and wi e preposition ek it is translated raised to life again one time and at should rise Conditional Christianity 23 Annual Mid-West Lectures Page 1 be be sold. For information contact e 39 Street church of Christ, East 39 Street, Independence, MO

2 The Mystery of e Resurrection one time. The Greek wo egersis is translated resurrection one time in Matew 27:53. The root meaning of anastasis accoing to Young is, A standing or rising up (Young, p. 812) It is a compound Greek wo made up of e preposition ana which means up and histemi which means to cause to stand (Vine, p. 531). Bagster defines it as, a raising up or rising up; resurrection (Bagster, p. 31). Thayer defines it, 1. a raising up, rising; 2. a rising from e dead - a. at of Christ; b. at of all men (Thayer, p ). Dea simply means separation and ere are several types of dea in e Bible: (1) Physical dea - separation of body and spirit, James 2:26; (2) Spiritual dea - separation of our spirit from God, Isaiah 59:2; (3) Dead in sin - separated from righteousness, Ephesians 2:1; (4) Dead to sin - separated from sin, Romans 6:10-11; (5) Second dea - eternal separation from God, Revelation 20:14. Spiritual dea, being dead in sin, and e second dea can all be overcome by e blood of Christ coupled wi our obedience to e Gospel unto dea (Revelation 2:10). Being dead to sin is brought about by our continued obedience to righteousness (Romans 6:16-18). That leaves only one kind of dea at must be overcome - physical dea - and it has been overcome by e power of God in e resurrection of Jesus from e dead. Thus, we understand e term resurrection refers to e rising again, or e standing again, of e physical body. In oer wos, e resurrection is a reuniting of e body wi e spirit which animates it and makes it alive. It is a nullifying of physical dea. This is what Paul discusses in 1 Corinians 15 in detail about e general resurrection or e reuniting of e spirit wi e body, which will take place at e end of time. This view is borne out by e use of e pronoun it which Paul used in 1 Corinians 15:42-44 as he explained e resurrection of e dead. What else could it refer to but e physical body which is buried? We know it is not e spirit of man, because e spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7). Thus, e term resurrection must refer to e reuniting of e body wi e spirit. PROOF OF THE RESURRECTION It is interesting to note at e wo resurrection does not appear in e Old Testament, but ere are several passages in e Old Testament, which, nevereless, teach us in typical form some facts concerning e resurrection of e dead. Types Of The Resurrection Isaac was in a type resurrected, when he was spared by God as Abraham was about to offer him as a burnt sacrifice. Genesis 22:13, And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a icket by his horns: and Abraham went and took e ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in e stead of his son. Paul wrote in Hebrews 11:17-19, By fai Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he at had received e promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall y seed be called: Accounting Conditional Christianity 23 Annual Mid-West Lectures Page 2 be be sold. For information contact e 39 Street church of Christ, East 39 Street, Independence, MO

3 The Mystery of e Resurrection at God was able to raise him up, even from e dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. Jonah was also in a type resurrected when he was delivered from e belly of e whale. Jonah 2:10, And e Lo spake unto e fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon e dry land. Jonah's being in e belly of e whale and en cast upon dry land was a type or figure of e time Jesus would be in e tomb and en resurrected from e dead, as Jesus said in Matew 12:40, For as Jonas was ree days and ree nights in e whale's belly; so shall e Son of man be ree days and ree nights in e heart of e ear. Prophecies Of The Resurrection There are also several prophecies in e O.T. which offer proof of a resurrection to come, such as ose found in Isaiah 26:19, Daniel 12:2-3, Hosea 13:14. Oer prophecies, spoken by Isaiah and Daniel, came to pass exactly as foretold. For instance, e prophecy concerning Babylon in Isaiah came to pass upon em as Isaiah had foretold. The prophecy concerning e destruction of Jerusalem (Daniel 9:27) was echoed by Jesus (Matew 24:15) and came to pass in 70 A.D. as history recos. If we can accept e wo of ese prophets in ese fulfilled prophecies, en we should also be able to accept ese prophecies concerning e resurrection of e dead which is yet to happen. Demonstrations Of The Resurrection There are also indisputable examples in e Old and New Testaments which show at God has e power to raise e dead and will do so accoing to His will and might. Elisha raised e dead son of e Shunammite woman (2 Kings 4). 2 Kings 13:21 is anoer example when a dead person simply touched e bones of Elisha and was resurrected. Jesus raised e widow of Nain's son by saying, Young man, I say unto ee, Arise (Luke 7:14) and he sat up and began to speak. Jesus raised Lazarus, a man who had been dead for four days, by His command, Lazarus, come for (John 11:43-44) and he came for walking from e grave. In Acts 9, we find e account where Peter raised Dorcas from e dead (Acts 9:40). These are just some of e demonstrations of ose who were raised from e dead. So, we can see e proof of e resurrection by e evidence of types, prophecies and demonstrations. WILL THE BODY BE RAISED FROM THE DEAD? It is e body at dies or is separated from e spirit which animates it. James 2:26 says, For as e body wiout e spirit is dead, so fai wiout works is dead also. Matew 10:28 shows e distinction which exists between e body and e soul (spirit) as well. Jesus said, And fear not em which kill e body, but are not able to kill e soul: but raer fear him which is able to destroy bo soul and body in hell. Conditional Christianity 23 Annual Mid-West Lectures Page 3 be be sold. For information contact e 39 Street church of Christ, East 39 Street, Independence, MO

