The Resurrection of the Dead Part III

 “And everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:28 ESV

Greetings Everyone!

This month, we will finish looking at the fifth essential teaching that was written in the book of Hebrews 6:1-2(NKJV),

“Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.”

In the past two months, we learned about the beliefs of resurrection from the Jewish parties in the New Testament. Now, we will hear from Jesus. The four gospels discuss the events surrounding Christ’s resurrection. However, what does the Lord say? According to John 11, Christ spoke to Martha and Mary because their brother Lazarus died. In verses 21-22 (ESV), Martha said to Christ, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.  But even now, I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Christ said to her, “He will rise again.” In verses 25-26, Christ wasn’t just speaking to the two sisters. He was also speaking to us, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” Christ wanted to ensure they truly understood what he was about to do. This was just the beginning of his explanation of the resurrection of the dead and that He is the Son of God.

 1 Corinthians 15:3-6 (ESV) Paul explains it best, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.”

Christ’s resurrection assured that both the Father and Son participated in the resurrection, our regeneration of being born anew to a living hope (1 Peter 1:3), Christ’s death and being raised from the dead, was God’s declaration of approval of Christ’s work of redemption for our justification (Rom. 4:25), and we will receive a new resurrection body (1 Cor. 15: 35-38). The writer for Hebrews wanted the readers to understand that Christ’s death and resurrection are not debatable. This is part of eschatology, death, judgment, and the soul's and humankind's final destiny.

Christ also talks about the resurrection of the dead, saved and unsaved, John 5: 26-29 (ESV), “For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.  And he has given him authority to execute judgment because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.” This specific resurrection is in two parts: the first and the second, which will be discussed next month for our final topic, Eternal Judgment.

I pray that this teaching has been a blessing to you.