DEATH---- IMMORTAL LIFE #1

 Our Blessed Hope: Resurrection

Old-Testament Previews

Isaac - early type of resurrection (Genesis 22:1-18; Hebrews 11:17-19)   -

At God's word, Abraham went, built an altar, bound his son, and took the knife to slay him. As good as dead, Isaac was received back from death figuratively when God stayed Abraham's hand.

Job - early belief in resurrection (Job 19:25-27) "I know that my Redeemer lives ... And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God ... How my heart yearns within me!"

David - shared Job's belief (Psalm 16:9b, 10a)
"My flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Sheol"

Psalmist (49:15): "God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave."

Isaiah (26:19): "Your dead shall live; together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust. .. the earth shall cast out the dead."

Daniel (12:2): "Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt."

Hosea (6:2) and Jonah (1:17b) foreshadow Christ's resurrection.

Ezekiel (37:1-14) paints a vivid scene of Israel — all God's people — restored to life.

References to resurrection are rare before Job and Psalms. By the time of the prophets, we see a developing mosaic of God's plan for life after death.

Pinnacle of Gospels

Matthew. After Jonah's resurrection sign, this Gospel records the angel's words to the two Marys who first visited the tomb where Jesus' body had been laid: "He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay" (12:38-40; 28:6). 

Mark. This second Gospel describes a young man in white telling the alarmed women, "But go, tell His disciples — and Peter — that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him ..." (16:7). Was this a second visit by the women?

Luke. "Why do you seek the living among the dead?" (24:5b). This Gospel explains the women's likely coming more than once to look for Jesus' body. Even to the apostles; their words seemed like idle tales; they did not believe them

John. This fourth Gospel tells us Jesus came again eight days later, stood in their midst, and said, "Peace to you!" And to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands …  put it into My side ... Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (20:26-29).

Powerbase of Acts

Acts. Christ's resurrection is the linchpin of the gospel message in this book of early church history. That Jesus died for our sins is essential; that He rose again is the compelling climax that sent the apostles far and wide with news of the Messiah-Savior (2:22-36; 3:15; 4:2; 10:39-41; 13:26-39; 17:31; 23:6; 24:15).

Romans to Revelation

Romans: In this greatest gospel epistle, resurrection is . . .

a powerful declaration (1:4); 

new life to the dead (4:1 7, 24); 

vital work in salvation (4:25; 5:10); 

a close link with baptism (6:4-11; Colossians 2:12)

seen by the new life in us (8:11)

linked with adoption-redemption of the body (8:23)

an essential, core belief (10:9)

Suffering and dying with Christ means living and reigning with Him (Romans 8:17; 2 Corinthians 4:8-16; Philippians 3:10, 11; 2 Timothy 2:11b, 12a).

Ephesians contains rich passages on the implicit power of Christ's resurrection, the power that now works in all His people (1:15-23; 2:5-7; 4:7-12).

Believers' resurrection is defined and described: Christ shall "transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body ... when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (Philippians 3:21; 1 John 3:2b).

Christ's resurrection and ascension are described in union or tandem: He has been raised from the dead, highly exalted, crowned with glory and honor, and given the name above every name so that your faith and hope are in God (Acts 2:32, 33; 3:13; Philippians 2:9; Hebrews 2:9; 1 Peter 1:3, 21).   

Our blessed hope is that we may appear with Christ in glory as He returns to raise the righteous dead (Colossians 3:4; I.Thessalonians 1:10; 4:13-18; Titus 2:13).

Peter gives his take on Christ's resurrection (1 Peter 3:18-22).

Revelation begins with a vision of the resurrected Christ (1:12-18) and reaches the consummation of this age in two   , human resurrections, 1,000 years apart (20:4-6). 

— Calvin Burrell

The whole argument establishes, with rock-solid theology and considerable rhetorical power, the point that the resurrection of Jesus the Messiah is the starting-point and means whereby the creator, in completing the work of rescuing and renewing the original creation, will raise all the Messiah's people to new bodily life. (N. T. Wright, The Resurrection of the Son of God, p. 337)

Resurrection  Chapter  -  1 Corinthians 15

Gospel truth that saves (vv.1-4)

515 or more eyewitnesses (vv. 5-11)

Without it faith and witness fall (vv. 12-19; also 2 Timothy 2:8)

Jesus firstfruits, and final victor (vv. 20-28; also Colossians 1:18)

Life-logic based on experience (vv. 29-34)

Kind of body to be raised (vv. 35-49; also Philippians 3:21)

When the last trumpet sounds, death dies! (vv. 50-58)

……….

From  the  "Bible Advocate" - March-April 2015 - a publication of the Church of God, Seventh Day, Denver, CO. USA