August 23, 2020
Morning Service

Heb 6:1-3  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,  (2)  Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.  (3)  And this will we do, if God permit.

We are studying the Oracles of God or the Principles in the doctrine of Christ.  So far we have looked at repentance from dead works;  faith toward God;  the doctrines of baptisms;  and the laying on of hands.  This morning we want to look at maybe one of the most important, and exciting subjects of Christianity.  The resurrection.  No other founder, or leader in a popular religion has ever came forth from the dead.  They are like everyone else, they are waiting on the resurrection day, when all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and come forth, some to everlasting life, and some to everlasting destruction.

Christianity, is the perfect explanation, and understanding of the Jewish God, (which means object of worship) Who had different names, Eliohim, Yaweh, Jehovah, and others, in which, Jesus of Nazareth, Whom this God ordained to be the revealer of all truths concerning an Almighty Being.  The Hebrew writer said this; 

·        Heb 1:1-2  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,  (2)  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Our knowledge or understanding of these things comes from reading our Bible, and Almighty God giving us the right understanding of it.  In which. we believe this Bible to be the inspired Word of God.  This Jesus of Nazareth, or God’s Son, is revealed to us in the Bible as being this Word in the beginning of time. 

·        Joh 1:1-2  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  (2)  The same was in the beginning with God. Joh 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 

Now it is this Jesus of Nazareth who reveals to us truths about this object of worship, or Jehovah, God, of the Jewish faith which is Judaism.  Now there has been 3 major religions come from worshipping this one God Jehovah.  Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.  In that order.  This Bible, or Word tells us God’s dealings with creation, and the journeys of man, and how He has dealt with mankind all through history.  It has an answer for any question that you might have concerning life.  It reveals to us the will of Almighty God, and His plan for mankind.  Now as we deal with this one question this morning, the reserection, we need to understand that it is so very important to our faith, Christianity.  Listen to Paul;  I Cor. 15.

Now this is one of the most important chapters in our Bible.  Paul begins by telling of the gospel he preached, verses 1-11.  Bro. Greg, the Lord willing will be telling us more concerning this gospel in the coming days, as he is in the letter to the Galatians, where Paul tells how he received this gospel he preaches, and how important it is to preach, and teach only this gospel.

·        1Co 15:12-23  Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 

Now there were teachers in Corinth saying that there was no resurrection, causing doubt in the believers.

·        (13)  But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:  (14)  And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.  (15)  Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.  (16)  For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:  (17)  And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.  (18)  Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.  (19)  If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 

As we can see Paul is showing us how important it is to believe in the resurrection.  Everything depends on the resurrection.  Now in the O.T. which shows us that God dealt with the Jews first, had their beliefs and questions about the dead.

1.   Psa 88:10  Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah.

The Psalmist had his questions concerning death.  It wasn’t revealed yet.  The gospel reveals it.

2.   Ecc 9:5  For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

This was the most general understanding concerning those that would die.  But then there was a glimmer of hope that something better was out there.

3.   Isa 26:19  Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

4.   Job 19:25-26  For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:  (26)  And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

So there was some doubt about what would happen at death.  But Jesus has since revealed to us through the gospel what will happen at death and beyond.  Let’s go on with Paul’s explanation of the importance of the resurrection.

·        (20)  But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.  (21)  For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 

The statement ( as in Adam all die )  doesn’t teach the Adamic sin, teaching that because Adam sinned and death was the result, therefore we must remove that sin by baptizing babies.  You will not taste of the second death because of Adam’s sin, but of your own sin, unless you accept the atoning work of Jesus Christ for your past, and future sins.  His atoning work on Calvary is the only sacrifice for sin that God Almighty will accept for mankinds sin.  Nothing else.  Paul said, “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  Therefore, when we come to the knowledge that we are sinners, and need a savior, and obey the gospel, then we are saved from the second death, and the fear of hell fire.   Now notice.

·        (22)  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (23)  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

Paul said this same thing to the church at Thessalonica;  This is such a powerful scripture. 

·        1Th 4:13-18  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  (14)  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.  (15)  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  (16)  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  (17)  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  (18)  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Paul goes on in the Corinthian letter to explain what will happen at the very end of time.  It is a chapter worth reading over and over.  Since there will be this resurrection there is another sobering thought, listen to Paul;

·        2Co 5:10-11  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.  (11)  Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

Our prayer:  Almighty God, we would ask this morning that You would quicken it to the hearts of us all to see the importance of serving Your Son Jesus Christ, that we might stand before You at the judgment uncondemned and pleasing in Your sight.  Amen.