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| Vol. 15 No. 5 May 2013 | Page 3 |
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| Vol. 15 No. 5 May 2013 | Page 3 |
Rodney Nulph, Associate Editor
When some in Corinth doubted their own bodily resurrection, Paul logically and scripturally affirmed, “Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen” (1 Corinthians 15:12-13). The resurrection of the body is certainly a magnificent and awesome display of the Almighty’s power! The word “resurrection” means “a raising up…a rising from the dead.” There is a lot of speculation and misinformation concerning the resurrection. What saith the Lord?
Firstly, the resurrection is a certain event. The Lord said, “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth…” (John 5:28-29b). Paul declared to Felix, “…there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust” (Acts 24:15b; cf. Daniel 12:2; 2 Corinthians 4:14).
Secondly, the resurrection is a collective event. Jesus declared, “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves…” (John 5:28a, emp. added). There will not be two or more resurrections as Premillennialism falsely teaches, but there will be one resurrection at the last day!
Thirdly, the resurrection is a contrasting event. There will be a contrast in the people; “…they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation” (John 5:29b). The contrast will be clearly between “just and unjust” (Acts 24:15). There will also be a contrast in the places; “resurrection of life…resurrection of damnation” (John 5:29), “everlasting punishment…life eternal” (Matthew 25:46). How we live today will make a difference at the resurrection!
Fourthly, the resurrection is a concluding event. Jesus declared, “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:39-40). Martha understood that the resurrection would be at the “last day” (cf. John 11:23-24). There will be no thousand-year reign, no battle of Armageddon, no do-overs; the resurrection will be a concluding event!
Lastly, the resurrection is a changing event. A careful exegesis of 1 Corinthians 15 proves that our bodies will be different than that which we currently have. In fact, Paul declared it like this; Jesus “shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself” (Philippians 3:21). Somehow it will be a glorious body, a changed body, a body suited for eternity! “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).
In a world filled with false teaching regarding the bodily resurrection, God’s Word comforts and helps us to separate fact from fallacy! In light of the truth of the bodily resurrection, we implore each reader to self-evaluate. When the end comes, to what destiny will you be assigned?
What Is the Kingdom of God Worth?
Thomas Baxley
There are two parables in Matthew 13 that discuss the worth of the kingdom of heaven. In verse 44, a man sold all that he had to buy a treasure hidden in a field, and in verses 45-46, a merchant sold all that he had to buy a pearl of great value. Obviously, the kingdom of heaven is worth far much more than anything we can find here on earth, but are we ready to believe it and live like it? Most of us are ready to confess with our mouths that we believe in Jesus and with our mouths acknowledge His Lordship, but with our mouths only. Our lives send different messages, often times speaking louder than our words. We skip Bible class and show up late to service (if we do decide to go). We fill our lives with all kinds of filth and starve ourselves of the bread of life. We act in such a way that says that the kingdom of heaven is just not that important to us. Jesus said that this will not work. The parables teach that we must be willing to give up everything for the kingdom. If we are not willing to give up everything else, we will not receive the kingdom of God.