4 The Mystery of e Resurrection It is e body which is buried. When John e baptist was beheaded by Herod, we read in Matew 14:12, And his disciples came, and took up e body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus. In e case of e body of Jesus we read in Matew 27:59-60 at, And when Joseph had taken e body, he wrapped it in a clean linen clo, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in e rock: and he rolled a great stone to e door of e sepulchre, and departed. Clearly it is e body which dies (not e spirit or soul) and it is e body which is buried (not e spirit or soul) because it returns unto God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7). Therefore, we must conclude at e body is at which is raised or resurrected. Certainly, in e case of e demonstrations of resurrection found in e Old and New Testaments, it was e body which is described as being raised, sitting up, standing up, walking or speaking again. Therefore, it must be a return of e spirit into e body which brings about e resurrection. There are several Bible statements which we should observe: The body of Christ arose. This is what Peter declared, by implication in Acts 2:27, Because ou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neier wilt ou suffer ine Holy One to see corruption. The wo hell here is from hades which simply means e unseen realm of disembodied spirits. The spirit of Christ was in e paradise compartment of hades, while His body was in e tomb of Joseph. Furer, e latter statement at He would not see corruption must be in reference to e body of Christ, not His spirit. If His body were allowed to remain in e grave, en it would have seen corruption or decay, but it did not, for His spirit was brought back into it. We know is is true, due to e fact at e women who had prepared spices for e body of Jesus sought Him in e tomb on e first day of e week, Luke recos, And ey entered in, and found not e body of e Lo Jesus (Luke 24:3). We also know at it was e same body which had been crucified because after His resurrection He told Thomas, Reach hier y finger, and behold my hands; and reach hier y hand, and rust it into my side: and be not failess, but believing (John 20:27). Of course, is does not mean at we shall have fleshly bodies in eternity, but at our physical bodies shall be transformed or changed into spiritual bodies in e last day. This is furer proof of e resurrection of e body. There are several passages which teach is tru, among em are: Philippians 3:20-21, Romans 8:23, 1 Corinians 15:42-44, and 1 Corinians 15:50,53. Some raise what ey ink are insurmountable difficulties wi e bodily resurrection by pointing out at some bodies have been destroyed in fires and oer tragedies, devoured, or cremated. However, all of ese are simply quicker ways of e body returning to e dust from which it came. God, who created e heavens and ear and all ings erein and who created man from e dust and breaed into his nostrils e brea of life, is certainly able to resurrect all men from e dead, no matter what e condition of e body is on judgment day. THE UNIVERSAL NATURE OF THE RESURRECTION The universal nature of e resurrection, of bo e righteous and unrighteous, is a tru which seems difficult for some men to grasp. It is especially ha for ose of e humanist persuasion, Conditional Christianity 23 Annual Mid-West Lectures Page 4 be be sold. For information contact e 39 Street church of Christ, East 39 Street, Independence, MO

