Because Jesus was raised from the dead, He has the power to raise everyone else from the dead and He will – some to the resurrection of life and the others to the resurrection of judgment!
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The Resurrection of the Dead
John 5:28-29
Christ is risen! He is alive! We have a risen, exalted Savior! Ephesians 1:20-22 says, “God raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church.” God raised Him from the dead. God seated Him at His right hand in heaven. God put all things under His feet. God gave Him as head over all things to the church. But, why is Christ’s resurrection so important? Why do Christians make such a big deal about Easter?
There are all kinds of practical implications of Jesus’ resurrection. For one, it means that God has accepted His sacrifice for our sins. If Jesus didn’t rise, we would never know whether His death was good enough to atone for our sins, but when the Father raised Him, He was giving public proof that His work on the cross was enough. For another, it means that He is alive today, and we can know Him personally. If He was simply a historical figure, we could learn about Him, but we could never know Him. However, since He is alive, we can have an intimate saving relationship with Him. Thirdly, if Jesus has been raised from the dead, that means He is the Lord of all. He has ascended to heaven, and all authority in heaven and earth has been given to Him. Thus, we need to fear anything, because we are loved by the One who governs all things.
However, the one practical implication that I want to focus on this morning is that if Jesus has truly risen from the dead, then He will also raise us from the dead. Why do I make that claim? Simply, because Jesus did. In John 14:18-9 Jesus said, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also.” Here Jesus talks about leaving His disciples, and the world no longer seeing Him. Obviously, He is speaking of His impending death. However, He also speaks about His disciples seeing Him again, and Him coming to them. Obviously, this is a reference to His resurrection. Then that all important statement, “Because I live, you will live also.” Jesus is saying, “Because I will be raised from the dead, and live again, so too, you will be raised from the dead and live again.” The apostle Paul teaches this same thing in 1 Cor. 15:20-22, “But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.” Jesus is clearly teaching that He is the first fruits of the resurrection. The first-fruits are the guarantee that a harvest is going to follow. Jesus Christ’s resurrection is the guarantee to all who have died in Christ, that they too will be raised from the dead. All those who die in Christ shall be made alive.
Now, with that as an introduction I want to turn your attention to John 5:28-29. In John 5 Jesus goes up to the Pool of Bethesda, and heals a man who has not been able to walk for 38 years! The Jews were upset, because Jesus did this on the Sabbath day, and began persecuting Him. However, Jesus responded to them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.” Well, at that, the Jews began trying to kill Jesus, because He was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. So, how did Jesus respond to that? Did He say, “No, no, you’ve got it all wrong! I’m not saying that I’m equal with God! That would be blasphemy! I’m just a mere man!” No, actually He went on to make incredible claims for Himself:
- He said that whatever the Father does, He also does in like manner (19).
- He said that the Father shows Him all things that He is doing (20).
- He said that the Son gives life to whom He wishes (21).
- He said that the Father had given all judgment to Him (22).
- He said that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father! (23).
- He said that all people must believe in Him to have eternal life (24).
Then in verses 24-29, Jesus speaks of 2 different resurrections – a spiritual and a physical resurrection. He speaks of a spiritual resurrection in verses 24-25. He speaks of a physical resurrection in verses 28-29. We have clear indicators of this. In verse 25 Jesus says, “an hour is coming and now is.” In verse 28, He says, “An hour is coming.” So the resurrection Jesus was speaking about in verses 24-25 was one that was taking place then, and would continue to take place until He returns. The resurrection in verse 28-29 was one that would take place in the future, at His second coming. Also, notice that in verse 24-25, people believe, receive eternal life, and pass out of death into life. This is clearly regeneration, or the new birth. However, in verses 28-29, Jesus says, “an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth.” Since these people come forth from tombs, it is referring to a bodily resurrection. He is speaking first about a resurrection of the soul. Then about a resurrection of the body.
This morning, I’m going to speak to you about the resurrection of the body. The are 5 facets of this resurrection that I want you to see.
