Lesson
13: The resurrection of the body
I
believe in God, the Father, Almighty, maker of heaven and earth;
And
in Jesus Christ, his only son, our lord;
Who
was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
Born
of the virgin Mary,
Suffered
under Pontius Pilate,
Was
crucified, dead and buried.
He
descended into hell,
And
on the third day he rose again;
He
ascended into heaven,
Where
he is now seated at the right hand of God, the Father, Almighty,
Whence
he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe
in the Holy Spirit,
The
holy, catholic church,
The
communion of saints,
The
forgiveness of sins,
The
resurrection of the body,
And
the life everlasting.
Amen.
John 5:28-29
[28] Don’t marvel at this, for the hour
comes, in which
all that are in the tombs will hear his voice, [29] and will come
out; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those
who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.
1 Corinthians
15:19 If we have only hoped in Christ in
this life, we are of all men most pitiable.
RESURRECTION
A rising again; chiefly, the revival of the dead of the human race,
or their return from the grave, particularly at the general judgment.
By the resurrection of Christ we have assurance of the future
resurrection of men. 1Peter 1.
In the resurrection, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage.
Matt. 22.
"resurrection." Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary
of the English Language. 2015.
http://1828.mshaffer.com/d/word/resurrection
(14 March 2015).
The Main
Points for This Lesson:
The purpose of this
series of lessons is, using the Apostles' Creed, to teach the
essential teachings of the Christian faith and what it means to
believe them. To state it simply, the goal is to teach what we
believe and what it means to believe it.
The Apostles' Creed
has three main sections. The third section begins with the Holy
Spirit. In this lesson we will learn about the fourth part of this
third section: “...The resurrection of the body.”
Death. When sin
entered the world, death came with it. All men die. If death is the
final end of existence for men, then it is most reasonable to live
for this life only. If the grave is the end, then, as it has been
written, let us eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die (1
Corinthians 15:32).
Resurrection. God
spoke through his Son, and through his apostles and prophets, and has
told us of the resurrection of the dead. One day, the last day, all
men will rise again. Death is not the end of existence. It is the
hope of the resurrection that gives us reason to look beyond this
life as we live today. It gives us reason to make choices and goals
based on a hope of eternal reward.
All will be raised. Daniel wrote
of the resurrection: “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the
earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and
everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2). Jesus said simply that
all men will rise, “those who
have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those who have done
evil, to the resurrection of judgment” (John 5:29). For those who
have done good, the resurrection is a wonderful hope and joy, for
such will rise again to eternal life. For those who have done evil,
the resurrection is a terror and most undesirable thing, for they
will rise again to judgment and eternal condemnation. If
we want to have a reasonable hope of rising unto life, we must be
those who have done good.
Jesus is the resurrection and the
life. Speaking to Martha, Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and
the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies”
(John 11:25). If we want
to rise again unto life, we must believe in Jesus. Believing in Jesus
and doing good are not two separate or opposing things. They go hand
in hand. We can never say, I do good, so I don't need Jesus. Neither
can we say, I believe in Jesus, so I don't need to do good. The
apostle Paul wrote that we (God's children) are his workmanship,
created for good works in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:10). May our
believing in Jesus be a living faith that loves and obeys the one we
call Lord. Binding together believing in Jesus and doing good, it was
written, “For if we die with him, we shall also reign with him”
(2 Timothy 2:11).
What does it mean to
believe this? To believe in the resurrection of the body is to
believe that there is an eternity to be gained or lost in this life.
Believing in the resurrection of the body we will evaluate our life
in this world and the things of this world in light of the next life.
We will not fear death for ourselves, knowing that death leads to
resurrection. We will not mourn for God's children who have died as
the world mourns for their dead, for we know by faith that they will
be raised again unto life. If we believe in the resurrection, we will
turn from sin, fearing the judgment of him who tells us that those
who do evil will rise again unto everlasting contempt. Finally,
believing this, we will pursue righteousness and good works in faith
in Christ Jesus our Lord, in hope that we may attain to the
resurrection of the dead unto life eternal.
Suggestions:
Open each lesson
with prayer for the teacher and the students and this class time.
Remind the children
that we are using the Apostles' Creed to teach the essential
teachings of the Christian faith, that is, what we believe and what
it means to believe it. Read through the Apostles' Creed with the
children.
For the purpose of
these lessons, we have broken the creed into twelve parts. Let the
children know that today we will talk about the eleventh part: ...The
resurrection of the body.
Ask the children if
they can tell you what resurrection means. Help them to understand as
they need help.
