The First Resurrection

...from Pastor Ed

The First Resurrection

For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. …Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. ^…Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. John 5:22-29

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:1-10

Whatever our interpretation of Revelation chapter 20, in John chapter 5:21-29 Jesus clearly speaks of two resurrections – one spiritual, the other, physical (vs. 24 & vss. 28,29). Those who hear the gospel and believe have already passed from death to life. At his return, those in the graves shall hear and rise, either to the resurrection of life or the resurrection of damnation.

The moment Adam sinned, he died, and death passed upon all his descendants. He was first immediately separated from unity with God, estranged from the Father – spiritually dead (Luke 15:22-24). Then followed, as a consequence, physical death. Since Adam, all men are born spiritually dead, and eventually, physical death follows (Rom 5:12; 3:23; Eph 2:1;5). Clearly, God was not just being threatening, or exaggerative, when He pronounced, The wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23). And just as death corrupts spiritually and physically, so there must be both aspects of resurrection if death is to be conquered.

Salvation, therefore, by the very nature of the case, is resurrection. Jesus said, “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); “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Paul declares, “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinth 15 21-22). Therefore, the apostle insists that if Christ is not risen from the dead, then our faith is vain, and we are still in our sins – still dead. (1 Corinth 15:12-19). If Jesus has paid the price of our sin on the cross, then death must be conquered – He must rise from the dead. …Now Christ is risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept... (1 Corinth 15:20).

So, if there is to be a physical resurrection there must first be a spiritual resurrection. A dead person can never resurrect themselves. They cannot will themselves to life (John 1: 13). Only God raises up the dead in Christ (Eph 2:1-10). Have you been raised to life in Christ? As you consider the testimony concerning Christ, as presented in the Bible, cry out to the living God for mercy that he would reveal His Son in you. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinth 4:6). The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

The Apostle Paul clearly proclaims the victory of salvation: Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

Easter is over for this year, but its truth is abiding and eternal. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him (John 3:36). And… If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory (Colos 3:1-4).

Jesus is our resurrection and our eternal life! …We are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

Lord of Life and Glory,

In Your mercies, raise many dead, today.

Amen

Tuesday's Touch #63