Tuesday, February 6, 2018

Made Alive When Christ Returns.

Jesus Christ rose from the dead- yes or no? What do you believe? If you're reading this study then hopefully you're seeking truth, Biblical truth. If you haven't accept Christ as your Savior, prayerfully you will.  Christians by their very name are followers of Christ. Followers of Christ are those who believe Christ is God's only begotten Son, declared to be so. Christ followers believe that God's only begotten Son sacrificed Himself for all of humanity and each person can choose to accept what Christ has done, believing in His forgiveness, and in His ability to save us, to give us salvation so that one day we will find our home in heaven with Him.

We believe that Jesus' death resulted in His being resurrected, raised from the dead by His Father, our Heavenly Father.

1Co 15:12  Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 
1Co 15:13  But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 
1Co 15:14  And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 

1Co 15:15  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. 

1Co 15:16  For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 
1Co 15:17  And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 

1Co 15:18  Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 

Please note here- 'Then they also which ARE FALLEN ASLEEP in Christ are perished.'

What does this mean, 'fallen asleep in Christ'?  Seriously, what does this mean? Elsewhere in the Bible Jesus talks about Lazarus being asleep and clarifying it as his being dead. (John 11:11-14).  So let's read this again with this knowledge- 'Then they also which are DEAD in Christ are perished.' What VERY important message is this telling us? That those who died have NOT ALREADY been raised and taken to heaven.   The raising of the dead in Christ is a FUTURE hope, not a hope already realized.  In fact, if the dead from the very first to die (Abel) until now ALL are immediately whisked in spirit form from their bodies with all their memories and personality and taken to heaven then why do they need a Savior? People wouldn't need a Savior if it is automatic that when we breathe our last breath and our heart beats its last, we slip out of our bodies and up to heaven.

1Co 15:19  If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 
1Co 15:20  But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 
1Co 15:21  For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 
1Co 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

In Christ SHALL all be made alive.

1Co 15:23  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 

EVERY MAN IN HIS OWN ORDER.
Christ the firstfruits.

AFTERWARDS-

…they that are Christ's AT HIS COMING.

If this is to be true what we've just read then those who are Christ's will be made alive AT HIS COMING.

1Co 15:24  Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 
1Co 15:25  For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 
1Co 15:26  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 
1Co 15:27  For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 
1Co 15:28  And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. 
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