The Three "Bee's"

                                                           The Three "Be's" (I Corinthians 16:1-24)

Introduction: In the age of texting and TikTok, we seldom write and receive letters these days. Did you know that in letter writing, the closing of the letter is equally or as crucial as the beginning? How you end a letter can say a lot about whether you would like to continue the conversation and relationship with the recipient or not.

            Here is some advice on how to complete our letters effectively: I am looking forward to chatting more about 'x’/learning more about 'x' – Let me know if you want to talk about this over coffee. I will follow up with more info soon –make sure you actually do!

            Looking forward to hearing from you – this sure urges a response, but can come across as a little demanding, so use caution. Let me know how things go. This establishes further communication and shows you are engaged and willing to help." Talk soon/speak soon – nice informal ending, but only use if you intend to talk again soon!"[1]

            We will look at the later part of the 1^st Corinthians fifteenth chapter regarding the Resurrection Body in the 2nd letter. Today, we will look at Paul's final thoughts in the first letter to the Corinthians. Paul ended the first letter to the Corinthians. Vs. 22-24, "HERE IS MY GREETING IN MY OWN HANDWRITING—PAUL. If anyone does not love the Lord, that person is cursed. Our Lord, come! May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love to all of you in Christ Jesus." Amen! The all caps here indicate that Paul has signed this letter.

            How about a person being cursed because of their lack of love for the Lord? It is a curse based on God as a witness to the unbeliever's essential lack of love and obedience to God. "May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you." It is the usual benediction of Paul. Although Paul had been severe with the Corinthians, in the end, he wanted them to know he loved them.

            How do we understand the Aramaic word Maranatha, which means "O Lord Come"? How are we to live in light of that? Maranatha is an Aramaic word that means "the Lord is coming" or "come, O Lord." The early church faced much persecution, and life for a Christian under Roman rule was not easy. The Romans required everyone to declare that Caesar was god. The early Christians knew that there is only one God and one Lord—Jesus Christ—and in all good conscience, they could not call Caesar "Lord," so the Romans looked upon them as traitors, persecuted them, and put them to death. Living under those adverse conditions, the believers' morale was lifted by the hope of the coming of the Lord.

            "Maranatha!" became the standard greeting of the oppressed believers, replacing the Jewish greeting shalom ("peace"). The followers of Jesus knew the Lord would be returning to set up His kingdom, and from that truth, they drew great comfort. They constantly reminded each other that the Lord was coming (Luke 21:28; Philippians 4:5, Revelation 22:12).

            Today, believers in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ live our lives in the light of the knowledge that He can come at any time. We are to be ready when the call comes. We should long for him and expect him to come every day. Maranatha reminds us to keep our eyes on the eternal things of the Spirit. Let us look at the instructions the Apostle Paul gave the Corinthian believers to live by as they awaited the Lord's second coming.

I. Believers should live a life of generosity. (1-4)

            Addressing the Corinthian believer's question regarding the money being collected for God's people in Jerusalem, Paul reminded them of a standard procedure he gave to the Churches in Galatia. On the first day of each week, that was the Lord's Day; each one should put aside a specific portion (tithes) of money they have earned and not wait until he comes then take up a collection all at once. Then he would take the gift to Jerusalem along with designated people.

            We will talk about generosity in the second letter when we talk about the generosity of the Macedonian believers, but for now, here are a few thoughts on this standard practice of weekly giving. In contrast to other ancient associations, which usually required membership dues, giving among believers was voluntary, not shaming the body.

            This practice of giving came from the OT. Exodus 35:5,21 – 22, 26,29; 36:2, "Then Moses said to the whole community of Israel, "This is what the Lord has commanded: Take a sacred offering for the Lord. Let those with generous hearts present the following gifts to the Lord: We see a list of materials and precious stones.

            This offering was encouraged, not forced upon. Vs. 21-22, "All whose hearts were stirred and whose spirits were moved came and brought their sacred offerings to the Lord. They brought all the materials needed for the Tabernacle, for the performance of its rituals, and for the sacred garments. Both men and women came, all whose hearts were willing."

            God urged people to bring ten percent of their earnings to the Temple. Malachi 3:10-11, "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do," says the Lord of Heaven's Armies, "I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!

