C101: Lesson 10; Resurrection from the Dead

Resurrection from the Dead

Key Verse: “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 (NKJV)

Purpose: The purpose of this lesson is to help the student grasp the Scriptural foundation for the Christian doctrine of the resurrection from the dead.

God warned Adam and Eve that DEATH is the consequence for sin.

Genesis 2:16-17 (NKJV) “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.’”

Upon eating of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, Adam and Eve entered into a state of mortality in which physical death was certain.

The Christian and Death

Because of sin, physical death is an unavoidable reality. We have all faced the death of a friend or loved one at some point in life. From the time of the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, men have contemplated the cause and meaning of death. They have explored the subject of death in literature and philosophy. Is man more than flesh and blood? Is there a part of him that lives on after he dies? Is there life after death? What about the resurrection? Most religions attempt to answer these important questions. The question, “Is there life after death?” may be debated by some, but for the Christian, Jesus removed any doubt when He rose from the dead. Christ’s resurrection has meaning for us. The resurrection of Jesus Christ 1) makes the new birth possible, 2) enables us to walk in Christ’s resurrection power on this earth, and 3) gives us hope of a future physical resurrection upon His return.

The Bible teaches us that when ADAM died, all humanity died in him.

1 Corinthians 15:21-22 (NKJV) “For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.”

Although all human beings are born into this world in a state of innocence, they are also born with Adam’s sinful nature. Because of the sin nature, all will sin and thus experience spiritual death.

The Bible teaches that there will be a resurrection for both those who have done GOOD and those who have done EVIL as well as for those who are JUST or UNJUST.

John 5:28-29 (NKJV) “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.”

Acts 24:15 (NKJV) “I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.”

Sinners are saved by grace through faith and not by their works of righteousness.[1]However, good works following salvation are the evidence of true saving faith.[2]

There will be both a resurrection of LIFE and of CONDEMNATION.

John 5:28-29 (NKJV) “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.”

The resurrection of life is also called the “resurrection of the just”[3]and the “first resurrection” that will take place on “the last day” at Christ’s second coming.[4] Those who are a part of the “first resurrection” will not be subject to “the second death”.[5]

The resurrection of condemnation is also called the “resurrection of the unjust”[6]and the resurrection to “everlasting shame and contempt.”[7]The unjust will be raised physically to stand trial at the White Throne Judgment and then be thrown spirit, soul, and body into the lake of fire.[8]This is called the “second death”.[9]In the second death, the resurrected physical body (likely in the condition of a corpse) of the unjust will become an eternal prison house for the condemned soul and be subject to eternal decay with worms and the burning of unquenchable fire without ever being consumed.[10]

God created man as a tri-partite being consisting of SPIRIT, SOUL, and BODY.

Genesis 2:7 (NKJV) “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”

1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NKJV) “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Paul refers to our current physical body as an EARTHLY HOUSE or TENT, a temporary abiding place for the spirit and soul of man.

2 Corinthians 5:1 (NKJV) “For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”

In ancient times, tents were made of dead animal skins. They were a house of skin that would eventually decay and be discarded while the inhabitants lived on and obtained another tent.

Spirit, Soul, and Body

Man was created with and is comprised of three parts: spirit, soul, and body. The spirit of man is the part of man that can know God who is Spirit and who must be worshiped in spirit.[11]The spirit of man is also the part that experiences the new birth which is a spiritual birth.[12] The soul is comprised of the mind, will, and emotions. The soul forms the personality and personhood that enables men to relate to other human beings. The physical body is made of the dust of the earth. The human body is a “tent” or “earth suit” that clothes man’s spirit and soul, thus enabling him to dwell on the earth and to engage and interact with this world through the use of the five physical senses, i.e. sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell. When the physical body dies, the person is separated from this natural world and can no longer interact with it. Although the physical body dies, the Bible teaches that the soul and spirit lives on.[13]One day the believer’s spirit and soul will receive a new glorified body that is not subject to death and decay. At that time, the last installment of the believer’s redemption will be complete.[14]

The doctrine of the resurrection is ESSENTIAL to the Christian faith.

1 Corinthians 15:12-19 (NKJV) “Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.”

The gospel message declares that JESUS CHRIST rose again from the dead.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (NKJV) “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,”

The physical resurrection of Jesus Christ was attested to by many WITNESSES.

Acts 2:32 (NKJV) “This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.

1 Corinthians 15:5-8 (NKJV) “and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.”

One evidence of Christ’s resurrection was the bodily resurrection of some of the SAINTS who had already died.

Matthew 27:52-53 (NKJV) “and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.”

Through the resurrection, God declared Jesus to be the SON OF GOD.

Romans 1:4 (NKJV) “and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.”

God bore witness to Christ’s resurrection and exaltation through the OUTPOURING of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:33 (NKJV) “Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.”

Through His resurrection and ascension, God declared Jesus to be both LORD and CHRIST.

Acts 2:36 (NKJV) “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

Belief in and confession of Christ’s physical resurrection is essential to SALVATION.

Romans 10:9-10 (NKJV) “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Both GOD THE FATHER and the HOLY SPIRIT were directly involved in Christ’s resurrection.

Acts 2:24 (NKJV) “whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.”

1 Corinthians 6:14 (NKJV) “And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.”

Romans 8:11 (NKJV) “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”

Jesus Christ’s resurrection makes Him the FIRSTFRUITS of those who have fallen asleep.

