If a man die, shall he live again?

'If a man die, shall he live again?'

— Job 14:14

With Paul, I say, ‘If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable’ (1 Cor. 15:19). If there were no eternal life in Christ, no eternal bliss of life with Christ in glory and no resurrection, the believer would be the most miserably frustrated person in the world. We would never have that which we most earnestly desire ⎯ Christ. We would never enjoy that for which we are most ambitious ⎯ Christ. We would never see the end of our hope ⎯ Christ. We would never embrace Christ, or be embraced by him. My mind has never entertained a more cruel or miserable thought. What a tormenting supposition! But it is not so! I live in hope of the resurrection, and my hope is well founded. I have three good reasons for this good hope.

I have already been resurrected representatively. (Eph. 2:5-6; Rom. 8:29-30). When the Lord Jesus Christ arose from the grave, he arose as the Representative of his people. We were resurrected with Christ! His representative resurrection necessitates and guarantees the resurrection of his people. Christ was raised as the first fruits of them that sleep, and the full harvest must follow. Christ was raised as the second Adam and, as we have born the image of our first, covenant head, we must bear the image of the second. Our Lord’s covenant engagements as the Surety of his elect are not complete until we are raised from the dead (John 6:37-40).

I have already experienced the resurrection of Christ in regeneration. The new birth, regeneration, is the first resurrection. It is nothing less than life from the dead. Those who have experienced the first resurrection must experience the second. The second death has no power over us, because we have been raised to new life in Christ by the power of his grace (Rev. 20:6; John 5:25; 11:25-26).

I believe the revelation of God concerning the resurrection of our bodies. (John 5:28-29; 1 Cor. 15:35-41, 51-58; 1 Thess. 4:13-18). I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God’ (Job 19:25-26).