Remind them that the
resurrection came up before in the Apostles’ Creed. See if they
know the difference between this and the earlier time it was
mentioned. (The resurrection of the body refers to the resurrection
of all men. The earlier time it was mentioned was related
specifically to Jesus rising again on the third day.)
Ask the children in
they can name all the stories in the Bible about someone rising from
the dead. As they name them, write them in two categories (see below
under “More Stories and Examples”). Have them give you some of
the details from each story.
See if they can
figure out the difference between the two categories of resurrections
(The first rise in this life to die again. The second rise never to
die again.) What resurrection is this section of the Apostles' Creed
talking about? Will only some people rise again? If all will rise,
will all rise to the same thing? To whom is promised the resurrection
unto life? (Those who do good, those who believe in Jesus.) To whom
is promised the resurrection unto judgment? (Those who do evil.)
During this section, it would be good to help the children out by
reading some verses from the Gospel of John: 5:28-29; 11:23-27. If we
want to attain to the resurrection unto life, what should we do?
If time and
attention span permits, ask the children how believing in the
resurrection of the body affects our thoughts about death.
Close the lesson
with prayer related to the subject and the students. Pray the Lord's
Prayer together.
Stories:
John 11:1-44
– The story of Lazarus
More Stories
and Examples:
RAISED BACK TO THIS
LIFE
In
God's word, we read several stories of those who were raised from the
dead back to this life. That is, they were dead. They were raised.
However, we expect that they will eventually die again in
this life.
1 Kings 17:17-24
Elijah raised
widow's son
2 Kings 4:18-37
Elisha raises
Shunnamite's son
2 Kings 13:20-21
Dead man touches
Elisha's bones and comes to life again.
Luke 7:11-17
Jesus raises
widow's son
Matthew 9:18-26;
Mark 5:22-43; Luke 8:40-56
Jesus raises
Jairus' daughter
Acts 9:36-41
Dorcas raised by
Peter
Acts 20:7-12
Eutychus is raised
by Paul.
THE RESURRECTION OF
THE BODY
Jesus
died. He rose again. His resurrection is different from all others
who were raised. He rose never to die again. Death no more has
dominion over him (Romans 6:9). It is such a resurrection this
is promised to all those who
follow Jesus to the end with an obedient faith.
Matthew 28; Mark
16; Luke 24; John 20 – Jesus rose from the dead on the third
day.
Matthew 27:50-53
– At the death of Jesus, many bodies of the saints who had fallen
asleep were raised.
I
include this story of resurrection in this section, though
I am uncertain. While I am inclined to think that those who were
raised at this time did not die again, but ascended to heaven after
appearing to many in Jerusalem, I am not sure, and we are not told.
Other Verses:
Just
as 1 Corinthians 13 is THE
chapter about love, 1 Corinthians 15 is THE
chapter about the resurrection of the body. It is long, but I place
it first and in its entirety for those who desire
to read the words inspired by the
Holy Spirit on this subject.
1 Corinthians
15:1-58 [1] Now I declare to you, brothers, the Good News which I
preached to you, which also you received, in which you also stand,
[2] by which also you are saved, if you hold firmly the word which I
preached to you—unless you believed in vain. [3] For I delivered to
you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our
sins according to the Scriptures, [4] that he was buried, that he was
raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, [5] and that he
appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. [6] Then he appeared to over
five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but
some have also fallen asleep. [7] Then he appeared to James, then to
all the apostles, [8] and last of all, as to the child born at the
wrong time, he appeared to me also. [9] For I am the least of the
apostles, who is not worthy to be called an apostle, because I
persecuted the assembly of God. [10] But by the grace of God I am
what I am. His grace which was bestowed on me was not futile, but I
worked more than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God which
was with me. [11] Whether then it is I or they, so we preach, and so
you believed. [12] Now if Christ is preached, that he has been raised
from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no
resurrection of the dead? [13] But if there is no resurrection of the
dead, neither has Christ been raised. [14] If Christ has not been
raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith also is in
vain. [15] Yes, we are found false witnesses of God, because we
testified about God that he raised up Christ, whom he didn’t raise
up, if it is so that the dead are not raised. [16] For if the dead
aren’t raised, neither has Christ been raised. [17] If Christ has
not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins. [18]
Then they also who are fallen asleep in Christ have perished. [19] If
we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most
pitiable. [20] But now Christ has been raised from the dead. He
became the first fruits of those who are asleep. [21] For since death
came by man, the resurrection of the dead also came by man. [22] For
as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. [23]
But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who
are Christ’s, at his coming. [24] Then the end comes, when he will
deliver up the Kingdom to God, even the Father; when he will have
abolished all rule and all authority and power. [25] For he must
reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. [26] The last
enemy that will be abolished is death. [27] For, “He put all things
in subjection under his feet.” But when he says, “All things are
put in subjection”, it is evident that he is excepted who subjected
all things to him. [28] When all things have been subjected to him,
then the Son will also himself be subjected to him who subjected all
things to him, that God may be all in all. [29] Or else what will
they do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead aren’t raised at
all, why then are they baptized for the dead? [30] Why do we also
stand in jeopardy every hour? [31] I affirm, by the boasting in you
which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. [32] If I fought
with animals at Ephesus for human purposes, what does it profit me?
