Our Hope Is Always Christ.

1Pe 3:21  The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ

In baptism we figuratively die. In baptism we are figuratively resurrected with Christ.

Christ Jesus was brought back from death. Christ did not leave His body in spirit form upon death. Why not? Seriously, why not? No one disputes this. Yet they believe they leave their bodies upon death taking on a spirit form that goes into the light most times. More and more people are saying they've gone to heaven during their near death experiences. They lived to tell about it and want others to know heaven is real and they'll go there after they die. They were sent back to tell others. And yet, upon death, Jesus did not go to heaven, why didn't he? Why are we told this…

1Co_15:52  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.

The dead shall be raised.

If the dead are already raised, what is being raised? If you live on already in an incorruptible form what is being raised? At that last trump when Christ returns the dead shall be raised, what dead? Who hasn’t been raised already among the dead? 

Christ was not raised upon death, Christ remained in the tomb. And then when Christ was resurrected, He was resurrected in His body, He wasn't taken out of His body - not ever.

Why are we supposed to believe that we warrant instant eternal life? Why should David, Abraham, Noah and many other still be in their graves yet us modern man are allowed to go right to heaven?

The dead shall be raised.

The dead shall be resurrected.

Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead didn't He? Martha said she believed in the resurrection -

Joh 11:23  Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 

Joh 11:24  Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 

Joh 11:25  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 

Joh 11:26  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 

Joh 11:27  She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. 

Jesus is the resurrection.  Did Jesus raise Lazarus to eternal life in heaven? Martha's comprehension was for the eternal raising from the dead to life in the last day. Martha wasn't thinking about a resurrection for Lazarus to continue his life right there on earth, living to only have to die once more. Jesus is the resurrection, and the life. Jesus gave Lazarus life again right then. And yet Jesus also said this- whosoever lives and believes in Him will never die. Yet, people continued to die. So….

The never dying is this death…

Rev_2:11  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Second death.

Rev_20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Second death.

Rev_20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Second death.

Rev_21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Second death.

Did you know there was such a thing as a second death?

Jesus could bring Lazarus back from the dead into the current life, waking him from death's sleep. Jesus did NOT pull Lazarus back from heaven, He woke him up. Eventually Lazarus went back into death's sleep.

Truly those who believe in Jesus Christ and are His, known by Him, will never die the eternal death, never will they take part in the second death. Most will die the first death, few will never even die the first death. A lot will die the second death, the eternal death from which there is no return because there is nothing to return that is how final that death is. Only one survived the complete and utter separation of the second death and was raised from that death and that was our Savior. He wasn't put into a sleep from which He'd wake from at the last day, He was cut off from His Father completely and it was by His Father He was given life and raised in body from that death.

Because He lives, because He tasted that death we are promised life. He can say some will never taste death because they will never taste the second death, not ever.

Jesus' resurrection is life for us, we have this hope that even should we face death's temporary sleep we will never die the second death. Jesus will wake those who die the first death from temporary sleep when He returns.

All who die in Christ will be resurrected in the last day.  The promise that those who died before Christ took on flesh will be realized in the last day as well. Abraham will be raised from the dead at the same time as any of us who have died before Christ returns.  What a glorious resurrection day!  All who belong to Christ will have Christ as their hope, Christ as their everything. Those who looked for the hope of Christ to come and then come again, and those who look for the hope of Christ to come again. Our hope is CHRIST. 

The Rock -

1Co 10:2  And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 

1Co 10:3  And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 

1Co 10:4  And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 

The Rock was Christ- Moses day, Christ was there!

Our hope is Christ! We are resurrected with Christ! He died the ultimate death for us.