Resurrection

Hosea 6:2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

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Q. The linchpin of the gospel witness to Jesus is the event of the resurrection. What is being claimed in the event? What type of existence does it involve?.... [Anon]

A. Without the resurrection, there would be no salvation which "IS" everlasting life! How could our Savior be victorious over death, hell and the grave without Himself rising again? 1st Corinthians 15:12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 15:13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 15:14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. and then 1st Corinthians 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

How could the Savior ever have promised us eternal life without being eternal life? John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. I wouldn't have any faith in one who said he was the Life and not have control of death and life! This is why I couldn't be of any other belief! I believe you will find Buddha, Mohammed, Krishna and many others still in their graves but glory be to God, Jesus' tomb is empty! Matthew 28:2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 28:3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 28:4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 28:5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 28:6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 28:7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

We also symbolize through Water Baptism, the Death, Burial, & Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and the term "Born Again" represents our new life in Christ Jesus. Born Again meaning we become a new creature because of his Sacrifice and then His Resurrection.

[Timothy]

Q. Jesus died Friday afternoon, was resurrected Sunday morning. How does that make three days?

A. As we look into the time of the resurrection of Christ, let us look at the importance of it. According to Paul in I Corinthians 15:12-20 if Christ had not arose, as a sinner could not be saved, as being saved could not have any faith, as a christian could not have a testimony, as a believer would have no promise of heaven.

Our salvation and all the benefits of salvation is in a risen Christ. John 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life, and Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore. I am saved, and have everlasting life through he who is the resurrection. We preach a Christ who died, but we don't preach a dead Christ.

Now the time factor of His death and resurrection. According to simple math, Jesus could not have died on Friday and be in the grave three days. It had to be on Wednesday. The Jewish days were twelve hour days and nights or from sunrise to sunset. Which was from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Now lets count the days, Thursday-6:00a.m.- 6:00p.m., Friday 6a.m.- 6p.m., Saturday 6a.m.- 6p.m. thats our three days. Now night time, Thursday 6p.m. - Friday 6a.m., Friday 6p.m. - Saturday 6a.m., Saturday 6p.m. - Sunday 6a.m., this is our three nights. This is proved out in Matthew 12:39-40 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: (40) For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

People are governed by time, but God works in time and on time. John 10:18 teaches That if I lay my life down I'll have power to take it up again. This was a promise of the Father. Three things will not be found at the tomb of Jesus, the body of Christ, a bragging devil, and no broken promises. PRAISE THE LORD! HE LIVES!

Brother Jimmy Elliott

Q. My father has just passed away. I had always thought that once a person died, that they went to heaven right away. Then in reading in the bible, I was left with the impression that everyone stays dead until the next coming of Christ at the end when the trumpets blast. Only then do the dead christians rise from the dead. Which is right? [Ginny Johnson]

A. Ginny, don’t let your heart be troubled. When this old flesh dies, the inward man is released and goes to the Lord if we are born again. We have a cleansed, new creature within us that cannot be corrupted by the grave. 2 Corinthians 4:11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 4:12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you. 4:13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; 4:14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

When our Savior was on the cross, He had two men being crucified with him. One of them yelled to our Lord (If you are Christ, Save us from this death and yourself too.) He didn’t realize that Jesus had to die there on the cross as a final payment for our sins. The other man, fearing God knew that the man (Jesus) hanging there on the cross was of God and fearing God asked Jesus to remember him when he came into his Kingdom. What Jesus said cannot be mistaken! He said “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” VERILY means certainty, without a doubt. This man would be with him in paradise. Not next week or next year or on the resurrection but TODAY! Luke 23:39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 23:40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 23:41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 23:43: And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

It's this old corrupt flesh that cannot enter into heaven because it is sin. In the last day's, Jesus himself will call the dead from the grave and the spirits which are with him will be rejoined with their bodies and those bodies will be transformed into incorruptible bodies like the Lords. 1 Corinthians 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 15:43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 15:45: And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 15:46: Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

It is plainly written in the Old Testament in Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. Isn't that one of the sweetest truths you have ever heard? And also in the New Testament 2 Corinthians 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 5:9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

Now, I leave you with a story that was not a parable but something that Jesus told us that happened and see what the spirit tells you about where your father is now if he was saved.

Luke 16:20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 16:21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 16:23: And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 16:26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 16:27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 16:28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 16:29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.16:30: And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

Timothy