If the dead are not raised, then “let us eat and drink, for
tomorrow we die.” [33] Don’t be deceived! “Evil companionships
corrupt good morals.” [34] Wake up righteously, and don’t sin,
for some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. [35] But
someone will say, “How are the dead raised?” and, “With what
kind of body do they come?” [36] You foolish one, that which you
yourself sow is not made alive unless it dies. [37] That which you
sow, you don’t sow the body that will be, but a bare grain, maybe
of wheat, or of some other kind. [38] But God gives it a body even as
it pleased him, and to each seed a body of its own. [39] All flesh is
not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, another flesh of
animals, another of fish, and another of birds. [40] There are also
celestial bodies, and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the
celestial differs from that of the terrestrial. [41] There is one
glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the
stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. [42] So also
is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown perishable; it is
raised imperishable. [43] It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in
glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. [44] It is sown
a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural
body and there is also a spiritual body. [45] So also it is written,
“The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became
a life-giving spirit. [46] However that which is spiritual isn’t
first, but that which is natural, then that which is spiritual. [47]
The first man is of the earth, made of dust. The second man is the
Lord from heaven. [48] As is the one made of dust, such are those who
are also made of dust; and as is the heavenly, such are they also
that are heavenly. [49] As we have borne the image of those made of
dust, let’s also bear the image of the heavenly. [50] Now I say
this, brothers, that flesh and blood can’t inherit the Kingdom of
God; neither does the perishable inherit imperishable. [51] Behold, I
tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be
changed, [52] in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last
trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised
incorruptible, and we will be changed. [53] For this perishable body
must become imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
[54] But when this perishable body will have become imperishable, and
this mortal will have put on immortality, then what is written will
happen: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” [55] “Death, where
is your sting? Hades, where is your victory?” [56] The sting of
death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. [57] But thanks be to
God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. [58]
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always
abounding in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor is
not in vain in the Lord.
We
cannot see beyond death with our eyes. While some may have returned
back to this life from dying, we do not know of those who have passed
through death and judgment
to the next life and then returned to tell us. And yet, even in this
life, our nature and common sense teach us to live today with the
future in mind. Farmers sow their seeds today looking forward to a
coming harvest and reward. Students study today that they may be able
to gain future rewards through an occupation. Parents expend much
time and energy raising their children today looking forward (one
reason among many) to the future when their children may care for
them.
Perhaps
in one way we do not fear death simply because it is death. Perhaps
we fear death because of the resurrection that follows. Death is the
door to the
judgment, at which
we must give an account of all things done in the body to our Lord
and Maker. Let us watch and pray that we may be counted worthy and to
stand before the Son of Man (Luke 21:36).
FACT OF RESURRECTION
Job 19:25-27
[25] But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives. In the end, he
will stand upon the earth. [26] After my skin is destroyed, then
in my flesh shall I see God, [27] Whom I, even I, shall see on my
side. My eyes shall see, and not as a stranger. “My heart is
consumed within me.
Psalm 16:9-10
[9] Therefore my heart is glad, and my tongue rejoices. My body
shall also dwell in safety. [10] For you will not leave my
soul in Sheol, neither will you allow your holy one to see
corruption.
Psalm 17:15
As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness. I shall
be satisfied, when I awake, with seeing your form.
Isaiah
26:19 Your dead shall live. My dead bodies shall
arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust; for your dew is
like the dew of herbs, and the earth will cast out the departed
spirits. [see also LXX version of this verse]
Ezekiel 37:1-14
[1] The hand of Yahweh was on me, and he brought me out in the Spirit
of Yahweh, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was
full of bones. [2] He caused me to pass by them all around: and
behold, there were very many in the open valley; and behold, they
were very dry. [3] He said to me, Son of man, can these bones
live? I answered, Lord Yahweh, you know. [4] Again he said to me,
Prophesy over these bones, and tell them, you dry bones, hear
Yahweh’s word. [5] Thus says the Lord Yahweh to these bones:
Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.