1. The Certainty Of The Resurrection
Jesus said, “an hour is coming.” Jesus was dogmatic about this. He knew that this was absolute truth. We don’t have to wonder about whether there will be a resurrection. It is sure and certain. There are some things that I’m fairly certain about. I’m fairly certain that I will continue to pastor The Bridge. I’m fairly certain that I will grow old with my wife. I’m fairly certain that my son will eventually marry and give me grandchildren. I’m fairly certain that the United States will continue as a world power. However, it is possible that God could move us, either Debbie or I my son could die, and the U.S. could be overcome by an enemy. However, one thing is absolutely certain. You can bank on it. Jesus will raise us from the dead.
When Paul was preaching on Mars Hill in Acts 17, he said, “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.” Notice, that God has fixed a day. There is nothing uncertain at all about whether men will be raised. It is only a matter of time. None of us knows the timing of this day, but God does. He has fixed this day in the counsels of eternity, and nothing can change it. It doesn’t matter whether you want to be raised up to spend eternity in heaven or hell. God has already decided the matter, and nothing you or I do will ever change that. It is certain!
That solemn hour is fast approaching. Every second brings us closer to it. While we have been sitting here, we have been brought two hours closer to it. As the hands of the clock continue to march on, as day turns into night and night turns into day again, as seasons follow one another in a constant cycle, we are drifting along the river of time into the ocean of eternity. Think of it! Suppose that great Day came at this moment. This small congregation would be swallowed up into a far greater one! All eyes would be upon the Awesome Judge appearing in majesty on a great white throne. If He were to call all men from their graves today, where would you be? Deal honestly with your soul! Are you prepared for that great day?
2. The People In The Resurrection
So, just who will be raised from the dead? Jesus said “all who are in the tombs will Hear His voice and will come forth.” All who are in the tombs! Notice here that an hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will come forth. A single hour in which everyone comes forth. There are different views about the resurrection of the dead. Some Christians believe there will be three different resurrections. They believe that at the Rapture, all those who have died in Christ from Pentecost on, and all saints who are alive will be resurrected. Then they believe that there will be another resurrection of Old Testament and Tribulation saints seven years later at the Second Coming of Christ. Then they believe there will be another resurrection of all unbelievers 1,000 years later at the end of an earthly millennium. That is the view that I was taught as a young Christian. However, I discarded that view about 24 years ago. There are too many passages which seem to teach very clearly that there will be a single resurrection of all people in which everyone will be judged. Lets take a quick look at some of them.
Matthew 13:40-43, “So just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” It seems very clear in this passage that the eternal destinies of heaven and hell will be assigned at the same time. Some will be thrown into the furnace of fire, and others will shine forth as the sun in the Father’s kingdom. Both of these things happen when the Son sends forth His angels.
Matthew 13:47-50, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea, and gathering fish of every kind; and when it was filled, they drew it up on the beach; and they sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw away. So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Again, in this passage the judgment of both the good and the bad is depicted as taking place at the same event – at the end of the age when the angels are sent forth. The angels don’t separate out the righteous from the wicked, and then wait for 1,000 years to cast the wicked into the furnace of fire. It all happens at the same time.
Matthew 25:31-34, 41, 46, “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world… Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels… These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Nothing seems clearer to me than that this passage teaches that Jesus Christ will return to judge all men. When He returns, He will separate all men into two classes – the sheep and the goats. He will receive His sheep into His eternal kingdom of glory, and He will cast the goats into the eternal fire. All of this happens at the same momentous event.
Acts 24:15, “having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.” Paul seems to also believe that there will be a single resurrection, in which both the righteous and the wicked will appear.
Therefore, I don’t believe there will be several different resurrections and judgments. I believe all people will appear before the Lord at one time to receive their eternal sentences. All who are in the tombs. Who does this include? It includes everyone who has ever lived. It includes the Egyptian Pharoahs, and the kings of Israel, and Julius Caesar, and Alexander the Great. It includes Michaelangelo, Johann Sebastian Bach, Christopher Columbus, and Benjamin Franklin. It includes Adolf Hitler, and Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Ladin. It includes Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, John Lennon, and Babe Ruth. It includes all the millions from China, and India, and Europe, and Australia, and North and South America. All the billions of people who have ever lived will assemble before Jesus Christ, the Judge, to receive their eternal sentences.