5 The Mystery of e Resurrection because ey like to ink at ey will not be answerable for anying after dea. However, e resurrection of all men is just as broad as all men's appointment wi dea (Hebrews 9:27). Paul wrote in 1 Corinians 15:22, For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. In is context, it is clear at Paul refers to e universal consequence of Adam's sin, which is physical dea. Therefore, in Adam refers to e universal consequence of dea. However, at must mean, at in Christ refers to e universal consequence at all men will be resurrected from e dead, as a consequence of e resurrection of Jesus from e dead. Thus, all men wheer sinners or saints, will be raised from e dead. There are several oer passages which support is: The resurrection of e dead: will be composed of e just and unjust. In Acts 24:15, Paul speaking to Felix said, And have hope towa God, which ey emselves also allow, at ere shall be a resurrection of e dead, bo of e just and unjust. All in e graves shall come for, as Jesus said in John 5:28-29, Marvel not at is: for e hour is coming, in e which all at are in e graves shall hear his voice, And shall come for; ey at have done good, unto e resurrection of life; and ey at have done evil, unto e resurrection of damnation. Dea will be destroyed. 1 Corinians 15:26, The last enemy at shall be destroyed is dea. However, if ere were one dead person in e grave at e coming of Christ, en dea would not be completely destroyed. ONE TRANSACTION WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE RESURRECTION The resurrection of e righteous and e unrighteous will take place in one hour of time (John 5:28). There will not be a gap of one ousand years between e resurrection of e righteous and unrighteous as e false doctrine of pre-millennialism teaches. However, ere will be a separation following e general resurrection. Jesus said in Matew 25:31-33, When e Son of man shall come in his glory, and all e holy angels wi him, en shall he sit upon e rone of his glory: And before him shall be gaered all nations: and he shall separate em one from anoer, as a shephe divide his sheep from e goats: And he shall set e sheep on his right hand, but e goats on e left. In John's vision of e judgment, he wrote in Revelation 20:11-12, And I saw a great white rone, and him at sat on it, from whose face e ear and e heaven fled away; and ere was found no place for em. And I saw e dead, small and great, stand before God; and e books were opened: and anoer book was opened, which is e book of life: and e dead were judged out of ose ings which were written in e books, accoing to eir works. Paul set for, in detail, e oer of events which will take place on e judgment day in 1 Thessalonians 4: He wrote, For if we believe at Jesus died and rose again, even so em also which sleep in Jesus will God bring wi him. For is we say unto you by e wo of e Lo, at we which are alive and remain unto e coming of e Lo shall not prevent em which Conditional Christianity 23 Annual Mid-West Lectures Page 5 be be sold. For information contact e 39 Street church of Christ, East 39 Street, Independence, MO

6 The Mystery of e Resurrection are asleep. For e Lo himself shall descend from heaven wi a shout, wi e voice of e archangel, and wi e trump of God: and e dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up togeer wi em in e clouds, to meet e Lo in e air: and so shall we ever be wi e Lo. HOW WILL WE BE RAISED? Our resurrection from e dead will not be accoing to e power of nature or natural law. This seems to be e point which Job is making in Job 14:7-13 as he used e tree to illustrate e tru at a tree which has been cut down can still produce spouts and grow, given time and water. But, man when he is cut down (dies) cannot live again except rough e miraculous power of God to resurrect him from e dead. This agrees wi what Paul said directly in 1 Corinians 6:14, And God ha bo raised up e Lo, and will also raise up us by his own power. WHEN WILL THE GENERAL RESURRECTION TAKE PLACE? When Christ comes again. 1 Corinians 15:23-26, But every man in his own oer: Christ e firstfruits; afterwa ey at are Christ's at his coming. Then come e end, when he shall have delivered up e kingdom to God, even e Faer; when he shall have put down all rule and all auority and power. For he must reign, till he ha put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy at shall be destroyed is dea. At e last day. Mara understood is tru and declared it to Jesus when He told her at Lazarus would rise again. She said,...i know at he shall rise again in e resurrection at e last day (John 11:24). Furer e apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinians 15:51-52, Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in e twinkling of an eye, at e last trump: for e trumpet shall sound, and e dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. CONCLUSION All men will take part in e general resurrection, wheer ey want to or not. All will be raised to stand before Christ in e day of judgment. Our rewas will await us ere. The righteous will be raised unto eternal life, while e unrighteous will be raised unto eternal damnation. The resurrection morning will be a happy day of reunion and joy for ose who have done good and are in Christ, and a day of sorrow and suffering for ose who have done evil. Let us, erefore, strive to grow ever more faiful and fruitful in our labors for e Master, so at we might receive a better resurrection (Hebrews 11:35). Conditional Christianity 23 Annual Mid-West Lectures Page 6 be be sold. For information contact e 39 Street church of Christ, East 39 Street, Independence, MO

7 The Mystery of e Resurrection Works Cited Bagster, Samuel. The Analytical Greek Lexicon Revised. The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan Thayer, Joseph Henry. Greek-English Lexicon of e New Testament. The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan Vine, W.E. Vine s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Wos. McDonald Publishing Company, McLean, Virginia Young, Robert. Anaylytical Concoance to e Bible. Wm. B. Eemans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan Conditional Christianity 23 Annual Mid-West Lectures Page 7 be be sold. For information contact e 39 Street church of Christ, East 39 Street, Independence, MO