THE HISTORIC AND PROPHETIC
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESURRECTION:
3/30/97
1 Cor 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the
gospel which I preached unto you, which also
ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
1 Cor 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in
memory what I preached unto you, unless ye
have believed in vain. (KJV)
1 Cor 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that
which I also received, how that Christ died
for our sins according to the scriptures;
1 Cor 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose
again the third day according to the
scriptures: (KJV)
1 Cor 15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the
twelve: (KJV)
1 Cor 15:6 After that, he was seen of above five
hundred brethren at once; of whom the
greater part remain unto this present, but
some are fallen asleep. (KJV)
1 Cor 15:7 After that, he was seen of James; then of
all the apostles. (KJV)
1 Cor 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as
of one born out of due time. (KJV)
THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST IS BOTH A HISTORIC
FACT AS WELL AS THE FOUNDATIONAL DOCTRINE OF CHRISTIAN-
ITY. AS WE CELEBRATE EASTER THIS MORNING I WANT TO
GIVE YOU SOME UNDERSTANDING ON WHAT IS IMPLIED BY FAITH
IN THE DOCTRINE OF RESURRECTION AS IT APPLIES TO BOTH
THE FACT AND THE PROPHETIC IMPLICATIONS.
THE APOSTLE PAUL BEGINS IN 1 COR.15:1-8 TO DESCRIBE
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS
CHRIST AND THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL. THE PURPORT IS
THIS: THERE CAN BE NO GOSPEL OR GOOD NEWS APART FROM
THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST AS THE LAMB OF GOD
THAT TAKES AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD. IN ESSENCE, THE
FACT OF THE RESSURECTION OF JESUS CHRIST AS WITNESSED
BY PETER AND JAMES, THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH IN JERUSAL-
EM, THE TWELVE DISCIPLES AND OVER 500 DISCIPLES AT ONE
TIME WHICH SUBSTANTIATES THE FACT OF THE RESURRECTION.
Matt 27:59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he
wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, (KJV)
Matt 27:60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he
had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a
great stone to the door of the sepulchre,
and departed. (KJV)
Matt 27:61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other
Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.
Matt 27:62 Now the next day, that followed the day of
the preparation, the chief priests and
Pharisees came together unto Pilate, (KJV)
Matt 27:63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver
said, while he was yet alive, After three
days I will rise again. (KJV)
Matt 27:64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made
sure until the third day, lest his disciples
come by night, and steal him away, and say
unto the people, He is risen from the dead:
so the last error shall be worse than the
first. (KJV)
Matt 27:65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go
your way, make it as sure as ye can. (KJV)
Matt 27:66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure,
sealing the stone, and setting a watch.
HERE WE CAN SEE THAT THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS FEARED
THAT THE TEACHING OF THE RESURRECTION MIGHT BE ESTAB-
LISHED UPON A FALSE PREMISES: THAT THE DISCIPLES WOULD
SECRETLY REMOVE HIS BODY FROM THE TOMB AND CLAIM A
RESURRECTION. A ROMAN GAURD WAS PLACED OUTSIDE OF THE
TOMB AND IT WAS SEALED WITH THE SIGNET OF ROMAN. BUT
ON THAT FIRST EASTER MORNING THE STONE WAS SUPERNATUR-
ALLY ROLLED AWAY AND JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD. IT WAS
NOT THE EMPTY TOMB THAT SUBSTANTIATES THE FACT OF
RESURRECTION BUT THE EYE WITNESSES THAT SAW HIM, ATE
WITH HIM AND TOUCHED HIM. THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS
CHRIST WAS NOT A METAPHYSICAL REALITY BUT HIS PHYSICAL
BODY WAS LITERALLY RAISED FROM THE DEAD.
Luke 24:36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood
in the midst of them, and saith unto them,
Peace be unto you. (KJV)
Luke 24:37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and
supposed that they had seen a spirit. (KJV)
Luke 24:38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled?
and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
Luke 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I
myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit
hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
Luke 24:40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them
his hands and his feet. (KJV)
Luke 24:41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and
wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here
any meat? (KJV)
Luke 24:42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish,
and of an honeycomb. (KJV)
Luke 24:43 And he took it, and did eat before them.