[6] I will lay sinews on you, and will bring up flesh on you, and
cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and
you shall know that I am Yahweh. [7] So I prophesied as I was
commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, an
earthquake; and the bones came together, bone to its bone. [8] I saw,
and, behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh came up, and skin
covered them above; but there was no breath in them. [9] Then he said
to me, Prophesy to the wind, prophesy, son of man, and tell the wind,
Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Come from the four winds, breath, and
breathe on these slain, that they may live. [10] So I prophesied
as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived,
and stood up on their feet, an exceedingly great army. [11] Then
he said to me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel:
behold, they say, Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we
are clean cut off. [12] Therefore prophesy, and tell them, Thus
says the Lord Yahweh: Behold, I will open your graves, and cause you
to come up out of your graves, my people; and I will bring you
into the land of Israel. [13] You shall know that I am Yahweh, when I
have opened your graves, and caused you to come up out of your
graves, my people. [14] I will put my Spirit in you, and you shall
live, and I will place you in your own land: and you shall know that
I, Yahweh, have spoken it and performed it, says Yahweh.
Hosea 13:14 I
will ransom them from the power of Sheol. I will redeem them from
death! Death, where are your plagues? Sheol, where is your
destruction? “Compassion will be hidden from my eyes.
Matthew 22:23-33
[23] On that day Sadducees (those who say that there is no
resurrection) came to him. They asked him, [24] saying, “Teacher,
Moses said, ‘If a man dies, having no children, his brother shall
marry his wife, and raise up seed for his brother.’ [25] Now there
were with us seven brothers. The first married and died, and having
no seed left his wife to his brother. [26] In the same way, the
second also, and the third, to the seventh. [27] After them all, the
woman died. [28] In the resurrection therefore, whose wife will she
be of the seven? For they all had her.” [29] But Jesus answered
them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power
of God. [30] For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are
given in marriage, but are like God’s angels in heaven. [31] But
concerning the resurrection of the dead, haven’t you read that
which was spoken to you by God, saying, [32] ‘I am the God of
Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?’ God is not
the God of the dead, but of the living.” [33] When the multitudes
heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.
[see also Mark
12:18-27; Luke 20:27-40]
Philippians
3:20-21 [20] For our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also
wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; [21] who will change the
body of our humiliation to be conformed to the body of his glory,
according to the working by which he is able even to subject all
things to himself.
1 Thessalonians
4:13-18 [13] But we don’t want you to be ignorant, brothers,
concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don’t grieve
like the rest, who have no hope. [14] For if we believe that Jesus
died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have
fallen asleep in Jesus. [15] For this we tell you by the word of
the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left to the coming of the
Lord, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep. [16] For
the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the
voice of the archangel, and with God’s trumpet. The dead in
Christ will rise first, [17] then we who are alive, who are left,
will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord
in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever. [18] Therefore
comfort one another with these words.
2 Timothy 2:8-13
[8] Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, of the seed of David,
according to my Good News, [9] in which I suffer hardship to the
point of chains as a criminal. But God’s word isn’t chained. [10]
Therefore I endure all things for the chosen ones’ sake, that they
also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal
glory. [11] This saying is faithful: “For if we died with him,
we will also live with him. [12] If we endure, we will also reign
with him. If we deny him, he also will deny us. [13] If we are
faithless, he remains faithful. He can’t deny himself.”
JESUS IS THE
RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE
John 5:21 For
as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son
also gives life to whom he desires.
John 5:24-29
[24] “Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word, and believes
him who sent me, has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment,
but has passed out of death into life. [25] Most certainly, I tell
you, the hour comes, and now is, when the dead will hear the Son
of God’s voice; and those who hear will live. [26] For as the
Father has life in himself, even so he gave to the Son also to
have life in himself. [27] He also gave him authority to execute
judgment, because he is a son of man. [28] Don’t marvel at this,
for the hour comes, in which all that are in the tombs will hear
his voice, [29] and will come out; those who have done good, to
the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to the
resurrection of judgment.
John 6:39-40
[39] This is the will of my Father who sent me, that of all he has
given to me I should lose nothing, but should raise him up at the
last day. [40] This is the will of the one who sent me, that everyone
who sees the Son, and believes in him, should have eternal life; and
I will raise him up at the last day.”
John 6:43-44
[43] Therefore Jesus answered them, “Don’t murmur among
yourselves. [44] No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me
draws him, and I will raise him up in the last day.
John 6:53-54
[53] Jesus therefore said to them, “Most certainly I tell you,
unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you
don’t have life in yourselves. [54] He who eats my flesh and drinks
my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last
day.
