Sermon Notes
3 December 2006
Morning Worship
TWO GREAT RESURRECTIONS
Part One of Two
Introduction:
a. The Bible teaches plainly concerning two great resurrections
b. Take away either of these two great resurrections and there is no "GOODNEWS"
of the gospel
c. There must be death before there can be a resurrection:
I. THE BIBLE TEACHES PLAINLY CONCERNING A SPIRITUAL RESURRECTION IN CHRIST:
A. The Whole World Needs This Spiritual Resurrection Because Spiritual Death
Reigns Because of Sin
19
And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
1. The sentence of spiritual and physical death was given after the fall of
man in the Garden of Eden
17
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it:
for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
17
And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy
wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou
shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou
eat of it all the days of thy life;
18
Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat
the herb of the field;
19
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the
ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust
shalt thou return.
20
And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all
living.
21
Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and
clothed them.
22
And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good
and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of
life, and eat, and live for ever:
12
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and
so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
2. Death is a separation
26
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead
also.
1
Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his
ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
2
But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins
have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
3. Ezekiel was speaking of spiritual death when he said, "The soul that
sinneth it shall die” -
Ezekiel 18:20 He was speaking of spiritual life when he said, "But if
the wicked turn from all his sins ---- he shall not die” -
Ezekiel 18:21
b. Jesus Came To Give Spiritual Life To Those Who Would Obey Him
24
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on
him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into
condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
25
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the
dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
25
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth
in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou
this?
c. The Ephesian Christians Had Experienced This Spiritual Resurrection
1
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world,
according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh
in the children of disobedience:
3
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of
our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by
nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by
grace ye are saved;)
Colossians 2:11-13
11
In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in
putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12
Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the
faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
13
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath
he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
D. All Need This Spiritual Resurrection In Christ:
23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
12
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and
so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
1
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2
God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were
baptized into his death?
4
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ
was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also
should walk in newness of life.
5
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall
be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin
might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7
For he that is dead is freed from sin.
17
But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed
from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18
Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
I
Corinthians 15:1-4
1
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you,
which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2
By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you,
unless ye have believed in vain.
3
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that
Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to
the scriptures:
7
And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be
revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey
not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
E. Those Who Teach Salvation By "Faith Only" Entangle Themselves In A Web of
Inconsistencies:
1. Such a doctrine does away with repentance, confession and baptism, which
the Bible says
are necessary
38
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the
name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the
gift of the Holy Ghost.
3
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
30
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men
every where to repent:
31
Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in
righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given
assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
32
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also
before my Father which is in heaven.
33
But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my
Father which is in heaven.
9
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe
in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation.
2. Those who teach this doctrine usually baptize a person who according to
the doctrine is already saved and ALIVE in Christ. Is it in order to bury a
live person? Is it not the person who is dead in sin that should be buried
in the waters of baptism?
1
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2
God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were
baptized into his death?
4
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ
was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also
should walk in newness of life.
5
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall
be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin
might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7
For he that is dead is freed from sin.
F. Revelation 20:6 Is A Spiritual Resurrection In Christ Which "Rapture
Preachers" and Premillennialist Have Tried To Make A Physical Resurrection:
1. It reads,
"Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first
resurrection: over these the second death hath no power; but they shall be
priest of God and of Christ and shall reign with him a thousand years."
2. Those who obey Christ and live the Christian life are those who have part
in the first resurrection
24
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on
him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into
condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
25
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the
dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
3. All Christians are priests of God and of Christ, and Christ is our High
Priest
5
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy
priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus
Christ.
9
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a
peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath
called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
16
For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the
seed of Abraham.
17
Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren,
that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to
God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
18
For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour
them that are tempted.
4. Revelation 20:6
says,
"THE SECOND DEATH" will have
no power over those who have part in the "first resurrection". The second
death is the "lake of fire"
14
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second
death.
7
He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he
shall be my son.
8
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and
whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their
part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second
death.
