Resurrection from the Dead
There is hardly an individual who does not ponder at some time or another what happens to us when we die. Job wondered about this too as he recognized that our days on this earth are few and full of trouble. [Job 14:1]. He compared our life in this world to a flower, which grows and blossoms and then is cut down and continues no more. “But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.” [Job 14:10, 14].
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Job, who endured many trials, recognized that our time in this life is finite, as James said, “For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” [James 4:14]. However, if all there was to life was pain and suffering, what would be the purpose in it? Job found the answer to both of these questions in Jesus Christ. “Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever! For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. [Job 19:23-27].
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It is only in the promise of resurrection and the hope of eternal life that we can find purpose and fulfillment, without which there could be no joy. Through the testimony of Jesus Christ we know that death is not the end, but merely the beginning. For as He was lifted up by men upon the cross, so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before Christ to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil. Jesus 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; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” [John 5:28-29].
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The Scriptures testify that God is a God of judgment, “for the Lord loveth judgment.” [Psalm 37:28]. It is because of this truth that the principle of the resurrection of the dead does not just apply in the life after death, but it is especially important during our time in this present world. For “the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” [Romans 8:10]. Hence we are raised up unto eternal life by the Spirit of Christ that dwells within us, but how will the Spirit dwell within if we are unclean. “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” [Romans 8:12-13].
Scriptures to Consider
Job 14:1-2, 10, 14 (KJV)
14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. 14:2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. 14:10 But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? 14:14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.
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Job 19:23-27 (KJV)
19:23 Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! 19:24 That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever! 19:25 For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 19:26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 19:27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
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Psalms 49:15 (KJV)
49:15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for He shall receive me. Selah.
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Acts 26:23 (KJV)
26:23 That Christ should suffer, and that He should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
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John 5:24-29 (KJV)
5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 5:26 For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself; 5:27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man.
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5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
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John 6:38-44 (KJV)
6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me. 6:39 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. 6:40 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.
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6:41 The Jews then murmured at Him, because He said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. 6:42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that He saith, I came down from heaven? 6:43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
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John 11:25-26 (KJV)
11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
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Daniel 12:2 (KJV)
12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
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Romans 8:6-13 (KJV)
8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.
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8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
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