In this chapter we will continue to examine how the new testament scriptures affirm the doctrine of the resurrection of the bodies (that have even become dust and ashes) of both the righteous and the wicked. We will look at some other texts before our analysis of First Corinthians chapter fifteen, which is the most detailed account of the resurrection of the body. We will also look at what the bible says about the final glorification of the saints when they are resurrected. We will begin with those other new testament texts that affirm the doctrine of the resurrection of believers at the second coming of Christ. But first let us notice these words of the apostle in that great chapter on the resurrection.
"If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable." (I Cor. 15: 19 nkjv)
This was said in the context of Paul's elaborate homily on the doctrine of a bodily resurrection. If there is no life after death, no resurrection of the dead, then Christians are deluded and cling to a false hope. That is the apostle's firm assertive conclusion. Further he reasons, saying that they who deny a bodily resurrection ought to become hedonists and do whatever feels good, if there is no physical existence in the afterlife; And if no physical retribution in the afterlife also. So Paul says: "If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!” (I Cor. 15: 32 nkjv)
Thankfully however Christ was raised from the dead by the omnipotence of the Deity (by the Father, Spirit, and by himself as the Son of God) and thus produced "a good hope through grace." (II Thess. 2: 16) By the resurrection we have a living hope rather than a dead hope. So testified the apostle Peter:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." (I Peter 1: 3 nkjv)
A slightly better translation would be "a hope living through the resurrection." Without "the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead," without him being "the resurrection and the life," without "the power of his resurrection," the Christian hope would be dead, and his life for Christ would be vain, useless, false, and of no lasting benefit. The entire Christian faith rests on the truth of Christ's resurrection and of the resurrection of the Christian dead at his second coming.
Other NT Texts
"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." (Rom. 8: 11 nkjv)
The bodily resurrection of Christ not only proves that there is resurrection of the physically dead but also guarantees the resurrection of the righteous dead to glory, immortality, and eternal life. Notice how clear is the statement about bodily resurrection. The apostle says "will also give life to your mortal bodies," and such language cannot be understood figuratively but only literally. Following the resurrection their bodies will no longer be mortal but immortal and immutably so. In the same chapter Paul also says:
"And more than that, we ourselves, though we possess the Spirit as a foretaste and pledge of the glorious future, yet we ourselves inwardly sigh, as we wait and long for open recognition (adoption kjv) as sons through the deliverance (redemption kjv) of our bodies." (Rom. 8: 23 Weymouth)
The resurrection of the dead mortal bodies of believers, though they have become dust and ashes, will be their redemption or deliverance, the price for it being paid by the death of Christ, by his blood. Redemption is an ongoing process. Redemption begins with the Redeemer, or kinsman redeemer, paying the price for the redemption of a relative who has become a prisoner, or slave, or captive, after a ransom being paid. After this comes the actual deliverance from that condition and in the salvation of a sinner this effect of paying the ransom begins with the salvation of the soul or spirit and then is completed in the resurrection of that sinner. So, redemption is complete in that the price has been paid, but it is not complete because the deliverance ensuing is not realized fully in body and spirit.
Wrote the apostle Paul, the one who said so much about the resurrection of the dead:
"Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead." (II Cor. 1: 9 nkjv)
The faith of the Christian cannot be divorced from his belief in "God who raised the dead." In both testaments, it was part and parcel of that faith. So we read of the faith of Abraham:
"By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense." (Heb. 11: 17-19 nkjv)
Abraham determined to kill Isaac, his only begotten son, though it tested his faith, because he believed that though he slew Isaac, God would raise Isaac up from the dead and in this he foreshadowed the death and resurrection of Christ. It was also the faith of godly Hannah, the mother of Samuel the prophet, who confessed her faith in God who raises the dead, saying:
“The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up. The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up." (I Sam. 2: 6-7 nkjv)
The apostle Paul says further:
"knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you." (Vs. 14)
The resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the glorification of his human body, was both a picture and a guarantee of the resurrection and glorification of the bodies, yea, of the entire person, of the chosen and called. This text, along with others we have cited from the new testament, state that the resurrection of saints is yet future, that it will occur when Christ comes again. Yet, one group of professing Christians in the time of the apostles contended that the resurrection had already occurred. Wrote the apostle Paul:
"And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some." (II Tim. 2: 17-18 nkjv)
Commentators give various possible meanings to the belief of Hymenaeus and Philetus as respects the resurrection. Some say that they believed in a spiritual resurrection, that is, that they believed Christians are resurrected spiritually or symbolically when they are baptized in water. I think, however, that they may have had the idea that the resurrection of Christ was the only resurrection. They may have also thought that the resurrection of "many bodies of the saints" who arose after Christ was raised (Matt. 27: 52) was that resurrection which is already past. It may be that these two erring brothers were like some in the church of Thessalonica who thought that the coming of the Lord had already occurred. Paul wrote of them saying:
"Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come." (II Thess. 2: 1-2 niv)
Repaid At The Resurrection
"And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” (Luke 14: 14 nkjv)
This is a wonderful thought; God is going to repay (recompense kjv) believers on the resurrection day for all their labors for Christ and for his kingdom. The "they" who "cannot repay you" are the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, people who were helped by believers in Jesus. Christians do not, like worldly sinners, only help those who they think will return the favor, but help those who cannot repay them for their help. But, Jesus assures his people that God will repay them for every good deed they did and for every time they were a help to others. That grand payday occurs when Christ returns and raises the dead. A verse we cited in the previous chapter from the sayings of Christ agree with this. Recall that he said - "those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment." (John 5: 29)
It is also similar to another time where we have this exchange between Peter and the Lord Jesus:
"Then Peter said, “See, we have left all and followed You.” So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.” (Luke 18: 28-30 nkjv)
Believers who help others do get many rewards in their lives, but yet the full reward for all their labors will occur when they are resurrected and receive their "full reward" and "inherit all things." When that happens they will surely say "it was worth it all."
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” (Rev. 22: 12-13 nkjv)
So, we may say with the apostle Paul - "your labors are not in vain in the Lord" (I Cor. 15: 58). This was said in the context of the resurrection of the righteous dead. He also said these words to the Hebrews:
"For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister." (Heb. 6: 10)
God will forever reward his people for their "work and labor of love" that they have shown to others, especially "to the saints." We saw this earlier when we mentioned the judgment of the sheep and goat nations and how the sheep nations were blessed to enter the kingdom of God and new heavens and earth for having kindly treated the brothers of the Lord Jesus Christ. In sum we say to all those who weary themselves in serving the needs of the people of God - "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward." (Hebrews 10:35) The time to receive this great reward is in the time of the resurrection from the dead. Another text that affirms this is found in the book that details the second coming of the Lord. In the Apocalypse of Christ we read:
"The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come,
And the time of the dead, that they should be judged,
And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints,
And those who fear Your name, small and great,
And should destroy those who destroy the earth.” (Rev. 11: 18 nkjv)
This rewarding of the servants of the Lord occurs at "the time of the dead." And, a great reward it is!
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