First Principles – Resurrection from the Dead

3^rd April 2011

1. Introduction

Heb. 6:1-3 “Let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundations …”

· The first four of the foundational principles deal with this present world – realm of time; physical realm. The last two of the foundational principles take us into the realm of eternity, realm of God.

2. People Raised from the Dead

· Old Testament:

2 Kings 13:21 A dead man arose from the dead when his body touched Elisha’s bones.

· New Testament:

Lk. 7:14 Jesus raises a boy from the dead.

Mk. 5:35-42 Jesus raises a girl from the dead.

Jn. 11:39-44 Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead – healed restored and raised.

Acts 9:40 Peter raises Dorcas from the dead.

Acts 20:9-12 Paul raises a young man from the dead.

· Mt. 10:7-8 “As you go, preach, saying the Kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons, freely you have received, freely give.”

Raising the dead is part of the commission that Jesus gave his followers. This demonstrates the power of God and the reality of life after death. All these people died – None of this is the resurrection referred to in Heb. 6.

3. The Resurrection of Jesus

(a) What happened?

· Mt. 27:62 – Mt. 28:7 “I know you seek Jesus who was crucified, He is not here; for He is Risen!”

· The Romans sealed his tomb and posted a guard to ensure no-one stole his body.

· When the women entered the tomb they found empty grave clothes – He had vanished.

(b) Jesus was the first to experience resurrection

Act 26:23 “that Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead..”
1 Cor. 15:20 “But now Christ is risen from the dead and become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
1 Cor. 15:3-8 Jesus seen by Peter, the twelve, over 500, James, all apostles, Paul. They were all eye witnesses to seeing Jesus after His resurrection.

Mk. 16:12 After that He appeared in another form to two of them.
Lk. 24:31 He vanished out of their sight.

He stood in their midst – touch my hands and feet!

His body incorruptible, immortal, transformed by the power of God.
He was able to change form, trans-locate, enter in and out of heaven.

(d) Others Rose from the Dead with Jesus

Mt. 27:50 -53 “…the graves were opened, and many of the bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised and coming out of the graves after His resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.”
This is why Joseph wanted his bones buried near Jerusalem.
This is why Abraham purchased a cave near Jerusalem – Abraham, Sarah, Isaac buried there.

4. Belief in the Resurrection is Foundational to Christian faith

Rom. 1:3-4 God declared Jesus Christ to be the Son of God by resurrection.
1 Cor. 15:13-16 Resurrection proves our sins are forgiven at the Cross. Without resurrection our faith is empty and without hope.
Rom. 10:9-10 Belief in the resurrection is foundational to being saved.

5. All then will experience Resurrection

(a) What happens when you die?

Heb. 9:27 “It is appointed unto man once to die and after this the judgement.”
Death = separation of spirit/soul from body – your body returns to the earth and decomposes.
Your spirit and soul go into eternity to face Creator God to be judged.
Angels of God gather godly who trust Christ to heaven.

Angel of Death gathers ungodly to place of torment (Lk 16:19-31).

(b) All will rise from the dead to face Eternal Judgement

Jn. 5:28-29 “..all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth …”
Rev. 20:12-15 “..and anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”
God is able to re-assemble every part of our body again by His great power.
All will be raised from the dead and enter eternity of judgement/ suffering or of joy.
Mk. 12:24-27 “God is not the God of the Dead but of the Living.”

6. The First Resurrection

Rev. 20:1-6 “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the First Resurrection”
There are two resurrections – and there are different realms of existence in the Kingdom.
The first Resurrection - Precedes the 1000 year rule of Christ on the earth

- Precedes the general resurrection of all dead

- Brings people into a realm of authority and rulership (thrones).

- Is for those who overcome in this life. (Rev. 3:21)

Mt. 25:1-13 10x virgins.

Heb. 11:35 - stronger, more powerful resurrection.
Phil 3:15 – Paul saw this as something to attain to – a great hope.

Resurrection = exanastasis = the ‘out from’ resurrection = to stand out from the dead.

Phil. 3:20-21 – transform our lowly body that is might be conformed to His glorious body according to the working by which He is able to subdue all things to Himself.

7. Resurrection Life Now

Rom. 8:11 “If the Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwell in you, He that rised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwells in you”

- Jesus now dwells in heaven.

- We who have received Jesus are joined spirit to spirit with Him (1 Cor. 6:17).

- The Holy Spirit within you can quicken and energise spirit, soul and body.

- Quicken = to make you alive with the life of another!

This life of the Spirit begins when you receive Christ as Saviour.
This life of the Spirit is empowered when you are baptised in Holy Ghost.
This life of the Spirit can be developed and expressed through you.

- Prayer – Mediation – Word of God – Serving – Obedience.

This life of the Spirit that dwells within will resurrect our mortal body.