            God wanted his people to give voluntarily for the work and the maintenance of the Tabernacle and to take care of the priests and Levites who ministered in the Temple. Even today, God wants us to support his work and those who minister through free will offerings and tithes.        For that reason, we encourage people during our Sunday worship service to bring their tithes and free-will offerings cheerfully so that the ministries of Hope Church will go on and those who minister (Pastor) will be provided for. The Lord blesses a cheerful giver. Many in Hope Church give sacrificially and generously towards the work of the Lord. My God bless you.

II. Believers should practice hospitality: (5-12)

            Paul announces his travel itinerary via Macedonia to Corinth and spends a lot of time with them, possibly through the winter. Before his visit, he would stay at Ephesus until the Festival of Pentecost. We will discuss it next Sunday, June 5^th, the Pentecost day.

            He instructed the Corinthian Church to bless Timothy as he was doing the work of the Lord. Paul's stay with believers at various locations indicates the practice of hospitality. It is an ancient practice since Abraham and Sara offered generous hospitality to three angels. Gen 18.           Thirty scriptures talk about hospitality in the Bible. This one encourages all of us to provide hospitality. I Peter 4:9, "Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay." "Show hospitality to one another without grumbling." (ESV). Practicing hospitality can be challenging in a culture that is suspicious of strangers. Nevertheless, we believers are called to be hospitable. One way to show our love is through hospitality. 

III. The Three "Be's" (Vs. 13-14)

            Vs. 13-14, Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love." "Be on guard; stand firm in your faith [in God, respecting His precepts and keeping your doctrine sound]. Act like [mature] men and be courageous; be strong. Let everything you do be done in love [motivated and inspired by God's love for us]. (AMP)

            After talking about giving generously and practicing hospitality, he gave three "Be's" to the Corinthian believers. The same three action verbs apply to believers of all time: Be on guard, courageous, and strong. Let's explore them and see how they impact our lives today.

A. Be on guard: In NASB, "Be on the alert." During Paul's time, many false prophets were deceiving believers who were not firmly rooted in the Word. Jesus said, "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves." Matthew 7:15

            We are to be on guard against the conspiracy theorists who may sound Christian and biblical, but they are out there to deceive ill-equipped believers. How do we discern false teachers and their wrong teachings? By reading the Bible and knowing the truth. By being firmly standing in our faith. It is so crucial that you do your independent study of God's Word.

B. Be Courageous. God commanded Joshua twice to be "Be strong and courageous," Jos 1:6-7.

Throughout the scriptures and church history, we find ordinary men and women who showed extraordinary courage. God demonstrated His power through them because of their obedience.

            He is still looking for people who are not ashamed of him but take courageous steps of faith at home and their workplaces for His name's sake. God promises to give us all courage and strength to live for him. As Paul prayed, we too can pray for God to give us courage. (Eph 1:19)

C. Be Strong: Courage and strength go hand in hand. Both result from our trust in God who is soverign and promised never to leave or forsake us. When we recognize our weaknesses, we become strong with God's strength. That's why Paul says, "I boast in my weaknesses."

            Remember, on our own, we are weak and can not live for God and carry out his mission. Let us recognize our strength comes from God. Exodus 15:2, "The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him—my father's God, and I will exalt him!" How are we living our lives today? Are we courageous, bold, and strong?

            What does it mean to say, Maranatha, Come Lord soon? It means to live a life of courage, boldness, and strength for the Lord. How does that manifest in our daily lives? When we only focus on earthly material things, we live in turmoil because they can never fully satisfy us. But when we look up to the heavens and have the perspective of the early Christians and say Maranatha, our focus and pursuit of things will change. We become more God-centered than self-centered. We become God pleasers than living for our fleeting pleasures. Maranatha!

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

 

 

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[1] https://www.mailtastic.com/blog/email-sign-offs

THE CALL

                                                      THE CALL (Isaiah 6:1-13)

            On December 28, 1985, I attended a college student's Mission conference in Orissa, India. It was an international student gathering, somewhat like Urbana in the USA. Another point to note was that I was waiting to be graduated. I was full of dreams and plans for my life. Little did I know that my life would drastically change at that conference.

            During one of the nights, I heard the voice of God distinctly through the preacher calling me, "Whom shall I send? Who will go for us,"? I stood up with thousands of other young people responding to that divine Call, saying, "Here I am. Send me, Lord." I dedicated my life to the Lord while the theme song was sung with the words, "The Risen Lord for the Dying World."

