What does the word resurrection mean to you personally? What image does it provoke when you hear the word resurrection? Most Christians will answer the thought of Jesus comes to mind and His resurrection. I'm not surprised, it is the most important resurrection ever. Without belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, there is no hope for mankind at all whatsoever. All you can be assured of is a life filled with a mixture of misery and joy, and not always in equal measure, and an ending of nothing whatsoever.
Jesus was resurrected from the dead, brought to life after being crucified. A resurrection from the dead. With Jesus' resurrection came the hope for the resurrection of mankind. Jesus rising from the dead was miraculous, why? Because people were not resurrected! Being resurrected from the dead was NOT something that was automatic upon death.
IF being resurrected from the dead was commonly believed then Jesus being resurrected would have been no surprise. That's logic, so take a moment to let it sink in. The resurrection was so incredible because it was not something that happens to dead people.
I know you're sitting there thinking that Jesus would have just had his spirit separate from his body like everyone else upon death, if he weren't resurrected. So let's discuss that for a moment.
WHY did Jesus need a body if His spirit was going to separate from His body upon death and just live on? He was still going to be alive with all His faculties so why did He need a body? Wouldn't have appearing to people without His body, but in a recognizable form that was His have been enough?
For that matter, why was Enoch taken bodily to heaven without seeing death? Didn't he need to die to let his spirit body escape to do all the spirit things a body can't do?
There is so much that is illogical when you come right down to it when you believe we live on right after we die. Being resurrected holds no allure when you are already living.
God created us with all the amazing things that make us who we are. You say you need a body to taste things, what if you didn't? You truly don't know what a spirit body is capable of. We do know angels who are spirits could take the form of a man and eat food. God is spirit, and as such He is capable of things so much greater than any we can dream of. If tasting things is only possible with a body, if pleasure is only with a body, then why do so many believe dead loved ones can experience happiness, that's a form of pleasure? Do you see what's happening? Truly, see? We get any ability for pleasure from God, and we cherish that ability now, and no one ever thinks they lose that ability when they supposedly die and go to heaven in spirit, they treat that as a joyous release from all pain.
When the dead are resurrected, and we are told they are, what a glorious day for those dead who have died with Christ as their Savior and salvation their hope. We are RESURRECTED, not separated from our bodies with an intelligent spirit us just living on in heaven with access to everything on earth below. That is ridiculous on so many levels. Jesus is PREPARING a place for us, all of us. David, Abraham, Jacob none of those who belonged to God are in heaven right now! None of them! How do I know this? The BIBLE tells me so! READ IT! ALL OF IT!
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Heb 11:2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
Heb 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Heb 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
Heb 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Heb 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Heb 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Heb 11:11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
Heb 11:12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
Heb 11:13 THESE ALL DIED IN FAITH, NOT HAVING RECEIVED THE PROMISES, BUT HAVING SEEN THEM AFAR OFF, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Heb 11:14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
Heb 11:15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
Heb 11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
Heb 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
Heb 11:18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
Heb 11:19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
Heb 11:20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
Heb 11:21 By faith Jacob, when he was a DYING, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
Heb 11:22 By faith Joseph, when he DIED, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
Heb 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
Heb 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
Heb 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Heb 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Heb 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
Heb 11:28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
Heb 11:29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
Heb 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
Heb 11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
Heb 11:32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
Heb 11:33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
Heb 11:34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Heb 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
Heb 11:36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
Heb 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
Heb 11:38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
Heb 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, RECEIVED NOT THE PROMISE:
Heb 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, THAT THEY WITHOUT US SHOULD NOT BE MADE PERFECT.
Act 2:29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
Act 2:30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
Act 2:31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
Act 2:32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Act 2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
Act 2:34 FOR DAVID IS NOT ASCENDED INTO THE HEAVEN but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand
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.
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.
1Co 15:23 But EVERY MAN IN HIS OWN ORDER: Christ the firstfruits; AFTERWARDS THEY THAT ARE CHRIST'S 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.
Joh 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which ALL that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Joh 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
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.
FIRST resurrection- there are not a multitude of resurrections… First, second…. No more, no less.
More tomorrow by the grace of our LORD JESUS CHRIST!
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