and
John 20:24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called
Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
John 20:25 The other disciples therefore said unto him,
We have seen the Lord. But he said unto
them, Except I shall see in his hands the
print of the nails, and put my finger into
the print of the nails, and thrust my hand
into his side, I will not believe. (KJV)
John 20:26 And after eight days again his disciples
were within, and Thomas with them: then came
Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in
the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
John 20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy
finger, and behold my hands; and reach
hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side:
and be not faithless, but believing. (KJV)
John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My
Lord and my God. (KJV)
John 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou
hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed
are they that have not seen, and yet have
believed. (KJV)
John 20:30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the
presence of his disciples, which are not
written in this book: (KJV)
John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God;
and that believing ye might have life
through his name. (KJV)
NOW I WANT TO SPEAK DIRECTLY ABOUT THE RATIFICA-
TION OF THE GOSPEL BY THE FACT OF RESURRECTION BUT
BEFORE I DO I MUST LAY A FOUNDATION FOR THE DIFFICULTY
THAT PAUL WAS DEALING WITH IN THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH.
FROM THE GREEK POINT OF VIEW, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE TIME
OF PLATO. IT WAS CUSTOMARY TO REGARD THE PHYSICAL BODY
AS THE SOURCE OF EVIL. HENCE THEY VIEWD THE BODY AS THE
PRINCIPLE OF SIN IN HUMAN NATURE. IT IS ONLY OBVIOUS
THAT THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY AS VIEWED BY THE
JEWISH MESSIANIC VIEWPOINT, WAS LOOKED UPON AS THE
CONSUMATION OF THE EXPECTED SALVATION; BUT TO THE GREEK
MIND IT WAS A RESTORATION OF THE PRINCIPLE OF SIN. FOR
THE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE OF RESURRECTION SUPPORTS NOT
ONLY THE IMORTALITY OF THE SOUL BUT ALSO A BODY THAT
ACCOMPANY'S IT. THE DISTINCTION LIES IN THE GLORIFICA-
TION OF THE BODY AS WE READ LATER ON IN ICOR.15:
1 Cor 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It
is sown in corruption; it is raised in
incorruption: (KJV)
1 Cor 15:43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in
glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised
in power: (KJV)
1 Cor 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a
spiritual body. There is a natural body,
and there is a spiritual body. (KJV)
Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the
riches of the glory of this mystery among the
Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of
glory: (KJV)
Phil 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from
whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord
Jesus Christ: (KJV)
Phil 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may
be fashioned like unto his glorious body,
according to the working whereby he is able
even to subdue all things unto himself.
BY MAKING A DISTINCTION BETWEEN A PHYSICAL BODY
RAISED AND AN IMMORTAL AND GLORIFIED BODY PAUL WAS
ABLE TO SUBSTANTIATE THE DOCTRINE OF THE RESURRECTION
IN THE MINDS OF THE CORINTHIAN BLEIEVERS. THE MOST
IMPORTANT TEACHING REGARDING THE DOCTRINE OF RESUR-
RECTION IS THAT THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST
RATIFIES THE GOSPEL MESSAGE THAT MEN CAN BE FORGIVEN OF
THEIR SINS AND SAVED FROM ETERNAL WRATH. WE MUST
UNDERSTAND THAT THE DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST WAS VICARIOUS
AND SUBSTITUTIONARY IN NATURE. HE TOOK OUR PLACE ON
THE CROSS AND DECENDED INTO HELL AS THE CONSUMATE
PENALTY FOR OUR SIN. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE DIED FOR THE
SINS OF OTHERS OR BECAUSE OF THEIR SINS AND THEIR DEATH
WASN'T EFFECACIOUS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RESURRECTION.
THE FACT OF THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS RATIFIES THE GOSPEL
BECAUSE IT IS PROOF THAT JESUS DID NOT DIE FOR HIS OWN
PERSOANL SINS BUT FOR THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD THAT
WAS IMPUTED TO HIM. YOU SEE THE DIVINE PENALTY FOR
PERSONAL SIN ACCORDING TO ROM.5:12 IS DEATH. NOT ONLY
PHYSICAL DEATH BUT SPIRITUAL DEATH OR SEPARATION FROM
GOD. JESUS PAID THE PENALTY FOR OUR SINS BY DYING
PHYSICALLY, AND DESCENDING INTO HELL FOR THREE DAYS AND
THREE NIGHTS IN ABSOLUTE SEPARATION FROM GOD AND
ENDURED SPIRITUAL DEATH VICARIOUSLY. THE PHYSICAL
RESURRECTION OF JESUS IS PROOF THAT HE FULFILLED THE
DIVINE PENALTY FOR OUR SIN AND NOT HIS OWN SO THE FACT
OF HIS RESSURECTION RATIFIES THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL.
