Christian Living

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More On Resurrection:
What It Means To Christians


Resurrection is a rising to life from death through the power and energizing of God. When God created the universe He released energy throughout all of natural creation. This energy could not be dissipated only changed in form. When God resurrected Jesus from the dead He released a new form of energy, separate from the energy released in natural creation. This new energy was a power greater than the power of death. That is why Paul said: “…that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:10-12).



Resurrection from the dead has great meaning to Christians. It is available as an experience to all who believe. You do not have to die to attain this resurrection. As a matter of fact dying does not produce what God ultimately wants for us. As an example see Hebrews 11:39-40 which says: “And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect”. “All these” refers to the great men of God who have gone on before us and died in the faith (see Hebrews 11:5-38). They did not die and go to heaven as a fulfillment but were waiting there for their place on the earth as resurrected beings. Matthew 10 says: [the Father’s] Kingdom come, His will be done, On earth as it is in heaven” The Kingdom comes on this earth just as is in the Spirit realm of “heaven”.



Paul describes the process of resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15. He begins: “But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep…” (1 Co 15:20). Those who died in the Lord prior to Christ entered into Sheol, which is not Hades (hell), but is a place of rest until the resurrection. Christ died and went to Sheol (Ephesians 4:8-10) where he released the sleeping souls of those who were His into resurrection life in the spirit realm.



“But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, then comes the end, when He delivers up the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death” (1 Co 15:23-27). Christ will reign until He has put all enemies under His feet. Who are the enemies of Christ? Ephesians mentions: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). The last enemy to be abolished is death as the power of resurrection is greater than the power of death. This promise is for all Saints who will be resurrected with Christ into everlasting life.



“And when all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, that God may be all in all… But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?”… You fool! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies; and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of something else. But God gives it a body just as He wished, and to each of the seeds a body of its own… So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised can imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body” However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. And just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly” (1 Co 15:28. 35, 36-38, 42-44, 46-49),




The resurrection body is an entirely new body. It is sown in dishonor in the human frame, perishable but it is changed into a spiritual body raised in the glory of God. Then Christ turns everything back to the father so all can be one with him (see John 17). We put on the new body like a suit of clothes. “So also it is written, “The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL.” The last Adam [Christ] became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven [the spirit realm]. As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. And just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly” (1 Co 15:45–49).



“Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory [Isaiah 25:8] “O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” [Hosea 13:14] (1 Co 15:51-56).



This scripture emphasizes that we don’t have to die or sleep to receive this resurrection body i.e. “we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed”. Many will remain alive and be changed here on earth. Others will come with Christ from the spirit realm upon His second advent. Both will put on immorality with no prejudice between the two groups. Christians alive today should believe to receive this resurrection immortality on earth without dying.



Paul concludes: “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (! Co 15:56-58). The reward is great! Let us all of like mind press in to resurrection life now.

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