            Little did I know where the Lord would take me with that one response, "Here I am. Send me, Lord." It has been an adventurous journey with the Lord for the past 37 years. You will never know what surprises await when you hear and respond to God's Call. Today we will see how God's Call changed the life and direction of one prophet. Isaiah 6:1-13

 

Background: Isaiah's sixth chapter begins with, "It was in the year King Uzziah died." We need to find out what year it was, who the King Uzziah was, and his death's significance. Uzziah, son of Amaziah, ruled over Judah during the reign of King Jeroboam II of Israel.

            He was sixteen when he became king and reigned in Jerusalem for fifty-two years. He did what was pleasing in the Lord's sight but did not destroy the pagan shrines, and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there. The Lord struck the king with leprosy, which lasted until the day he died. He lived in isolation in a separate house. (II Kings 15:1-5)

            Why did God strike him with leprosy? As long as Uzziah sought the Lord, God gave him success. He became powerful along with that, proud. One day he entered the sanctuary of the Lord and began to burn incense on the incense altar, which was only allowed for the priests. The high priest Azariah and eighty other priests confronted King Uzziah.

            "It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord. That is the work of the priests alone... Get out of the sanctuary, for you have sinned. The Lord God will not honor you for this!" Uzziah became furious and stood with rage at the priests holding the incense burner in his hands.        Suddenly leprosy broke out on his forehead. He quickly got out of the Temple and lived in isolation until death. II Chronicles 26. Uzziah died in 740 B.C; while Isaiah was in the Temple, God called him into ministry by giving him a powerful threefold vision. (Vs. 1-6)

 

I. A heavenward vision: Vs. 1-4, "I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings, they covered their faces; with two, they covered their feet, and with two, they flew.

            They were calling out to each other, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven's Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!" Their voices shook the Temple's foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke." One earthly King, Uzziah, passed away.

            God revealed himself as the king of the universe, seated on His heavenly throne. Mighty seraphim surrounded him. What are seraphs? They are part of the incredible variety of divine beings created by God (along with angels, archangels, principalities, powers, and cherubim). The seraphs are bright creatures, for the word means "burning ones."

            Each had six wings. With two, they covered their faces, hiding away from the greater brightness and the glory of the Lord. They flew with two, and the other two covered their feet, suggesting humility. They called out to each other, saying, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven's Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!"

            It was often accompanied by physical tremors and smoke when God manifested His power. Isaiah encountered the Holiness of God. The voices of the angels generated power. The Temple's foundations shook and filled with smoke. That revelation led him to another vision.

 

II. An inward vision (Vs. 5)

            Vs.5, "Then I said, "It's all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips." People see their sinful and lostness when they encounter God's holiness. But those who avoid coming to light will remain in their sinfulness. John 3:20, "All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed."            

            Ephesians 5:12-14, "It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible." When Isaiah saw the holiness of God, he saw his sinfulness. That inward vision led him to see the lostness around him.

 

III. An outward vision (Vs. 5b)

            Vs. 5b, "I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the king, the Lord of Heaven's Armies. "Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. He touched my lips with it and said, "See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven."

            Isaiah's vision of God's holiness led him to see how sinful he was. When he confessed his sin and admitted his lostness, God opened his eyes to see the sinfulness of the people around him. Then one of the seraphim flies and touches his lips with burning coal cleansing his sin.

            God often exposes and cleanses people of their sins before commissioning them with a mission. For example, Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:4-7) and Jonah in the belly of a whale (Jonah 2). This is how God works even today. He reveals himself to us in powerful ways.

            The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins and leads us to repentance. God opens our eyes to the people's sins around us. Once we are cleansed and forgiven, we hear His Call. In our passage after the revelation, confession, and cleansing, we see the prophet is ready to listen to The Call.

 

IV. The Call (8-9)

            Vs. 8-9, "Then I heard the Lord asking, "Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?" I said, "Here I am. Send me." And he said, "Yes, go, and say to this people." Verses 9-10 in the Greek version read, "And he said, "Go and say to this people, "When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend.             For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them."

            Often, God tasked his prophets with a stern message to a stubborn group of people. The prophets were not famous, people hated them, and some were killed for preaching the message of God to a stubborn and unwilling generation. The God we serve is an unchanging God with a constant message for every age. He is still searching for people who would be obedient to His compelling voice. The Call to become God's messengers is still going out.  

