Resurrection of the dead – you will receive a new body?
Resurrection of the Dead
The “Resurrection of the Dead” is one of the Elementary Principles of Christ as described in Hebrews 6:1-2. Every Christian should know and understand these 6 basic foundational principles as a follower of Christ. The “Resurrection of the Dead” is a very powerful and important teaching.
When a person dies physically their body ceases to have life and it begins to decay. In Genesis 3:19 God says it this way, “…I used dust to make you, and when you die, you will become dust again.” Just as God formed our fleshly – natural bodies when we were conceived He also has a plan for us to receive a new and spiritual body in the future.
What is Meant by Resurrection
The resurrection of the dead is all about how, one day at the appointed time, everyone who has experienced physical death will receive a new resurrected body to replace their old decayed body. It is NOT about going to heaven. The resurrection of the dead is about how those who have died will get a new body. When a person dies there bodies cease to exist, but their spirit and soul continues to live.
What Happens to People When They Die?
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” Hebrews 9:27 This is referring to physical death. When a person dies physically they experience a judgment that determines where their spirit and soul goes at that moment. Physical death is not the end. God created us to be eternal beings. Every person born into this world will live forever. The only question is where will they live. Next month we will teach on Eternal Judgment, the 6th and last elementary teaching of Christ.
However, the moment a person dies they will either go to paradise or to Hades – until the resurrection and eternal judgment happens . Those without faith in Christ go to a place called Hades. It is a terrible – tormenting place. Those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ go to be where Jesus is in heaven – “paradise”. In Luke 23:43 Jesus told the man on the cross next him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” This is where Jesus is and when a believer dies they go to be with Jesus (2Corinthians 5:7)
When Does the Resurrection Take Place
The Bible is clear that the resurrection of the dead is a reality and that this life is not all that there is. While death is the end of physical life, it is not the end of human existence. Many erroneously believe that there is one general resurrection at the end of the age, but the Bible tells of several resurrections that have already happened, the greatest and most significant that of Jesus himself. Jesus is alive. He died on the cross, was buried, but on the third day He arose from the dead.. (1Corinthians 5:14) His resurrection is the guarantee or our (the church) future resurrection.
The Bible also tells of other future resurrections including our ours there are 4 main groups of people:
- New Testament saints – the rapture of the church
- Old Testament saints – end of tribulation
- Tribulation saints – end of tribulation
- Unsaved dead:- at the end of the Millennium
What Will Our Resurrected Bodies be Like
The resurrected glorified body we receive will not be exactly like the body we have now. Our new bodies will be immortal, spiritual, powerful, eternal, and heavenly (1 Corinthians 15:42-48)
These are only some of the ways our new resurrected body will be different from our earthly body. We will have many other abilities and there will be other changes that will far exceed the limitations of our human bodies.
The Resurrection of Believers Completes Our Salvation
Our resurrection is the ultimate completion of our salvation referred to as – “Glorification”. When we are born again we get a brand new spirit – we become “new creations in Christ”. (2Corinthians 2:17) This is referred to as – “Justification”. After we are born again we begin to grow and mature in Christ – through the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2) This is the process of – “Sanctification”.
As a believer the same power that raised Christ from the dead is at work in us now. (Romans 8:11) It is helping us to live out our life for Christ and it gives us the assurance of being with Jesus forever. As a believer when we pass from this life we go to be with the Lord and to be in His presence for ever. Then one day when the trumpet sounds and the angel gives that great shout we will receive new immortal glorified bodies. (1Thessalonnias 4:16) The resurrection of the dead is one of the elementary principles of Christ every believer needs to understand.
