Elementary Principles of Christ | The Resurrection of the Dead

In this post, I want to continue talking about what the Bible calls the - Elementary Principles of Christ. This post is a continuation of an earlier post, so I urge you to read the earlier posts before you read this one. (Read | Repentance from dead Works) (Read | Water Baptism) (Read | Baptism of the Holy Spirit) (Read | Laying on of Hands)

I believe it is important for every Christian to get a hold of these elementary truths of Christ (Hebrews 6:1-2): 

• Repentance from dead works and of faith towards God 
• Doctrines of Baptisms 
• Laying on of Hands 
• The Resurrection of the Dead 
• Eternal Judgement 

In this post we will talk about the Resurrection of the Dead. I believe, the Resurrection of the Dead is a turning point in the history of Man. In this post we will cover some of the main messages of the Resurrection of the Dead.

Jesus, the Son of the God

To begin with, the Resurrection of the Dead confirms that Jesus is the Son of the God and all that He said about Himself was absolutely true. Lets us look at some scriptures where Jesus prophesied that he would rise again to make this point clearer. 

From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.

 (Matthew 16:21-23) (Mark 8:31-33) (Luke 9:21-22) 

Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful. (Matthew 17:22-23) (Mark 9:30-32) (Luke 9:43-45)

Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.” (Matthew 20:17-19) (Mark 10:32-34) (Luke 18:31-34)

It is interesting to note that the Chief priest and Pharisees remembered the words of Jesus after his crucifixion.

On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ So the last deception will be worse than the first.”

(Matthew 27:62-66)

Exactly what Jesus said happened and He was raised up on the third day. He confirmed through his resurrection that everything he said about himself was absolutely true.

Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” (John 8:57-58) 

The Wrath of God, Satisfied

Who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification. (Romans 8:25)

The Word of God tells us that Jesus was raised because of our justification. In simple words, when Jesus died he paid the price for all our sins and when he rose again, it meant he paid more than enough. All the wrath that was to come upon Man was absorbed by Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary and when he rose again, God's wrath was completely satisfied. If God's wrath was not satisfied then Jesus Christ would still be suffering for our sins. 

That is why God blesses those who believe in Jesus Christ by saying: 

“For this is like the waters of Noah to Me;

For as I have sworn

That the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth,

So have I sworn

That I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you.

For the mountains shall departAnd the hills be removed,

But My kindness shall not depart from you,

Nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,

”Says the Lord, who has mercy on you. (Isaiah 54:9-10)

God swears as he swore to Noah that He will not be angry with you again nor rebuke you. He says: His kindness shall not depart from you and His covenant of peace will never be removed. These statements are amazing and it important we realize that this is possible only because Jesus paid it all on the Cross of Calvary.

Note that it does not say, I will not be angry with you nor rebuke you if you live holy and do everything right. It is important you realize that God no longer relates to you based on your performance but he relates to you based on your faith in Jesus. (Romans 10:9) So am I saying, you should not live Holy? God forbid. I have written some articles about how you should live holy as a response to what God has done for you and to keep Satan's destructive plans out of your life. I urge you to read those articles for greater Revelation. (Read | Right Standing with God)

The Resurrection of the Dead - A blessed Hope

The Resurrection of the Dead is a blessed Hope that all believers should share. This is our hope that we will all receive glorified bodies and live eternally in the presence of God.

Paul said: For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18)

Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. (Romans 8:23-25)

Absolutely nothing that you are going through in life can be compared with the glory of living in eternity. Like Paul, this is a hope that every believer should share and eagerly wait for with perseverance. 

When we get a Revelation about Life in Eternity we too, like Paul will be able to look at our sufferings and persecutions in this world and say: For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17)

When you really think about it, your Life on Earth is just a moment compared to Life with God in Eternity. 

So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, 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. (1 Corinthians 15:39-44)

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written:“Death is swallowed up in victory.”“O Death, where is your sting?O Hades, where is your victory?”(1 Corinthians 15:53-55)

I leave you with this concluding verse:
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)