OUR BODIES Devotion 9 of 15 Jesus referred to "THE resurrection" – a single event in which the righteous and unrighteous will participate. In fact, you will never read the word "resurrections" in the Bible--it is always in the singular! Correcting His critics WHO WERE DISPUTING WITH Him concerning the resurrection, Jesus once said, "For in THE RESURRECTION they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven" (Matt 22:30). Our blessed Lord went on to confirm that while the bodies of departed saints were dead, they themselves were alive. Their bodies were part of their persons, but not the whole of them. "But as THE RESURRECTION of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 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" (Matt 22:31-32). Confirming that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were alive when Jesus said these words, even though their bodies were in the earth, Luke records that Jesus added, "for all live unto Him," or "for to Him all are alive" (Luke 20:37-38). Luke also emphasizes Christ's reference to a single resurrection. "But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and THE RESURRECTION from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of THE RESURRECTION " (Luke 20:36). – Tomorrow:
" . . . Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body . . . Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? . . . Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Corinthians 6:13-20, KJV)
Jesus affirmed the Father had given all judgment into His hand because He is "the Son of man." That is, God has determined that men will be judged by THE Man, Christ Jesus. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; and hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. (John 5:26-27). In delineating this truth, Jesus associated the exercise of His judgment with the resurrection of the dead. He pointed out that He Himself would summon the dead from their graves with His voice. In a single resurrection, Jesus affirmed that both the righteous and the unrighteous would be raised. They would come from the graves to occupy different eternal destinies, but they would be raised at the same time – in a single resurrection. He referred to that coming event as an appointed "hour." "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which ALL that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation" (John 5:28-29). Notice that "the resurrection of life" and "the resurrection of damnation" do NOT refer to unique periods of time, but to different destinies. All of the dead will be raised simultaneously, at the summons of Jesus. However, they will not all have the same destiny.
While believers are frequently subjected to teaching that asseverates two resurrections with a one thousand-year gap between, such doctrines are pure human fabrication. Some say that the righteous dead will be raised first. Following that, a one thousand year reign will take place, which, in turn, will be followed by the resurrection of the damned. There is no inspired utterance that says such a thing. No word of Scripture declares this. As I have already said, the word "resurrections" is nowhere found in God's Word. The doctrine of reference is the result of human perception, not Divine affirmation.
Jesus associated the resurrection with the will of the Father – with the Divine objective for which He ca me into the world. "And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should RAISE IT UP AGAIN at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I WILL RAISE HIM UP at the last day" (John 6:39-40). Salvation will not be finalized until the resurrection of the dead! That is when the adoption will be complete, and death will be swallowed up by life. Thus it is said of the saints, "ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for THE ADOPTION, to wit, the redemption of our body" (Rom 8:23).
The resurrection of the righteous, is "the adoption" – not in its entirety, but in its culmination. It is when the last vestige of the curse will have been addressed and eliminated. Until that time, and while we remain in the world, we are "sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance UNTIL THE REDEMPTION OF THE PURCHASED POSSESSION, unto the praise of his glory. (Eph 1:13-14). That "purchased possession" includes our body, as is taught elsewhere. "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's" (1 Cor 6:20, NKJV).
Jesus further emphasized the resurrection as the culmination of the Father's work through Him. "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I WILL RAISE HIM UP at the last day" (John 6:44). The remarkable contrast between Christ's teaching and that of the average cleric is evident. Jesus spoke with the next world in view. Men today can scarcely think in terms of "that world" (Lk 20:35)! No person neglecting the proclamation of the resurrection can hope to experience the blessing of God upon his ministry. The resurrection is a focal point for both the Father and the Son. They will not bless those with competing emphases! The resurrection is the appointed destiny of the body, and it is to be proclaimed.
To those imbibing Christ, or ingesting His Person, Jesus holds out the resurrection of the dead, "Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I WILL RAISE HIM UP at the last day" (John 6:54). Those who entertain no interest in the resurrection will find little solace in these words. However, for those that have experienced the frustrating, and often debilitating, influence of "flesh and blood," our Lord's words are like a heavenly breeze upon the soul!
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, teach me to view my body with the resurrection of the dead in mind, refusing to yield to anything that would jeopardize my eternal destiny.