RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD
BY BISHOP FRANK OGAGBA, PRESIDING BISHOP OF EVER-INCREASING FAITH CHURCHES
2600 ANDRIAS CLOSE, UNIT 9, MMABATHO 2735 NORTH WEST OF PROVINCE SOUTH AFRICA
TEL: +27 18 3845705; FAX: +27 86 689 9567; CELL: +27 83 480 7992
E-MAIL: bishopfrank@everincreasingfaithchurch.org
WEBSITE: www.everincreasingfaithchurch.org
TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 15:12-44
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? 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
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. 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 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. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
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. 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. 29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? 30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? 31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. 33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. 35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? 36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: 37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: 38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. 39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
Mrs Doris was a 120 years year old woman who had lived a long and fruitful life, she had been a dear and precious woman, a soul winner and teacher of children in the body of Christ. When she passed away, I was asked to conduct the funeral by the family.
In her family, half of her children and most of the grandchildren were also Christians. Half were not. What a difference between the two groups.
To the Christian family members, Mrs Doris’s death was a time of great rejoicing. They knew that she was with the Lord. But to her children who did not know Jesus, it was a time of great fear, sorrow, and uncertainty.
One of the beautiful aspects of being born again is that we have assurance of eternal life with our Lord. Resurrection of the dead is foundational to our walk with the Lord and should be understood by all truth Christians.
We live in a time when people are quite self – oriented, or narcissistic. They say, “eat drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die!” This point of view seems reasonable to the “now” generation, and has permeated the church as well.
God’s point of view is different. In God’s word, the future is constantly held before us as an incentive for righteousness in this present world.
1. Resurrection of the dead
2. Eternal judgment
The resurrection of the dead is the restoration of dead bodies to life never spirit or souls. This will be obvious as we look at the four different bodily resurrection distinguished in the Bible.
Individuals were Temporarily Resurrection
These include the following:
The son of the widow of Zarephath (I kings 17:17-24)
The son of the Shunamite woman (II Kings 4:18-37)
A man who was thrown in Elisha’s grave (II Kings 13:20-21)
Many saints who were after Jesus resurrection (Matthew 27:52-53)
The son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-18)
Lazarus (John 11)
Tabitha (Acts 9:36-43)
Eutychus (Acts 20:9-12)
Apparently other individual have been raised, both in Biblical times (Matthew 10:8) and in this age. However these resurrections have all been temporary, for I Corinthians 15:20 declares, “Jesus called out with the loud voice.” Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” when he had said this, he breathed his last.” According to John 5:28-29, the resurrection of life is still future.
These temporary resurrection are not part of the “resurrection of the dead,” which is foundational for Christians according to Hebrews 6:2 Any resurrection of the dead before Jesus comes is an isolated event, not based on a promise of God’s word.
Christ was Resurrected B
According to Luke 23:43, Christ said to the thief on the cross, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” This refereed to Christ, for verse 46 records “and when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said,” father into my hands I commend my spirit: and having said this he gave up the ghost (expired).” In contrast the, body of Jesus was buried by Joseph of Arimathea, and arose three days later (Luke 23:50; 24:7).
Luke 24:39 shows that the body of the Christ was raised Jesus said,” look at hands and my feet. It is I myself! Those who do not believe in the resurrection of the body do not believe in the resurrection at all; they are unsaved (I Corinthians 15:1-4).
Draw a line from each characteristics of Jesus resurrection body to the scripture reference where it is found:
Flesh and bones Luke 24:39
Ate food John 20:24, 27
Could be touched Luke 24:42-43
Had scars of the crucifixion Luke 24:39
Appeared in a locked room Acts 1:9
Disappeared John 20:19, 26
Ascended Luke 24:31
All Christianity depends on the resurrection of Christ. Look up the consequences of denial of the resurrection in I Corinthians 15:14-18
I Corinthians 15:14 “And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.”
I Corinthians 15:17 “And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!.”
I Corinthians 15:18 “Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.”
Christians who have died will be Resurrection at Christ’s coming
When a believer dies, his soul goes immediately to be with the Lord, but this is not his permanent condition. Our full salvation will include the resurrection of our physical bodies at Christ’s coming.
Paul expected to go immediately to go into the presence of Christ when he died. Philippians 1:21, “for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” He is talking about death when he writes in verse 23,” For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.”
Yet Paul also looked for the resurrection of his body at the future time of Jesus coming for he wrote in Philippians 3:20-21 “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21. Who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.”
Thus we must doctrine of both soul sleep and denial of the resurrection of the body. Both are false doctrine.
The Unsaved Will Be Resurrected
At death, the unsaved immediately go into torment. Jesus told of a rich man who died and “in hell where he was in torment…” (Luke 16:22-23). This refers to his soul, since it took place immediately at death. The place where the unsaved go at death is Hades in Greek translated hell in the KJV.
The bodies of the unsaved dead will be resurrected and reunited with their souls so be sent into everlasting torment. After Christ returns, the bodies of the unsaved will come out of the sea or death (the grave), and their souls will come out of hell (Hades). They will then be judged and cast into the lake of fire. Jesus used a different word (Gehenna) for the lake of fire where soul and body will suffer everlasting torment (Matthew 10:28). Thus there are two places called hell-Hades, where the soul of the unsaved goes at death, and Gehenna, where the body and soul go after the resurrection and judgment
According to Revelation 20:1-15 below, read for yourself and be blessed all your life.
1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 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. 7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. {hell: or, the grave} 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
DOING THE WORD
You must believe in the bodily resurrection of Christ to be a Christians.
What fears do you have, if any, of the resurrection?
