The Resurrection of the Dead'

Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself: Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship. And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city: Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men. Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult. Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me. Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council, Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day. - Acts 24:10-21

    Throughout the book of Acts, the apostles constantly emphasized the resurrection of Christ and the consequent resurrection of the dead by his power. When Matthias was chosen to replace the apostate Judas, Peter said one must be 'ordained to be a witness with us of the resurrection' (1:22). A primary function of an apostle was being a witness of the Lord's resurrection. On the Day of Pentecost, the apostle showed the multitude how that David by the Spirit 'spake of the resurrection of Christ' (2:31). When Peter and John were arrested and brought before the council, the reason given for their arrest was that 'They taught the people and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead' (4:2). When they were set free, we are told, 'And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all' (4:33). It was the preaching of the resurrection that aroused the curiosity of the Athenians. They said Paul seemed 'to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection' (17:18). And when Paul answered the Jewish council which accused him before Felix he said, 'I . . . have hope toward God …that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust' (24:15).

    The resurrection of the dead is a blessed gospel doctrine believed by, and full of comfort for, all God's saints. We believe, according to the Word of God, that every person who ever lived will live for ever, not only in the immortality of their souls, but also that their bodies will be raised from the dead at the last day. The very flesh in which you now live will be raised to life again and you will live for ever, either in the bliss of heaven, in the presence of God, the holy angels and 'just men made perfect', or in the torments of hell, in the company of Satan, demons and ungodly sinners, enduring the fires of the wrath of God which cannot be quenched!

    1. There will be a resurrection of the just

    The light of nature tells all men that the soul is immortal. Even the heathen acknowledge that the soul of man is something so wonderful and mysterious that it must endure for ever. Both pagan religion and pagan philosophy acknowledge the immortality of the soul. But the resurrection of the body is another matter. This is not something that can be discovered and proved by science and philosophy. It is something that can be known only by divine revelation and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. When the Word of God speaks of the resurrection of the just, it is referring to the resurrection of those people who have been justified and made righteous by the imputation of Christ's righteousness to them. When Christ comes again, all who trust him, all who have been redeemed by his blood and saved by his grace, will be raised to immortal life and eternal joy.

    The saints of God in all ages have lived in hope of the resurrection. The faith of God's elect regarding the resurrection has been a matter of constant, unwavering confidence from the beginning. Job, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Hannah, David, Isaiah, Ezekiel and Daniel all spoke of it with confidence and joy (Job 14:12,14-15; 19:25-27; Heb. 11:19,22; Deut. 32:39; 1 Sam 2:6; Ps. 16:8-11; 17:15; Isa. 26:19; Ezek. 37:11-14; Dan. 12:2). In the New Testament, references to the resurrection are so numerous that they simply cannot be listed here. But two passages from the lips of our Saviour will suffice to declare his doctrine: John 5:25-29; 11:23-26. The first resurrection, spoken of in John 5:25 and Revelation 20:6, is a spiritual resurrection. It is the new birth, regeneration, the resurrection of chosen, redeemed sinners from spiritual death to spiritual life by the irresistible power and grace of God the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:1-4). But there will also be the literal resurrection of the body at Christ's second coming (John 5:28-29; 11:23-26).

    The translation of Enoch and that of Elijah stand as pledges of every believer's resurrection (Gen. 5:24; 2 Kings 2: 11). As those two men were translated from earth to heaven, so all believers living on the earth when Christ comes again will be taken up to glory, but only after the dead in Christ have been raised (1 Thess. 4:13-18).

    'The resurrection of the dead' 277

    The angels of God watching over the bodies of God's saints also assure us of the resurrection (Jude 9). Though our bodies must sleep for a while beneath the sod, God's angels watch over them to protect them until the trump of God sounds.

    The many instances of the resurrection of the dead recorded in the Scriptures are visible, documented assurances of the resurrection to come. Our God has given us proof over and over again that he is able to raise the dead to life again (1 Kings 17:21-22; 2 Kings 13:21; Matt. 27:50-54; Luke 7:14; 8:54-55; John 11:43-44; Acts 9:40; 20:9-10).

    Our bodies as well as our souls belong to Christ and must be with him in glory (1Cor. 6:13). Christ does not save only the souls of his elect, but their bodies too. His work of redemption will not be complete until he has raised the bodies of all for whom he made atonement at Calvary (Rom. 8:23; Eph. 1:14). The body is for the Lord, and he shall have it. 'Your bodies are the members of Christ' (1 Cor. 6:15). Not only are our souls vitally joined to him, but our bodies as well (Eph. 5:30-32). The believer's body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1Cor. 6:19-20). The fact that the Holy Spirit dwells in the body of a saint not only sanctifies it, but also renders it immortal. Though this temple must go to the dust, it will be rebuilt in 'the resurrection of the just'!

    Above all else, our hope of the resurrection is built upon the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour, arose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:1-23,49). If Christ arose from the dead as our head and representative, then all his people must also be raised. And if there is no resurrection, then Christ did not rise and we are still in our sins. If there is no resurrection, then there is: no atonement for sin, for justice is not satisfied; no righteousness to impute to us; no acceptance with God; and no salvation! But since Christ did die for us and did rise from the dead, we are assured that: our sins which were imputed to him are gone, washed away by his blood; justice is satisfied; his righteousness is of infinite merit for all who trust him; and all his people, all who are one with him, must be raised from the dead. Christ is the first-fruits of the resurrection, but the first-fruits are the pledge of more to come. There will be a resurrection of the just. This is the faith of the gospel. If you do not believe it, you have not been taught of God.

    2. There will also be a resurrection of the unjust

    At the Lord's second coming, both the righteous and the wicked, the believing and the unbelieving, the living and the dead, the sheep and the goats will be raised. Those who stand before God in the spotless garments of Christ's imputed righteousness, whose sins have been put away by his substitutionary sacrifice, will enter into and for ever enjoy the glory of heavenly bliss in their bodies. But all who stand before God naked, polluted in their sins, without a substitute, will be cast body and soul into hell to endure eternally the torments of God's holy and just wrath. This is the second death. By some means, known only to himself, the Lord God will sustain the bodies and souls of the damned eternally, so that, though his unmitigated wrath is poured out upon them, they will not die (Matt. 5:27-30; 10:28).

    Realizing these things, Paul wrote, 'Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men' (2 Cor. 5:11). There will be a resurrection of the dead, both the righteous and the wicked. You will be damned for ever, body and soul, if you are not washed in the blood of Christ and robed in his righteousness. I urge you therefore, if you are yet without Christ, even as you read these lines, to be reconciled to God. Trust his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and live for ever.

    Ye sinners, seek his grace,

    Whose wrath ye cannot bear;

    Fly to the shelter of his cross,

    And find salvation there!

    Let all who are wise live constantly in the immediate prospect of death, the resurrection, judgement and eternity (Mark 8:35-37; 2 Cor. 4:18-5:21).