G. CAMBELL MORGAN:THE RESURRECTION IS THE DEMONSTRATION
OF THE FACT THAT IN THE MYSTERY OF HIS DYING HE DEALT
WITH SIN. HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THERE IS ANY VALUE IN
THE DEATH OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS? THE ANSWER IS, HE
WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD. APART FROM THAT RESURRECTION
WE HAVE NO ANSWER TO THIS QUEST FOR MORAL CLEANSING.
BUT, CHRIST IS NOW RAISED FROM THE DEAD AND CLEANSING
FROM PERSONAL SIN CAN BE EXPERIENCED BY A PERSONAL
FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST AND THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL!
SO PAUL WRITES IN I COR.15:
1 Cor 15:12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from
the dead, how say some among you that there
is no resurrection of the dead? (KJV)
1 Cor 15:13 But if there be no resurrection of the
dead, then is Christ not risen: (KJV)
1 Cor 15:14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our
preaching vain, and your faith is also
vain. (KJV)
1 Cor 15:15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of
God; because we have testified of God that
he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up,
if so be that the dead rise not. (KJV)
1 Cor 15:16 For if the dead rise not, then is not
Christ raised: (KJV)
1 Cor 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is
vain; ye are yet in your sins. (KJV)
1 Cor 15:18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in
Christ are perished. (KJV)
1 Cor 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in
Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
1 Cor 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and
become the firstfruits of them that slept.
THE CONCEPT THAT PAUL USES IN VERSE 20, FIRSTFRUITS,
GIVES US THE BASIS FOR THE PROPHETIC ASPECT OF THE
DOCTRINE OF RESURRECTION. JESUS WAS THE FIRST MAN THAT
ROSE FROM THE DEAD:
1 Cor 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came
also the resurrection of the dead. (KJV)
1 Cor 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ
shall all be made alive. (KJV)
1 Cor 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the
firstfruits; afterward they that are
Christ's at his coming. (KJV)
THE PROPHETIC ELEMENT IN THE FIRSTFRUITS IS THAT IF
THERE WAS A FIRST THEN THERE COULD ALSO BE A SECOND, OR
MORE. AND SO PETER TELLS US THAT WE HAVE BEEN BEGOTTEN
AGAIN UNTO A LIVELY HOPE BY THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS
CHRIST FROM THE DEAD ACCORDING TO 1PET.1:3-5
1 Pet 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant
mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively
hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from
the dead, (KJV)
1 Pet 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and
undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved
in heaven for you, (KJV)
1 Pet 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through
faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in
the last time. (KJV)
NOW THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROPHETIC RESURRECTION
OR THE HOPE OF THE GOSPEL IS MANIFOLD. THE FACT THAT
JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD AS A FIRSTFRUITS IS INDICATIVE
OF THE CHARACTER OF THE BELIEVER THROUGH THIS LIFE: WE
HAVE A DEFINITE SENSE OF AN ETERNAL DESTINY, AN
UNDERSTANDING AND MOTIVATINAL FACTOR OF THE RECOMPENSE
OF THE REWARD AND AN OVERAL SENSE OF BOLDNESS, CONFI-
DENCE AND COURAGE EVEN IN THE FACE OF PHYSICAL SUFFER-
ING AND DEATH. THE HOPE OF THE RESURRECTION MAKES IT
POSSIBLE FOR THE BELIEVER TO FOLLOW THE LAST EXHORTA-
TION OF PAUL IN COR:15
1 Cor 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye
stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in
the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know
that your labour is not in vain in the
Lord.
AND AS THE AUTHOR TO THE BOOK OF HEBREWS WROTE:
Heb 6:9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of
you, and things that accompany salvation,
though we thus speak. (KJV)
Heb 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work
and labour of love, which ye have shewed
toward his name, in that ye have ministered to
the saints, and do minister. (KJV)
Heb 6:11 And we desire that every one of you do shew
the same diligence to the full assurance of
hope unto the end: (KJV)
Heb 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them
who through faith and patience inherit the
promises. (KJV)
NOW THERE IS SOMETHING MORE PROFOUND IN THIS
DOCTRINE OF RESURRECTION THAT SUPPORTS THE BELIEF THAT
OUR BODY IS SOWED A NATURAL BODY BUT IT IS RAISED A
SPIRITUAL AND GLORIFIED BODY. LET'S BEGIN READING IN:
1 Cor 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and
become the firstfruits of them that slept.
