"Behold, I lay in Zion
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.
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Lesson 22: Building the Temple of God Part 5:
The Resurrection of the dead:
Review
We have considered the following foundations of the Christian faith...
1. Having been born again, as disciples we are called to...
a. repent from works that do not have the life of God in them;
b. turn the spiritual force of faith towards God and His promises;
c. understand the one baptism of the church which is into Jesus Christ and is in three steps; in water, in the Spirit and in fire;
d. know that the gifts of the Spirit, which are for service, are recognised and transmitted through the laying on of hands.
2. These four foundations deal with the way God prepares us to serve with Jesus in the world right now.
In this lesson we shall study...
1. The reality of the present spiritual resurrection;
2. The celebration of that resurrection in the believer;
3. The future physical resurrection of the believer's new body;
4. The motivation for new behaviour in the Christian's life;
5. God's plan for believers.
Our objective is...
to understand the spiritual significance of the first resurrection and to realise its significance for the soul and body during the present age.
Introduction.
Hebrews 6:1-3 "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. And this we will do if God permits."
A. Spiritual resurrection
2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."
Radical new life has come to the one who is "in Christ."
Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
That new life is lived by faith.
Colossians 2:11, 12 "In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead."
Faith considers that the "sin life" was dealt with by Christ on the cross, and that the believer has been raised to new life in Him.
Ephesians 2:1, 5-6 "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, ...even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,"
Faith considers that the believer is raised up to a new life of authority in Christ.
B. The celebration of resurrection in the believer
Romans 6:4 "Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."
Water baptism is a spiritual picture of the death, burial and resurrection of the sinner to new life in Christ.
Romans 6:11 "Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Faith demands a heart and mental recognition of the fact that the believer is dead to sin and alive in Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:15 "and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again."
Colossians 3:1-4 "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory."
C. The future resurrection of the body
John 11:23-24 "Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."
Martha believed the Old Testament doctrine about the resurrection of the body on the "last day".
1 Corinthians 15:20-23, 51-51 "But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming.... 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 incorruptible, and we shall be changed."
Paul explains the reason why we can expect to be raised up on the last day.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 "For the Lord Himself will descend trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord."
Paul declares that the last day of this age will be marked by the coming of Jesus and the resurrection of the dead in Christ.
D. The work of the resurrected Christian
1 Corinthians 15:32-34 "If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!" Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits." Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame."
Our present task is to develop our knowledge of the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:58 "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."
It is also to seek the specific work that He has designed for us to do.
E. God's present plan for believers
Daniel 12:2-3 "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever."
Our tasks include the turning of people from evil to righteousness.
Ephesians 3:8-10 "Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,"
Our task also included presenting the wisdom of God to principalities and powers.
F. God's future plan for believers
Romans 6:5 "For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,"
We are to be resurrected in glory as Christ was.
1 Corinthians 15:38 "But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body."
The particular characteristics of our resurrection body are in us now in seed form.
1 Corinthians 15:42-44 "So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonour, 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. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body."
Colossians 3:4 "When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory."
John 17:24 "Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world."
Revelation 20:6 "Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years."
Malcolm Vine, Cornerstone Ministries. September 2004.
To contact the Bible School email: bibleschool@cornerstoneministries.org.uk
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