 

V. Have you heard The Call?

            We have numerous examples of those who responded to the Call of God and said, "Here I am. Send me," in the Bible, Church History, and our contemporary world. Here are some Biblical examples: Abraham was seventy years old when God spoke to him. He became the father of the nations. (Genesis 12:4) Moses heard the Call of God at the burning bush when he was eighty years old (Acts 7:23-30). He became the meekest man on earth (Numbers 12:13).

             Samuel heard God's Call as young as three and became a great judge of Israel. (I Sam7:15) Several women, like, the two Jewish Mid-Wives (Shiphrah & Puah), Rahab, Ruth, Deborah, and Esther, heard the Call of God and obeyed his voice and followed Him.

            In the N.T., we have several examples in the eleven disciples and the apostle Paul. To all these men and women in the Bible, God's voice may have come in different forms and ways, but because of their obedience to that heavenly Call, we still talk about them today.

            In the contemporary world, Adoniram Judson from Malden, MA, became the first Baptist Missionary to Burma at 25.[1] Hudson Taylor from the U.K. became the first Missionary to China. A cobbler from England, William Carey became the father of Modern Missions in India.

            Amy Carmichael was an Irish missionary in India who opened an orphanage and founded a mission in Dohnavur. She served in India for 55 years without furlough and wrote 35 books about the missionary work there. An Albanian nun went to the slums of India and became Mother Teressa. Here are a few who made it to the hall of fame, but many whose names you may never know faithfully serve the Lord in difficult places because of that Call.

            We have heard only from three of the missionaries we support. But others like this cancer survivor, Atsu Solo, who ministers to the women and children in Nagaland, India. A single woman Chinni Konda takes care of the poor children and the widows in a village in India.

            What do they all have in common? They have heard the Call of God that said, "Whom shall I send and who will go for us?" They all responded like, Isaiah, "Here I am. Send me." Wilma and I have listened and responded to that Call and served in missions.

            We still serve the Lord. Have you heard The Call? How would you respond to it today? If you sincerely say yes, Lord, here I am, send me, who knows where the Lord might take you and what the Lord might do with and through you? For some, it may mean overseas missions. For many, it may be your workplace, neighborhood, and community. Wherever it may be, the best thing you can do with your life is to serve God by becoming His messenger of Hope.

 

 

 

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[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adoniram_Judson

More About The Resurrection-Part 3

 

Three Takeaways From The Resurrection

Introduction:  At the end of a speech, usually, the speaker will end up repeating or stressing the main points. We call them "the Takeaways." Those takeaways aim to urge the audience to apply and live by those pointers. In our three-part series on "More About The Resurrection," we come to such a time where we will pay attention to the Apostle Paul's Three Takeaways from the Resurrection. If we live by them, our lives will drastically change and become more impactful.

            To refresh your memory, we learned that the Resurrection of Christ is an indisputably proven fact. While some people may deny and ignore it to their peril. But those who believe it and live by it are blessed. We also learned that our fundamental Christian belief stands secure on the Resurrection of Christ. Because Jesus has risen from the dead, we have eternal Hope.

            To conclude the thought of the Resurrection of Christ, Paul made three important assertions or takeaways. Let us explore these three takeaways. I Corinthians 15:21-34

 

I. The Resurrection of Christ assures us of eternal life. (I Corinthians 15:21-23)

            Vs. 22-23, "Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. But there is an order to this Resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then, all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back." Here, we see Paul using reasoning and unfolding specific order of events—first, the reason.

            This is how the amplified version states the reason Vs. 21-22, "For since [it was] through a man that death [came into the World, it is] also through a Man that the Resurrection of the dead [has come]. For just as [ because of union of nature] in Adam, all people die, so also [by virtue of their union of nature] shall all in Christ be made alive. Through Adam's sin, death reigned over all humanity. Similarly, through the Resurrection of Jesus, the dead will rise again.

            As we shared the sin of Adam, we all will die, but those who were united with Christ will be made alive and never die again. This assurance of eternal life is promised to all people, but only those who believe in and live in Christ can enjoy this everlasting bliss with God in heaven.

            In Christ Jesus, this eternal life is guaranteed. John 5:24, "I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life."

