Faith Concerning the Resurrection and Eternal Life
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 3/16/2014 AM |
Text: | II Corinthians 5; Lord's Day 22 |
Psalters: | 353, 328, 202, 31 |
- Faith in the resurrection of the body includes faith in the resurrection of the soul.
- This takes place at the moment of death (Luke 23:43; 16:22).
- The Bible teaches an immediate entrance into the glory of the intermediate state.
- Death is the terrifying separation of the body and the soul — without the body, the soul cannot function in this world.
- Because Jesus’ death made full and complete satisfaction for all our sins, there is no more reason to suffer.
- A believer's communion with Christ is not broken by death, but intensified.
- While the intermediate state is increased communion with Christ, it is not perfect for three reasons.
- The resurrection of the body will take place when Jesus returns (John 5:28,29; I Thess. 4:16,17).
- The Bible speaks of the resurrection of the body.
- II Cor. 5:1 compares our present body to a "tabernacle," but our glorified body to a "building, not made with hands."
- Philippians 3 states that when Jesus returns He "will change our vile body" into conformity with the body of His glory (21).
- I Cor. 15:43-44 uses the figure of a seed sown, which dies and arises in a new, different, and better form.
- God miraculously and graciously calls our bodies out of the dust and makes them like the glorious body of Christ (I Jn. 3:1).
- Faith in the risen Christ is a faith which believes in the glorious bodily resurrection (Rom. 8:23b).
- Jesus’ bodily resurrection is the cause of the resurrection of the bodies of those who are in Christ (I Cor. 15).
- We need our bodies in heaven as much as we need them on the earth.
- God created man a unity of soul and body, fashioned for fellowship with God.
- Redemption in Christ includes our bodies and their resurrection (Romans 8:23).
- The Bible speaks of the resurrection of the body.
- We are raised to "life everlasting."
- This is the blessedness of perfect, unending life of joy and praise!
- We know only a little of this glorious life, because it is other worldly.
- By faith we have a certain and sure hope.
- The desire for heaven grows with earthly trials and crosses, but the promise and the hope increases this desire too.
- Promised to us is a future which is the future of Christ and of all who share in His benefits.