Resurrection - A Believer’s Joy!
- bethelmin
- 7 hours ago
- 9 min read
Resurrection - A Believer’s Joy!
“Jesus said to (Martha), ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live’” (John 11:25).
Jesus’ resurrection is an undeniable fact and the basis of Christianity! I heard a minister of the gospel asking the question, "What is the most authentic religion to follow?” to ChatGPT by giving it the following criteria:
· It should be intellectually authentic!
· It should be morally sound!
· It should be comforting to the human soul!
The minister also instructed ChatGPT to ignore Resurrection as a fact. The reply came from ChatGPT:
1) Buddhism
2) Christianity
3) Judaism
Then the minister changed the criteria to ChatGPT, “What is the most authentic religion to follow that is intellectually authentic, morally sound, and comforting to the soul with resurrection of Jesus as a FACT and not fiction?” The reply came immediately:
1) Christianity
2) Buddhism
3) Judaism
4) Secular Humanism
The reply from ChatGPT was that there is no other religion that gives hope of a New Life through Christ, who had risen from the dead! There is nothing as authentic as Christianity with the resurrection of Jesus as an irrefutable fact.
The Authenticity of Christianity!
The authenticity of Christianity lies in two fundamental truths:
1) That Jesus was born of a virgin!
2) That Jesus rose from the dead!
Why is it important that Jesus was born of a virgin? Paul wrote to the Romans: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Except Jesus, who was born without sin, no one else has the right to save us from carrying the sin of Adam and Eve at birth.
Why is Jesus’ resurrection very important? Everyone will die without eternal life except those who have yielded their lives to Christ: “For the wages of sin is death, but the (free) gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Again, Jesus, and Jesus alone qualifies to give us eternal life because He overcame death by His resurrection!
The New Testament Uses Two Terms for Death!
The term “sleep” is used for believers and children under the age of accountability. Notice what Jesus said about the 12-year-old girl, daughter of Jairus, who died: “Then (Jesus) came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue and saw a tumult (an uproar) and those who wept and wailed loudly. When He came in, He said to them, ‘Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping’” (Mark 5:38-39). Later, Jesus raised her from the dead by saying, “Little girl, I say to you, arise” (Mark 5:41).
Here is the conversation between Jesus and His disciples about Lazarus, who had been dead for four days: “’ Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.’ Then His disciples said, ‘Lord, if he sleeps, he will get well.’ However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus said to them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless, let us go to him’” (John 11:11-15).
Apostle Paul uses the term “sleep” for believers who died as believers: “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep (died), lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus” (I Thessalonians 4:13-14).
The term “dead” is used for the unbelievers who rejected God. Apostle John writes about the final judgment of the dead: “And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books” (Revelation 20:12). “Dead” is referred to those who did not believe in Christ as we are minded by Apostle Paul again: “For the wages of sin is death, but the (free) gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
In a nutshell, a believer who has received Jesus has eternal life, and the term “death” does not apply to them. They sleep in the Lord only to be awakened at the First Resurrection when the Lord Himself descends! On the other hand, a non-believer is “dead” and only to be raised in the Second Resurrection before the final judgment.
Two Resurrections Mentioned in Scriptures!
Here are four Scriptural references of the Two Resurrections mentioned in the Bible:
“At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt (abhorrence)” (Daniel 12:1-2).
“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with Him a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4-6).
Jesus mentioned the resurrection of the just: “Then He also said to him who invited Him, ‘When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just” (Luke 14:12-14).
The two resurrections Jesus mentioned: “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 5:28-29).
Please understand that the three passages I have referred to – Daniel 12:1-2; Luke 14:12-14; John 5:28-29; and Revelation 20:4-6 – are all consistent with two resurrections, the resurrection of the just and the condemned! The Bible is consistent with the Holy Spirit guiding three powerful individuals, Daniel, Jesus, and John, to share the consistent truth!
A Believer’s Resurrection!
A Believer’s Resurrection is in Several Stages:
1) Christ is First: “But now Christ is risen from the dead and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep (died)” (I Corinthians 15:20).
2) Believers Both Who Died in Christ and Living for Christ: “For this, we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep (dead). For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord” (I Thessalonians 4:15-17).
3) Martyrs at the End of Tribulation: “And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4).
Living Believers at Jesus’ Coming!
While the dead in Christ rise first, the living believers will be instantly changed into a glorified body: “Behold, I tell you a mystery (hidden truth): We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (I Corinthians 15:51-53).
The living believers’ bodies will be transformed to conform Jesus’ glorious body in His resurrection: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself” (Philippians 3:20-21).
The living believers will experience what the Bible calls “Redemption of the body.” “For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:22-23).
“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee (downpayment, earnest) of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14). Apostle Paul clearly states that salvation and the gift of the Holy Spirit to believers are no more than just the downpayment of their inheritance, while the completion of the inheritance (redemption of the body as His purchased possession) is on the day of the resurrection.
The Second Resurrection!
“And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works” (Revelation 20:12-13).
They will participate in the Second Death: “Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death (lake of fire). And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:14-15).
Separation Between the Two Resurrections!
“And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4).
“But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished” (20:5).
Let Us Live Our Lives to Represent Our God!
Jude admonishes all believers: “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh. Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen” (Jude 1:20-25).
· Resurrection of Jesus is a FACT!
· A Believer Sleeps When They Die, Only to Be Resurrected When Jesus Comes!
· The Living Believers Will Be Transformed into Their Glorious Bodies at Jesus’ Coming!
· Jesus and The Believers Will Enjoy a Millennial Reign, While the Unbelievers Stay Dead and Buried!
· After 1,000 Years, The Unbelievers Will Be Awakened to Face Their Final Judgement and Their Second Death!
· Believers Who Experience the “First Resurrection” Will NOT See “Second Death!”
· Resurrection is A Believer’s Joy!
· Resurrection is A Believer’s Inheritance!
· Let Us Live and Represent Our Resurrected Savior!
Prayer
“Heavenly Father, I love You and adore You. I thank You for Your immeasurable mercies and grace in saving me by Your Only Begotten Son, Jesus, who yielded His life on the cross of Calvary for me. Help me to experience the power of Your resurrection in my life, and live victoriously, as the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is alive in my body. I yield my life to You, to live for You, all the days of my life. I am Yours and Yours alone, my Lord. In the Most Wonderful and Precious Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen! Amen!!”
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John Jeyaseelan