The Resurrection of the Body and Life Everlasting

Minister:
Date: AM
Text: II Corinthians 5; Lord's Day 22
Psalters: 353, 331, 202, 32
  1. The soul resurrection.
    1. Faith in the resurrection of the body includes faith in the resurrection of the soul.
    2. The Bible teaches an immediate experience of glory for the soul (intermediate state - the state of the believer’s soul after death till Jesus’ returns and raises the body).
      1. Death is the terrifying separation of the body and the soul - without the body, the soul cannot function in this world.
      2. Thus Scripture speaks of deceased saints as “asleep” (Matt. 27:52; I Cor. 15:6; I Thess. 4:13; Mark 5:39).
      3. The believer’s communion with Christ is not broken by death, but intensified.
    3. While the intermediate state is increased communion with Christ, it is not perfect for three reasons.
  2. The resurrection of the body will take place when Jesus returns (John 5:28,29; I Thess. 4:16,17).
    1. Scripture concerning the resurrection of the body.
    2. We need our bodies in heaven as much as we need them on the earth.
    3. God miraculously and graciously calls our bodies out of the dust and makes them like the glorious body of Christ (I Jn. 3:1).
      1. Jesus’ bodily resurrection is the cause of the resurrection of the bodies of those who are in Christ (I Cor. 15).
      2. Faith in the risen Christ is a faith which believes in the glorious bodily resurrection (Rom. 8:23b).
  3. We are raised to “life everlasting.”
    1. This is the blessedness of perfect, unending life of joy and praise!
    2. In this life, we know only a little of this glorious life, because it is other worldly.
    3. Promised to us is a future which is the future of Christ and of all who share in His benefits.
    4. Death is made a servant which brings us to God and to this glory.