John 11:23-27
[23] Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” [24]
Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the
resurrection at the last day.” [25] Jesus said to her, “I am
the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live,
even if he dies. [26] Whoever lives and believes in me will never
die. Do you believe this?” [27] She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I
have come to believe that you are the Christ, God’s Son, he who
comes into the world.”
Acts 4:1-2
[1] As they spoke to the people, the priests and the captain of the
temple and the Sadducees came to them, [2] being upset because they
taught the people and proclaimed in Jesus the resurrection from
the dead.
Acts 17:18
Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also were conversing
with him. Some said, “What does this babbler want to say?” Others
said, “He seems to be advocating foreign deities,” because he
preached Jesus and the resurrection.
1 Corinthians
15:20-23 [20] But now Christ has been raised from the dead. He
became the first fruits of those who are asleep. [21] For since
death came by man, the resurrection of the dead also came by man.
[22] For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made
alive. [23] But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits,
then those who are Christ’s, at his coming.
1 Peter 1:3-5
[3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
according to his great mercy became our father again to a living
hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4]
to an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance that doesn’t fade
away, reserved in Heaven for you, [5] who by the power of God are
guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the
last time.
The
resurrection of Jesus gives a real and living hope to God's children
in the resurrection of the righteous and an eternal reward.
Revelation
1:17-18 [17] When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man.
He laid his right hand on me, saying, “Don’t be afraid. I am the
first and the last, [18] and the Living one. I was dead, and behold,
I am alive forever more. Amen. I have the keys of Death and of
Hades.
RESURRECTION AND
REWARD
Luke 14:12-14
[12] He also said to the one who had invited him, “When you make a
dinner or a supper, don’t call your friends, nor your brothers, nor
your kinsmen, nor rich neighbors, or perhaps they might also return
the favor, and pay you back. [13] But when you make a feast, ask the
poor, the maimed, the lame, or the blind; [14] and you will be
blessed, because they don’t have the resources to repay you. For
you will be repaid in the resurrection of the righteous.”
Philippians
3:8-11 [8] Yes most certainly, and I count all things to be loss
for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for
whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but
refuse, that I may gain Christ [9] and be found in him, not having a
righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is
through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by
faith; [10] that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection,
and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed to his
death; [11] if by any means I may attain to the
resurrection from the dead.
Hebrews 11:35
Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, not
accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better
resurrection.
RESURRECTION OF
RIGHTEOUS AND WICKED
Daniel 12:2-3
[2] Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,
some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
[3] Those who are wise shall shine as the brightness of the expanse;
and those who turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and
ever.
Matthew 25:1-13
This
is the parable of the 10 virgins. They all fell asleep, and they all
arose at the cry of the coming of the Bridegroom.
John 5:28-29
[28] Don’t marvel at this, for the hour comes, in which all
that are in the tombs will hear his voice, [29] and will come out;
those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and
those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.
Acts 17:30-32
[30] The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he
commands that all people everywhere should repent, [31]
because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world
in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained; of which he has
given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead.”
[32] Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some
mocked; but others said, “We want to hear you again concerning
this.”
Acts 24:14-16
[14] But this I confess to you, that after the Way, which they call a
sect, so I serve the God of our fathers, believing all things which
are according to the law, and which are written in the prophets; [15]
having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that
there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and
unjust. [16] Herein I also practice always having a conscience
void of offense toward God and men.
FALSE TEACHING AND
THE RESURRECTION
1 Corinthians
15:12 Now if Christ is preached, that he has been raised from the
dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the
dead?
Some
were saying that there is no resurrection of the dead. This life is
all that there is. Death is the end. The apostle Paul wrote 1
Corinthians 15 to teach the Corinthian Christians the truth of the
resurrection of the dead.
2 Timothy 2:16-18
[16] But shun empty chatter, for it will go further in ungodliness,
[17] and those words will consume like gangrene, of whom is Hymenaeus
and Philetus; [18] men who have erred concerning the truth, saying
that the resurrection is already past, and overthrowing the faith of
some.
Some
claimed that the resurrection was already past. In the end, this is
saying that there is no resurrection of the body.
Notes:
Rules of a Godly
Life. Part I.
3. Think often on the four last things: on death – there is nothing
of which we are more sure; on the Judgment Day – there is nothing
more terrible; on hell – there is nothing more unbearable; and on
heaven – there is nothing more joyful. He who thinks on these
things will shun much sin and will be diligent in the way of
salvation.
Online:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/primary-resources/amish-rules/
(March 14, 2015).