1 Cor 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came
also the resurrection of the dead. (KJV)
1 Cor 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ
shall all be made alive. (KJV)
1 Cor 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the
firstfruits; afterward they that are
Christ's at his coming. (KJV)
ORDER: Strong's # 5001 tagma (tag'-mah);
from 5021; something orderly in
arrangement (a troop), i.e.
(figuratively) a series or succession:
KJV-- order. (DIC)
1 Cor 15:35 But some man will say, How are the dead
raised up? and with what body do they come?
1 Cor 15:36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not
quickened, except it die: (KJV)
1 Cor 15:37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not
that body that shall be, but bare grain, it
may chance of wheat, or of some other
grain: (KJV)
1 Cor 15:38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased
him, and to every seed his own body. (KJV)
1 Cor 15:39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there
is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh
of beasts, another of fishes, and another
of birds. (KJV)
1 Cor 15:40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies
terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial
is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is
another. (KJV)
1 Cor 15:41 There is one glory of the sun, and another
glory of the moon, and another glory of the
stars: for one star differeth from another
star in glory. (KJV)
1 Cor 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It
is sown in corruption; it is raised in
incorruption: (KJV)
1 Cor 15:43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in
glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised
in power: (KJV)
1 Cor 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a
spiritual body. There is a natural body,
and there is a spiritual body. (KJV)
NOW HOW ISTHE BODY RAISED? IT IS RAISED A GLORIFIED
BODY, EACH MAN IN HIS OWN ORDER. THE WORD ORDER IN
VERSE 15:23 IS THE GREEK WORD TAGMA WHICH MEANS RANK OF
SUCCESSION AS IN THE MILITARY. VERSE 41 INDICATES
ALONG WITH VERSE 23 THAT THERE WILL BE DIFFERENCES OF
RANK IN THE RESURRECTION JUST AS THERE ARE DIFFERENCES
IN THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE SUN, MOON AND THE STARS. WHY
DO THESE DIFFERENCES EXIST? BECAUSE GOD IS A FAITHFUL
JUDGE AND HE WILL REWARD EVERY BELIEVER BASED ON THESE
CRITERIA: 1. THE DEGREE TO WHICH A BELIEVER LIVED FOR
THE LORD AND NOT HIMSELF. 2. THE DEGREE TO WHICH THE
BELIEVER EMBRACED THE CROSS OF CHRIST AS A LIFSTYLE.
3. THE MEASURE IN WHICH THE BELIEVER WAS FAITHFUL TO
THE DIVINE CALL UPON HIS LIFE. AND 4. THE DEGREE OF
TRANSFORMATION INTO THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF CHRIST.
THIS TRANSFORMATION IS TRANSLATED INTO TWO OTHER WORDS
IN THE N.T.;THAT OF BEING CONFORMED INTO HIS IMAGE AND
THE WORD CHANGED INTO HIS IMAGE FROM GLORY TO GLORY
EVEN AS BY THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD.
Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did
predestinate to be conformed to the image
of his Son, that he might be the firstborn
among many brethren. (KJV)
Romans 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he
also called: and whom he called, them he
also justified: and whom he justified, them
he also glorified. (KJV)
2 Cor 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the
Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
2 Cor 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a
glass the glory of the Lord, are changed
into the same image from glory to glory,
even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (KJV)
1 Cor 15:48 As is the earthy, such are they also that
are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such
are they also that are heavenly. (KJV)
1 Cor 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the
earthy, we shall also bear the image of the
heavenly. (KJV)
ALTHOUGH ALL THESE FOUR FACTORS ARE INVOLED IN THE
DISTINCTIONS OF AMOUNT OF GLORY IN THE RESURRECTION THE
LAST IS PROBABLY THE MOST SIGNIFICANT. I JN.3:2 TELLS US
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it
doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we
know that, when he shall appear, we shall be
like him; for we shall see him as he is.
IF WE WERE TO DIE TODAY OR IF CHRIST WAS TO RETURN,
THE MEASURE OF TRANSFORMATION THAT YOU REACHED TODAY
WOULD DETERMINE YOUR RANK OF GLORY IN THE RESURRECTION.
THERE ARE SOME WHO BELIEVE THAT PERSONAL CHANGE WILL
CONTINUE AFTER THE RESURRECTION BUT I AM CONVINCED THAT
ALL PERSONAL CHANGE INTO THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF
CHRIST MUST HAPPEN ON THIS SIDE OF HEAVEN. NOW I KNOW
THAT I HAVE SHARED THIS BELIEF WITH YOU BEFORE BUT
SINCE THEN I HAVE RECEIVED A BIBLICAL PRESEDENCE FOR
THIS CONVICTION THAT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU NOW.