            Those who reject the message of salvation and do not believe in His death and Resurrection will enter into hell. Revelation 21:8, "But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

            How else do we know the Resurrection of Christ assures us eternal life? Listen to these assuring words of Jesus to Martha, who was grieving the loss of their brother Lazarus. John 11:23-27, “Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.” “Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day. “Jesus told her, “I am the Resurrection and the life.

            Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” “Yes, Lord,” she told him.”

Jesus would ask us the same question, Do you believe, “I am the Resurrection and the Life”? Our future depends on whether or not we believe this fundamental truth of the Resurrection of Christ. Paul explains how and when this order of events will unfold. Vs. 23, "But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back." But each in his own rank and turn: Christ (the Messiah) [is] the firstfruits, then those who are Christ's [own will be resurrected] at His coming."

            Jesus was the first in rank and turn to rise from the dead. Those who believe in Christ will rise to eternal life only when Christ comes back. Let me summarize verses 24-28, which give us a glimpse of Christ's actions upon returning to the earth for the second time.

            Christ's return will lead to the end of this present World. Before that, Satan will be bound for a thousand years so that he cannot deceive the nations. (Rev 20). Christ will rule the earth with those martyred for their faith during those thousand years until He subdues all His enemies.

            After that, Satan will be released briefly, only to be thrown into the fiery lake forever. Once Satan and death are defeated, Christ brings everything under the authority of God so that God will be utterly supreme over everything everywhere. We will learn more about it later.

 

II. The Resurrection of Christ is worth living for and dying for. ( I Corinthians 15:29-31)

            Vs. 29-31, "If the dead will not be raised, what point is there in people being baptized for those who are dead? Why do it unless the dead will someday rise again? And why should we ourselves risk our lives hour by hour? For I swear, dear brothers and sisters, that I face death daily. This is as certain as my pride in what Christ Jesus our Lord has done in you."

            How do we understand this phrase, "people being baptized for those who are dead"? It is most plausibly referring to Christian water baptism. If there is no resurrection from the dead, it makes no sense for new Christians (who were spiritually "dead" before their conversion) to undergo baptism. Others interpret it as referring to a vicarious baptism on behalf of the deceased, practiced in the Corinthian church. Is the Resurrection of Christ worth living and dying for?

            Paul explained how he would live his life. Galatians 2:20, "My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." In I Corinthians 15:29-31, Paul recalled how he risked his life spread the message of the Resurrection of Christ.

            Later in his second letter to the Corinthian Church gives the details of the risks taken. II Corinthians 11: 23-29, let me summarize Paul's risks. "He worked harder, enduring many sleepless nights. He had been hungry and thirsty and often gone without food.

            He received thirty-nine lashes five times by the Jewish leaders. He was beaten with rods three times and once was stoned. Three times he was shipwrecked and spent one whole night and a day at sea. He faced danger from rivers; robbers from the Jews and the Gentiles. He shivered in the cold and couldn't keep himself warm due to the lack of proper clothing.

            Besides all that, he carried the burden of his concern for all the churches daily. Why did he do all that? Because He saw the Resurrection of Christ was worth living and dying for. What gave him the strength to take those risks and endure? It was the power of the Resurrection.

            Do you see the Resurrection of Christ merely as an event that happened a long time ago? Or see it as the fundamental truth that has the power to save us? Is it worth our living and even willing to die if and when necessary? In reality, many believers in other parts of the World live, endure hardships and even die preaching about the crucifixion and the Resurrection of Jesus. 

 

III. The Resurrection of Christ calls us to live differently from the World. (I Cor 15:32-34)

            I Corinthians 15:32-34, "And what value was there in fighting wild beasts—those people of Ephesus if there will be no resurrection from the dead? And if there is no resurrection, "Let's feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!" Don't be fooled by those who say such things, for "bad company corrupts good character." Think carefully about what is right, and stop sinning. For to your shame, I say that some of you don't know God at all."

            Here Paul uses logic, saying if there is no resurrection from the dead, then what value was there in fighting wild beasts—those people of Ephesus. "I fought wild beasts in Ephesus." This statement can be taken figuratively. From Acts 19, we have no evidence of Paul's suffering.

            This expression is more likely that the enemies he faced in Ephesus were as ferocious as wild beasts. Then he warned about certain people who were going around and deceiving people, saying, "And if there is no resurrection, "let's feast and drink, for tomorrow we die."