My friend, you will not be forgottten or overlooked in that day. You will be called forth from your tomb, raised from the dead, and made to appear before the Lord Jesus Christ. Many people prefer to believe that unbelievers will simply be annihilated – just cease to exist. However, that is not what Jesus said. He said they will be raised from the dead to be judged by Him! My friend, the grave is not the end of your existence. You will continue to live forever and ever and ever. Jesus is absolutely sovereign over all the dead. He will not let any person who has ever lived go out of existence. There is no such loss for any of the righteous, and no such hope for any of the wicked. The only question is where? Are you prepared for this great day?!
3. The Lord Of The Resurrection
“an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice.” Whose voice? Just look back to the end of verse 27 to find out – “the Son of Man.” Jesus is claiming that His voice will call all men out of their graves to stand before Him. When Jesus stood before Lazarus’ grave, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” and Lazarus was raised from the dead, and came forth from the tomb. On the Last Day, it will be the same. The Lord Jesus shall descend from heaven with a shout, like a military command, or an Indian war cry, or a bugle blast from the cavalary.
My friends, I want you to think this morning about the majesty of Jesus Christ. Stand in awe of Him. He is the Lord of all the dead, from the beginning to the end of time! Stand in awe of the power of His voice. When He spoke as the Creator, nothingness obeyed Him! When He speaks as the Resurrecter, decomposed matter will obey Him! All of the dead, whether they were cremated, and their flesh and bone was turned to ash, or whether their body was thrown into the sea, or eaten by animals will rise at His voice! He will have no problem calling all of those atoms back together into a resurrected body.
My friends, make peace with Him now, because one day it will be too late. He speaks with a voice of grace now, but He will speak with a voice of Omnipotence then. Now, the ungodly can hear His voice in the gospel and disobey. However, on that day, the ungodly will hear His voice in sovereign authority, and they will obey. They will be compelled to hear Him as He utters His summons for them to appear before Him. The One who they once despised, and abused as a meek and lowly lamb, will then appear as the Great and Awesome God! On that day, they will cry to the mountains and to the rocks to fall on them, and hide them from the presence of the One who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?! (Rev.6:15-17)
4. The Distinction Made In The Resurrection
Our text in John 5:29 speaks of those who did the good deeds, and those who committed the evil deeds. On that day, there will only be two groups. All men will be divided into these two categories. We have the same teaching in Matthew 25:31-46 where we see the King coming in His glory. He will separate all the people of every nation from one another as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will separate those who have walked the narrow way that leads to life from those who have walked the broad way that leads to destruction. He will separate the good trees from the bad trees.
Now, at this point it would be easy to make a mistake and think that Jesus is teaching that we are saved by our works. We might think He is saying that if your good deeds outweigh your evil deeds you will go to heaven, and if your evil deeds outweighed your good deeds, you will go to hell.. No, nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus is not teaching that our good works produce salvation, but are the evidence of salvation. They are not the root, but the fruit of salvation. A person is not saved by doing good; he does good because he has been saved. His good works are not the cause, but the effect of his salvation. The truth of God’s Word is that we are saved by grace, but we will be judged by our works. Every time you read about God’s judgment in the Bible, you will find that it will be based upon works. But, don’t true believers do some evil works, and don’t non-believers do some good works?
Well, for the true Christian, every evil deed he has ever committed has been washed in the blood of Christ, has been forgiven, and has been removed from him as far as the east is from the west. All there will be left for God to view on Judgment Day are his good deeds. These good deeds are those things he has done for Christ, out of love for Him, through faith in Him, by the power of the Holy Spirit. This is not talking about the person who knew what was good, or spoke of what was good, but actually did good. For the Christian, the desire to live for Jesus Christ and do good deeds is encoded into his new nature when he is born again.
For the non-Christian, it is a completely different matter. All he will have to show for his life in that day will be evil deeds. No matter how good his deeds looked to other people, they are all rotten in the sight of God. Why? Because none of them were done for Christ, out of love to Christ, through faith in Christ, by the power of the Spirit. They were all done without reference to God, and thus, by His reckoning were evil.
So, my friend, which group do you belong to? Will God look at your life and see many good deeds you have done? Or will He look at your life and see only evil deeds?
5. The Destinies Assigned In The Resurrection
There are only two possibilities – two eternal destinies which will be assigned on that day. It is either Life or Judgment. Either Pardon or Condemnation. Either Heaven or Hell.
