THE HOPE OF THE RESURRECTION

ACTS 23:6

A. "OF THE HOPE AND RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD I AM CALLED INTO QUESTION"
  1. The resurrection of the dead - the just and the unjust forms a major portion of the teaching of the New Testament:
    1. Jesus Christ gave strong emphasis to the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead - Matt. 22; Luke 14:14; John 5:28-29; 11:22-41
    2. Peter taught the resurrection of the dead - Acts 2:31; 4:2; 33; I Pet. 1:3; 3:21
    3. Paul was an outstanding exponent of the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead - Rom. 1:4; 6:5; I Cor. 15; Phil. 3:10-11; Heb. 6:2; 11:6
  2. The doctrine of the resurrection of the dead has special appeal to men:
    1. In the hour of bereavement and sorrow
    2. Heart grief would make sorrows unbearable were it not for the hope of the resurrection of the dead B. THE HOPE OF THE RESURRECTION
  3. That word hope:
    1. What would this present life be without it?
    2. There was a time in my life when I was without God and without hope - Eph. 2:11-15
    3. Man's very existence centers in and is dependent on hope - take away hope from the sick and what chance have they for recovery - take away hope from those who are struck with adversity as Job was - what hope has man? What is there to live for without hope
  4. The hope of the resurrection of the dead:
    1. Tempers the pain of death - Job 19:24-26
    2. It lights up the grave and allows the dying to look beyond the grave to the glorious resurrection morning - as Job did - Job 14:15; as David believed - Ps. 17:15; as Simeon did - Luke 2:28-32
  5. The hope of the resurrection of the dead:
    1. Is based upon the resurrection from the dead
    2. "If Christ be not raised, your faith is in vain; ye are yet in your sins" - I Cor. 15:12-23; Rom. 6:4-9 C. THE BLESSED HOPE OF THE RESURRECTION AND ITS MEANING IN THE HOUR OF BEREAVEMENT AND SORROW
  6. Sin has brought death to the human race:
    1. That was the sentence the Creator passed upon Adam and thus upon all his posterity compare Gen. 2:16-17 with chapter 3:17-22; Rom. 5:12; I Cor. 15:56
    2. Death brings bereavement and bereavement brings pain and deep sorrow - Examples: David's sorrow over the death of Absalom, his son - 2 Sam. 29:32-33; Joseph mourned over the death of his father, Jacob; Samuel mourned for Saul I Sam. 15:35; David mourned for Saul and Jonathan
  7. But there is a difference:
    1. When one dies without hope - there is real reason for sorrow - I Thes. 4:13 - that explains David's sorrow over his son Absalom
    2. But sorrows are tempered when the bereaved know that a loved one has fallen asleep in Jesus
    3. They who fall asleep in Jesus are safe - they are secure
    4. Said Jesus to sorrowing Martha, "Thy brother shall rise again" - John 11:11- 44
    5. Said the prophet Isaiah, "Thy dead men shall live, together, with my dead body shall they rise" - Is. 26:19-20
  8. But, dear ones, the hope of the resurrection rests:
    1. Upon our relationship with Jesus
    2. Life present and future centers in the person Jesus Christ - John 1:2-12; I John 5:10-12
    3. Says He, "I am the resurrection and the life" - John 11:25
    4. To die in Christ is to live in Christ Jesus - I Thes. 4:13-17; Phil. 3:8-14
    5. To live in the new world, one must be born into it - John 3:3-9
    6. To have part in the first resurrection our name must be found in the book of life - Rev. 20:10-12; Heb. 12:22-26
  9. Your consolation:
    1. You have good reason to believe that your loved one was a firm and loyal believer in Jesus Christ
    2. He fell asleep in the hope of being raised from the dead at the second coming of Jesus


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