1 Chr 22:1 Then David said, This is the house of the
LORD God, and this is the altar of the burnt
offering for Israel. (KJV)
1 Chr 22:2 And David commanded to gather together the
strangers that were in the land of Israel;
and he set masons to hew wrought stones to
build the house of God. (KJV)
1 Chr 22:3 And David prepared iron in abundance for the
nails for the doors of the gates, and for
the joinings; and brass in abundance without
weight; (KJV)
1 Chr 22:4 Also cedar trees in abundance: for the
Zidonians and they of Tyre brought much
cedar wood to David. (KJV)
PRIOR TO THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE THE CHILDREN OF
ISRAEL WORSHIPPED GOD IN THE TABERNACLE IN THE WILDER-
NESS. THE TABERNACLE AND THE WILDERNESS JOURNEYS OF
THE ISRAELITES ARE SYMBOLIC OF OUR LIFE ON THIS SIDE OF
THE RESURRECTION. THE TEMPLE THAT SOLOMON BUILT IS
SYMBOLIC OF THE PERMANENT TEMPLE OF GOD IN HEAVEN.
DAVID AS A TYPE OF CHRIST MADE VAST PREPARATIONS FOR
THE MATERIAL THAT WOULD GO INTO THE BUILDING OF THE
TEMPLE. GOLD, BRAS, WOOD, FINE LINNEN ETC. JUST AS
CHRIST HAS MADE PROVISION FOR THE WORK OF THE HOLY
SPIRIT, WHO WAS TYPIFIED IN SOLOMON, TO BUILD THE
IMAGE AND CHARACTER OF CHRIST WITHIN THE BELIEVER. NOW
PETER TELLS US:
1 Pet 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a
spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer
up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by
Jesus Christ. (KJV)
Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and
foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the
saints, and of the household of God; (KJV)
Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself
being the chief corner stone; (KJV)
Eph 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together
groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Eph 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an
habitation of God through the Spirit. (KJV)
WE ARE THE LIVING STONES THAT MAKE UP THE TEMPLE OF
GOD IN HEAVEN. RIGHT NOW WE ARE THE TABERNACLE OF GOD
WHILE ON EARTH BUT WE ARE BEING PROCESSED INTO LIVELY
STONES THAT WILL MAKE UP GOD'S PERMANENT TEMPLE IN
HEAVEN.
1 King 6:7 And the house, when it was in building, was
built of stone made ready before it was
brought thither: so that there was neither
hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in
the house, while it was in building. (KJV)
IN CONTEXT TO THESE THOUGHTS, THIS VERSE SUBSTAN-
TIATES MY CONVICTION THAT PERSONAL CHANGE IN OUR LIFE
MUST HAPPEN ON THIS SIDE OF RESURRECTION. YOU SEE THE
STONES THAT WOULD BE BUILT INTO THE TEMPLE WERE PRE-
CUT AT THE QUARRY AND ONLY GOT BUILT INTO THE TEMPLE
WHEN THEY WERE BROUGHT TO THE BUILDING SITE. ALL THE
CUTTING AWAY AND CHISELING WAS DONE AT THE QUARRY JUST
AS ALL THE CUTTING AWAY OF THE FLESH IS DONE DURING OUR
LIFETIME ON EARTH. WHEN THE ULTIMATE CHANGE AND TRANS-
FORMATION TAKES PLACE AT THE TIME WE DIE OR WHEN CHRIST
RETURNS: IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE WE WILL BE CHANGED;
ALL THAT HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY CONFORMED INTO THE IMAGE
OF CHRIST WILL PASS INTO HEAVEN TO BE BUILT INTO THE
TEMPLE GOF GOD. BUT ALL THAT HAS NOT BEEN CHANGED WILL
BE PERMANENTLY AND PAINFULLY REMOVED. THE DEGREE TO
WHICH WE HAVE BEEN CHANGED INTO HIS IMAGE WILL DETER-
MINE OUR RANK OF SUCCESSION AND USEFULNESS IN HEAVEN ON
A PERMANENT AND ETERNAL BASIS. NOW LET'S LOOK AT THIS
SOBERING PRINCIPLE AS PAUL SPOKE OF IT IN:
1 Cor 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than
that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (KJV)
1 Cor 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation
gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay,
stubble; (KJV)
1 Cor 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for
the day shall declare it, because it shall
be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try
every man's work of what sort it is. (KJV)
1 Cor 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built
thereupon, he shall receive a reward. (KJV)
1 Cor 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall
suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved;
yet so as by fire. (KJV)
1 Cor 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God,
and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1 Cor 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him
shall God destroy; for the temple of God is
holy, which temple ye are. (KJV)
NOW ITS IMPROTNAT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE
NOT TALKING ABOUT OUR FUTURE DESTINATION IN HEAVEN.