The Resurrection of Life. The resurrection of life is the everlasting glory and blessedness that we will share with God and holy angels and saints in heaven. The Bible tells us that Heaven will be populated with resurrected people on a resurrected earth. We will dwell upon the New Earth, which God will create after this present sin-cursed earth has perished forever. We will not be ghosts, or whispy spirits floating around in the sky. We will be glorified humans. We will have real perfect bodies, and we will live on a real perfect earth. In 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, we see four aspects to our new resurrection bodies.
Imperishable. This means that our resurrected bodies will be healthy and strong. They won’t wear out or grow old or get sick or die. There will be no process of aging in that day. We won’t get wrinkles, grey hair, or go bald.
Glorious. This means that our new bodies will be beautiful and perhaps even radiant. In Mt. 13:43, Jesus said that when He returns, the righteous shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Listen to the words of Daniel 12:2-3, “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” In this passage the righteous are said to shine brightly like the stars!
Powerful. Now we live in much weakness. We lack strength, endurance, and to resist disease. We are fragile. On that day, we won’t be omnipotent, but we will have sufficient power to do all our perfected spirits desire. Now, our spirit is willing, but our flesh is weak. Can you imagine how powerful our eyes must be to behold the glory of Christ? How strong must our bodies be to never rest, but serve God forever and ever, and to do so with pure delight?
Spiritual. This means, that our bodies will be consistent with the character of the Holy Spirit. Presently, our physical body is too often governed by our sinful choices, but our spiritual body will be subject to the will of the Holy Spirit. Our bodies now are a clog to our souls. We need to beat them down, and keep them in subjection, and control their appetites, and sometimes drag them to the service of God. Our natural bodies are suited to living on this present earth. However, our spiritual bodies will be perfectly suited to living on the New Earth.
The Resurrection of Judgment. This word “judgment” means “condemnation” or “damnation.” In other words, some will rise to be accepted into everlasting life, while others will rise to be everlastingly damned.
Daniel 12:2 describes it like this, “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.” Think of it! Everlasting contempt! Disgrace! And this contempt and disgrace will never be removed.
In Luke 16:23-25, Jesus described it as being in torment in flames. In 2 Thess.1:6-10, Paul described it as receiving retribution from Almighty God, when we receive the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power. John describes it in Revelation 14:9-11, by describing it as drinking the wine of the wrath of God which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger, and being tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night.” Those images are terrifying, aren’t they? They should be, for it is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the Living God.
If you receive the resurrection of judgment you will be ever dying. You will be ever bearing up unwillingly a load of wrath. When a sinner dies, all the glory he had in this life dies with him. He comes forth from his grave as a criminal being led out of prison to execution. He is an object of eternal disgrace and contempt. He is given a body which is capable of suffering, but not of dying.
Conclusion
- Christians: If your body is weak or prone to sickness, aging or unattractive, know that it won’t always be this way! God is going to transform your humble body into conformity with the body of His glory. Best of all, look forward to your everlasting, inexpressible joy. We will come forth as a bride adorned for her bridegroom to the marriage supper of Lamb! Death will be swallowed up in victory! We will dwell forever in righteousness! Also, remember that our judgment will be based on our deeds. So, as you long for and anticipate the glory of the Resurrection of Life, be zealous for good deeds! Look around you, and ask the Lord what He would have you to do for His glory. Ask Him how you can serve the saints. Ask Him how you can love the lost, and then go forth and do those deeds!
- Non-Christians: On that final day, all the lost will come forth with unspeakable horror. They will be dragged like criminals from a dungeon to be led to their execution, crying to the mountains and the rocks to fall & hide them from the wrath of the Lamb. What hideous shrieks and wailing will there be when the last trump sounds! The damned will roar, cry and tear themselves! They will weep, howl, and curse one another! They will wring their hands, beat their breasts and call themselves beasts, fools, and madmen. All their sins will rise with them never to be atoned for. My friend, what will your eternal destiny be when Jesus raises you from the dead? If you have never made peace with God, I urge you to do it this morning, right now! Flee to Christ! Come to Him, confess your sins, turn away from everything that would keep you from Him, and put your whole trust in Him. He will receive you!
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