THE RESURRECTION


A. "AND HAVE HOPE TOWARD GOD, WHICH THEY THEMSELVES ALSO ALLOW, THAT THERE SHALL BE A RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD, BOTH THE JUST AND UNJUST" - Acts 24:15
  1. Our text reveals that:
    1. Many of the Jews believed in the resurrection of the dead - John 11:24; Matt. 22:30-34; Acts 23:6
    2. The Sadducees did not believe in a resurrection of the dead.
  2. Paul made his belief in a resurrection the main reason for the Jews persecuting him:
B. LET US CONSIDER THE RESURRECTION IN THE LIGHT OF A NUMBER OF BIBLE REFERENCES WHICH EMPHASIZE THE RESURRECTION
  1. It is significant:
    1. That the New Testament, almost exclusively, emphasizes the resurrection of the dead, both the just and the unjust.
    2. Our blessed Lord spoke frequently of the resurrection -
      1. "I am the resurrection and the life" - John 11:25
      2. "Thy brother shall rise again" - John 11:23
      3. "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." - John 5:28, 29
    3. Paul, following the example of the Lord, gave strong and repeated emphasis to the resurrection of the dead - Compare 1 Cor. 15:12-57 with Phil. 3:10, 11; Rom. 6:5; 2 Tim. 2:18; Heb. 6:2; 11:35
  2. What is still more significant is:
    1. That the resurrection of the dead is held out as the real hope of God's children - John 5:20, 28, 29; 11:24, 25; 1 Cor. 15:12-18; Acts 23:6
    2. That is a truth overlooked by so many readers of the Bible.
  3. That eternal life and immortality are associated or connected with the resurrection of the dead:
    1. That is what Jesus does - John 5:28, 29; Luke 11:24-26; 14:14; Mark 10:30
    2. That is what Paul affirms - 1 Cor. 15:12-57; 1 Thess. 4:13- 17
  4. If the theory that man has inherent immortality was true, why, please, associate the thought of eternal life with the resurrection?
    1. The reason is obvious; mortal man does not possess by nature immortality; he is mortal.
    2. For him to have immortality, he must get it in the resurrection of the just.
C. THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD
  1. Brings us face to face with the fact that there will be two resurrections:
    1. The resurrection of the just - Luke 14:14
    2. The resurrection of the unjust - John 5:28, 29; Acts 23:6 24:15
  2. That brings us face to face with the life we now live:
    1. "Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap" - Gal. 6:7, 8
    2. Our present life will determine in which resurrection we shall come forth - John 5:28, 29
    3. Our future in the world to come will depend upon what kind of a life we live now!
  3. What is still more important in this study, if that can be, is:
    1. That we can know right now in which resurrection we shall come forth - EXAMPLES -
      1. Paul did - 2 Tim. 4:8
      2. Daniel did - Dan. 12:13
      3. Joseph did - Gen. 50:25; Ex. 13:19
    2. If we consult our life now, do we know in which resurrection we shall have part?


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