1 Corinthians 15:20 (NKJV) “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”

The same God who raised Christ from the dead will also by His power RAISE UP those who believe.

1 Corinthians 6:14 (NKJV) “And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.”

2 Corinthians 4:14 (NKJV) “knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.”

The Bible teaches us that JESUS will also transform our lowly (earthly, mortal, corruptible) bodies.

Philippians 3:20-21 (NKJV) “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.”

The Bible teaches us that it is impossible for FLESH and BLOOD bodies to inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 15:50 (NKJV) “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.”

The Bible tells us that our physical bodies will be CHANGED when Christ returns.

1 Corinthians 15:51-53 (NKJV) “Behold, I tell you a mystery: 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.”

Our physical bodies will be TRANSFORMED and CONFORMED to the glorious body of Jesus.

Philippians 3:20-21 (NKJV) “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.”

The Nature of Jesus’ Resurrected Body

a) Able to be touched and held (Matthew 28:9; Luke 24:36-40; John 20:17, 27)

b) Able to enter locked rooms (John 20:19, 26)

c) Can vanish from human sight (Luke 24:31)

d) Has flesh and bone (Luke 24:36-40)

e) Can eat physical food (John 20:17)

f) Can appear in other forms (Mark 16:12; Luke 24:16)

g) Recognizable as Jesus (John 20:19-29)

h) Bears the scars of crucifixion (John 20:20, 27)

Paul’s Description of the Resurrected Body

a) Incorruptible (1 Corinthians 15:42, 52-53)

b) Glorious (1 Corinthians 15:43; Philippians 3:20)

c) Raised in power (1 Corinthians 15:43)

d) Spiritual (1 Corinthians 15:44, 45)

e) Heavenly (1 Corinthians 15:47-48)

f) Bears the image of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:47, 49)

g) Immortal (1 Corinthians 15:54)

h) Built (fashioned) by God (2 Corinthians 5:1)

i) Eternal (2 Corinthians 5:1)

j) Dwelling Place (2 Corinthians 5:1-2)

For the believer, physical death is not grievous. Paul said that to be ABSENT from the body is to be PRESENT with the Lord which is far better than living in this fallen world.

2 Corinthians 5:8 (NKJV) “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”

Philippians 1:21-23 (NKJV) “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.”

The hope of resurrection is a source of COMFORT when a believer dies.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NKJV) “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, 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. 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. 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. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

Jesus said that what is born of the flesh is flesh and what is born of the spirit is spirit. While the believer’s spirit is reborn at the time of salvation,[15] they still groan with hopeful longing for the final installment on their adoption, the REDEMPTION of their physical body.

Romans 8:23 (NKJV) “Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.”

2 Corinthians 5:2-4 (NKJV) “For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.”

The Nature of our Earthly Body

Because of the sin of Adam, our physical bodies are subject to death.[16] They are also subject to weakness, infirmity, dishonor, and corruption, i.e. decay. Our spirit man is reborn when we place our faith and trust for salvation in our Savior Jesus Christ.[17] Our reborn human spirit is now part of the new creation in Christ.[18] Our bodies, however, are still a part of the first creation in Adam.[19] Therefore our current physical bodies remain subject to weakness, infirmity, dishonor, death, and corruption. The good news is that on the Cross Jesus paid the redemption price for the future glorification of our bodies.[20] The redemption of our physical bodies is the last “installment” in our salvation and adoption.[21] Like changing clothes, our mortal bodies must be laid aside in “death” so that we might be clothed again in “life” upon receiving our glorified bodies at Christ’s return. Until then, God has given us His Holy Spirit as a “guarantee” of the final “redemption of the purchased possession”.[22] Because the purchase price has been paid, our physical bodies now belong to the Lord who has made them the temple of His Holy Spirit.[23] When we are joined to Christ, the Bible says that the Holy Spirit becomes one spirit with our spirit.[24] Although the body is still subject to the consequences of sin and death, the indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit can actually “give life” to our mortal bodies.[25]

Jesus Christ Himself is the RESURRECTION and the LIFE.

John 11:25-26 (NKJV) “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?’”

1 Corinthians 15:45 (NKJV) “And so it is written, ‘The first man Adam became a living being.’ The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.”

The resurrection is more than a future event; it is the Person of Jesus Christ. Any hope of future resurrection depends upon believing in Christ as the only Source of resurrection life.

[1] Romans 3:20, 28; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5 [2] Ephesians 2:10; Matthew 7:21-23; 2 Corinthians 5:10 [3] Luke 14:14 [4] John 11:24; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; Revelation 20:4-6 [5] Revelation 20:14 [6] Acts 24:15 [7] Daniel 12:2 [8] Revelation 20:11-15 [9] Revelation 20:14 [10] Isaiah 66:24; Mark 9:44, 46, 48; Revelation 14:11 [11] John 4:24 [12]John 3:1-8 [13] Matthew 10:28; Luke 12:4-5; 16:19-31 [14] Romans 8:23-25 [15] John 3:3-8 [16] 1 Corinthians 15:21-22; Hebrews 9:27 [17] John 3:3-8 [18] 2 Corinthians 5:17 [19] Romans 8:19-25; 1 Corinthians 15:22, 44-49 [20] 1 Corinthians 6:20 [21] Romans 8:23-25 [22] Romans 8:23; Ephesians 1:13-14 [23] 1 Corinthians 6:15-20 [24] 1 Corinthians 6:17 [25] Romans 8:11