            Paul referred to a particular hedonistic worldview that existed during the times of Noah, the prophet Isaiah, including Jesus. A hedonistic worldview engages in the pursuit of pleasure and is sensually self-indulgent.” Talk about the food and travel shows of celebrity chefs.

            How do we understand, "Let's feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!"? Because it is in the Bible, it doesn't give us a license to live a hedonistic lifestyle. On the contrary, the scriptures from where this concept may have originated speak against such a worldview.

            Isaiah 22:13, "But instead, you dance and play; you slaughter cattle and kill sheep. You feast on meat and drink wine. You say, "Let's feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!" Here the prophet warns the people of Jerusalem when the Lord had called for weeping and mourning over the impending invasion. Instead, the people said flippantly, "Let us eat and drink."

            Jesus exposed this lifestyle to show it as one of the end times signs. Matthew 24:37-39 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.”

            Building on the same theme, the apostle Paul warned the Corinthian believers not to be foolish as the rest of the World. Instead, in the light of the Resurrection of Christ, think carefully about what is right and stop sinning. If Paul were to visit the western churches today, what would he say of us? Would he say, “For to your shame, I say that some of you don’t know God at all? Are you living your life in fear of God or carelessly throwing it away? Amen!

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

             

More About The Resurrection-PartII

                                    WILL THE DEAD LIVE AGAIN?

Introduction: One of the things I appreciate as a pastor is the opportunity to speak with the dying, comfort the bereaved, and preach at a funeral service. Those moments are precious and painful, where one grips with the reality of life and death. Questions are asked as to what truly matters in life. Some of the questions I was often asked were, where did my loved ones go to heaven or hell? Will they come back to life? Will I see them again?

            "A group of Americans was surveyed concerning life issues after death: Ten percent believe we return to earth in a different form. Ten percent believe there is no life after death.

            Twenty-four percent believe the soul lives in a different place, determined by past actions. Forty-eight percent believe we go to heaven or hell, depending on confession of sins and accepting Jesus. The remaining 8 percent were undecided."[1]

            If you ask Christians, they too have a varied understanding of life matters after death. What do you believe regarding life after death? Will the dead come back to life? What does the Bible say about these matters? Before we look at what the Bible says about life after death, I will share some various religions' misconceptions about life after death.

I. Misconceptions about life after death.

            Only atheists believe that there is no God, no life after death, and death is the end of an individual's existence. On the contrary, many have a variety of views on end-of-life matters. Though these are firmly held views, they may not stand up under thorough examination.

Hinduism: "Hindus do not believe in heaven or hell. Their life after death system of belief is that of reincarnation. Hindus believe that they are born into a different body primarily determined by their previous life after death. They may come back as a fly, an ant, a bird, a worm, etc.

             Chinese Traditional Religion, "Upon death, the god Ch'eng Huang determines whether someone's spirit is virtuous enough to go and dwell with the immortals in Buddhist paradises, or to a hell followed by an immediate rebirth into their next reincarnation."

            Islam: Muslims believe in a good place called paradise and a bad place called hell. Those bound for paradise will experience peace before the resurrection, and those bound for hell will suffer in their graves."[2] Judaism: There's a Jewish joke that says there's no Heaven or Hell: we all go to the same place when we die, where Moses and Rabbi Akiva give constant and everlasting classes on the Bible and the Talmud. For the righteous, this is eternal bliss, while for the wicked, this is eternal suffering. What do Jews believe regarding life after death?

            At different times and in different places, Jews had different ideas. These varying thoughts were never reconciled or canonically decided. Thus, even today, Jews believe in various, often irreconcilable, theories of life after death.

              The Sadducees, the prominent priestly class who ran the Temple, did not believe in an afterlife nor the resurrection of the dead, Josephus writes. Meanwhile, their counterparts and adversaries, the Pharisees, an elite of experts in Jewish law, believed in both."[3] To understand what Christians believe regarding life after death, we will turn to the persuasive arguments of Jesus, and one of the most learned Jewish scholars turned into an ardent follower of Christ.

 

II. Convincing arguments regarding whether the dead will live again

            During the ministry of Jesus and Paul, a religious group named Sadducees contended the idea that there was no resurrection of the dead. Both Jesus and Paul refuted their misconceptions regarding life after death through their convincing arguments from the scripture.

 

Jesus puts the Sadducees in place: (Matthew 22:23-33)

            One day some Sadducees who say there is no resurrection from the dead posed a question to Jesus. I was about marriage in the resurrection. Isn't it strange that they never believed in the resurrection of the dead yet had a question regarding marriage in life after death?