THE MOMENT YOU ACCEPTED CHRIST AS SAVIOR AND LORD YOU
DESTINY WAS FIXED AND DETERMINED. WHEN YOU DIE OR WHEN
CHRIST RETURNS YOU WILL GO TO HEAVEN, FOR TO BE ABSCENT
FROM THE BODY IS TO BE PRESENT WITH THE LORD. THIS IS
SECURED AT SALVATION. BUT WHAT I HAVE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT IS NOT WHERE YOU WILL SPEND ETERNITY BUT HOW YOU
SPEND ETERNITY AND WHAT WILL BE YOU VOCATION OR OCCUPA-
TION IN HEAVEN. ALL THIS WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE
DEGREE OF GLORY THAT YOU COME FORTH IN THE RESURRETION.
ACCORDING TO THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS IF YOU'VE BEEN
FAITHFUL, WHICH IS A CONDITION OF YOUR CHARACTER, YOU
WILL BE MADE A RULER OVER TWO CITIES, FIVE CITIES OR
TEN CITIES. BUT IF YOU HAVE LIVED FOR YOURSELF AND THE
PLEASURES OF THIS LIFE AND YOU FAILED TO SERVE THE LORD
IN THE TALENTS AND GIFTS THAT HE HAS GIVEN YOU WHILE
HERE ON EARTH, YOU WILL FORFIET THE GREATER PART OF YOU
USEFULNESS IN HEAVEN.
NOW WHY SHOULD WE WANT A HIGHER RANK AND SUCCESSION
IN HEAVEN? IS IT SO THAT WE CAN BOAST OF OUR TRANS-
FORAMTION WHILE HERE ON EARTH? OFCOURSE NOT, FOR THAT
WOULD BE VAIN AND FLESHLY. OUR PURPOSE FOR SEEKING A
HIGHER RANK IN THE RESURRECTION IS SO THAT WE CAN
GLORIFY GOD AND BE MORE USEFUL TO HIM THROUGHOUT
ETERNITY.
ALTHOUGH WE DO NOT HAVE THE TIME THIS MORNING TO
EXHUST THE ENTIRE TEACHING IN I COR.15 LET ME GIVE YOU
A BREAKDOWN OF THE BOOK BY VERSES FOR YOUR FUTURE
REFERENCE:
1. FIRST THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST RATIFIES THE
GOSPEL: VV.1-19
2. SECONDLY, THE RESURRECTION ASSURES THAT THE KINGDOM
WILL ULTIMATELY BE SURRENDERED TO GOD WHEN THE END
SHALL COME: VV. 20-43
3. THRIDLY, THE RESURRECTION HARMONIZES WITH NATURAL
LAW: WHEN A CORN OF WHEAT FALL INTO THE GROUND IT DIES
BUT THEM IT BRINGS FORTH FRUIT: VV.35-49
4. FOURTHLY, THE RESURRECTION PLEDGES IMMORTALITY:
VV. 50-57.
SO WE HAVE LEARNED TO IMPORTANT THINGS ABOUT THE
DOCTRINE OF THE RESURRECTION THIS MORNING. WE HAVE
SEEN THE HISTORICAL FACT OF THE RESURRECTION THAT
RATIFIES THE GOSPEL AND WE HAVE SEEN THE PROPHETIC
SIGNIFICNAE OF THE FIRSTFUITS RESURRECTION OF JESUS
CHRIST. TODAY IS EASTER AND WE CELEBRATE THE DEATH,
RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION OF JESUS CHRIST BY WHICH WE
HAVE OBTAINED ETERNAL SALVATION AND SECURED OUR ETERNAL
DESTINY IN CHRIST. LET US GO FORTH THIS DAY REJOICING
IN THE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE, DECIDINGLY LIVING FOR
CHRIST AND NOT FOR OURSELVES; FOR THERE WILL BE A JUST
RECOMPENSE AND REWARD.
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