            It was about a woman who died having been married to seven brothers. The question was, whose wife will she be in the resurrection. Jesus replied to them, pointing out their mistake lack of knowledge of the scripture and the power of God. Then explains how God called himself God of the living, not God of the dead, indicating that the dead will come back to life one day.

            Matthew 22:31-33 "But now, as to whether there will be a resurrection of the dead—haven't you ever read about this in the Scriptures? Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' So, he is the God of the living, not the dead. "When the crowds heard him, they were astounded at his teaching. The next verse tells us that the Sadducees were silenced with that answer.

III. The Resurrection of the Dead

            Following Jesus' example, the Apostle Paul challenges the Sadducees (we assume) about their wrongly held views on the resurrection of the dead. Vs. 12-13, "But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either."

            The Apostle Paul uses a logical argument and ties the resurrection of the dead with the resurrection of Christ. We must ask whether the resurrection of the dead was a concept of the New Testament only or an Old Testament concept as well? Were there any incidents of people returning to life after they were deceased? I want us to consider the following incidents:

            Job saw the first glimpses of the resurrection of the Lord. Job 19:25-27, "But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body, I will see God! I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!"

            The prophet Daniel prophesied that there would be two types of resurrections of the dead. Daniel 12:1-2, "But at that time, every one of your people whose name is written in the book will be rescued. Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace." Which category will you belong to when you rise?

            The Psalmist predicted how the righteous dead one day would come back to life, and Jesus would be resurrected. Psalm 16:10, "For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave." Peter uses it in his sermon in the second chapter of Acts.

            There are three explicit examples in the Hebrew Bible of people being resurrected from the dead: Elijah prays, and God raises the widow's son at Zarephath from death (1Kings 17:17-24). Elisha raises the son of the Woman of Shunem (2 Kings 4:32-37). A dead man's body thrown in Elisha's tomb was resurrected when it touched Elisha's bones (2 Kings 13:20-21).

            In the NT, six incidents where dead people came back to life: The widow of Nain's son (Lk 7:11-17), Jairus's daughter (Lk 8:49-56), Lazarus of Bethany (John 11), Tabitha (Acts 9:36-43), Eutychus the young man who fell of the window and died during Paul's long sermon, (Acts 20:7-12), and the dead saints came out of the graves when Jesus was crucified (Matt 27:50-55).

            What is the difference between the resurrection of these people and Jesus's resurrection? The resurrected people lived again in fully human bodies and died again. In contrast, Jesus was resurrected with a glorified body, never to die again. Because Jesus rose from the dead and lives, all those who believe and hope in him will live with Him forever in heaven.

            John 5:28-29, "Don't be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God's Son, and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment." Let's see how Paul built this theme of the hope of resurrection.

 

IV. The Hope of The Resurrection: (14-20)

            Paul laid out his argument thoroughly, beginning with Adam's sin until the death of the second Adam, Christ, on the cross. As a result of Adam's sin, we will all die, but because of Christ's death and resurrection, those who believe in Him will also die but will rise again to be with Him in eternity. That is the hope of the resurrection of Christ.

            Let me summarize Paul's argument in verses 14-20: Without the resurrection of Christ, all the preaching of the apostles and the subsequent preachers is useless. The faith of those who believed such teaching is also futile. If all those who believe that there is no resurrection of the dead were right, those with a contrary belief are considered liars and hopeless.

            But thank God the earlier group has gotten it wrong because of the ample scriptural evidence indicating that there is indeed a resurrection of the dead. Moreover, Jesus' stands as the ultimate proof. Paul strengthens his argument with these convincing words.

            Vs. 17-20, "And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless, and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world. But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died."

            What does this mean for us today? Because Jesus lives, we can live today, tomorrow, and when we die, we will rise to be with Him in heaven. Because Jesus is alive, we are people of eternal hope and encouragement. On Christ, the solid rock we stand secure forever. Amen!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] Jim Holt, "Eternity for Atheists," The New York Times Magazine (7-29-07) and The Barna Group, 2002

[2]https://www.therichest.com/most-shocking/15-afterlife-beliefs-from-different-religions/

[3] https://www.haaretz.com/jewish/.premium-what-is-the-jewish-afterlife-like-1.5362876