TWO
GREAT RESURRECTIONS
PART TWO OF TWO
II. THE BIBLE TEACHES
PLAINLY THAT A DAY IS COMING WHEN ALL WHO ARE PHYSICALLY DEAD WILL BE
RAISED:
A. Even The Patriarchs Knew Something About This Great Resurrection:
1. Job knew
25
For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter
day upon the earth:
26
And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I
see God:
2. The faithful in the days of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob knew about it
13
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen
them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed
that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14
For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
15
And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came
out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
16
But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is
not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
3. Daniel knew about it
2
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to
everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
B. Jesus Taught That All The Dead Will Be Raised At The Same Time
28
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the
graves shall hear his voice,
29
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.
C. The Premillennialist And Rapture Preachers Teach That There Will Be A
Resurrection Of The Righteous And Much Later A Resurrection Of The
Unrighteous:
1. They use especially
I Thessalonians 4:16
"and the dead in Christ shall
rise first" and Revelation 20:6 to try to establish their doctrine
6
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the
second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ,
and shall reign with him a thousand years.
2. In the context of I Thessalonians 4:13-18 Paul is speaking of only two
classes of people, the righteous dead and the righteous living. There are
four classes which includes the unrighteous dead and the unrighteous living
13
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are
asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which
sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive
and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are
asleep.
16
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice
of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall
rise first:
17
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in
the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the
Lord.
Deut
30:4
Matt 24:31
18
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
a. The brethren at Thessalonica were sorrowing like those, "who have no
hope" (4:13) over some of their brethren who had died and Christ had not
come. They were reasoning that they would not receive the blessings and
glory that those who are still living will receive. Paul told them that when
Christ comes those, "asleep in Jesus will God bring with him," meaning that
Jesus will bring the spirits of the righteous
22
But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall
choose I wot not.
23
For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with
Christ; which is far better:
8
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and
to be present with the Lord.
7
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall
return unto God who gave it.
with him and the dead righteous will be raised, and thus a uniting of the souls of the righteous with incorruptible glorious bodies
2
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we
shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for
we shall see him as he is.
3
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is
pure.
20
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour,
the Lord Jesus Christ:
21
Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his
glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue
all things unto himself.
50
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of
God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be
changed,
52
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet
shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be
changed.
53
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on
immortality.
54
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal
shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that
is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
Isa 25:8
55
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
Hos
13:14
56
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus
Christ.
58
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding
in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in
vain in the Lord.
Paul
then told these grieving brethren, "Wherefore comfort one another with these
words -4:18
1. In
I Thessalonians 5:1-9 the unrighteous will be saying, "Peace and
safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them --- But ye brethren, are
not in darkness (you are not in sin and separated from God), that that day
(same day as judgment on the righteous) should over take you as a thief”
5. II Thessalonians 1:6-10 teaches that when Christ comes "rendering
vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the
gospel---1:8,9 he will come "to be glorified in his saints ---
1:10"
D. This Great Resurrection Will Take Place When Christ Comes Again:
1. Just as surely as Christ came the first time He is coming a second time
28
So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look
for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
1
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told
you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you
unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
2. He will come with "the angels of his power rendering vengeance" -
II
Thessalonians 1:7-9 to the wicked, and the angels will gather out of his
kingdom all things that cause stumbling
49
So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and
sever the wicked from among the just,
50
And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and
gnashing of teeth.
3. Before Him will be gathered all the nations and he will separate the
sheep from the goats
31
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with
him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32
And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one
from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33
And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my
Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the
world:
35
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me
drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison,
and ye came unto me.
37
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an
hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38
When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39
Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch
as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done
it unto me.
41
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye
cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me
no drink:
43
I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick,
and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44
Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred,
or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not
minister unto thee?
45
Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did
it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into
life eternal.
4. The foolish virgins
1
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took
their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2
And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3
They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4
But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5
While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6
And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye
out to meet him.
7
Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8
And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are
gone out.
9
But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and
you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10
And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready
went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11
Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12
But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13
Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of
man cometh.
and those who refuse to use their talents as good stewards
14
For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who
called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15
And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to
every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his
journey.
16
Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same,
and made them other five talents.
17
And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18
But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his
lord's money.
19
After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with
them.
20
And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five
talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have
gained beside them five talents more.
21
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast
been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things:
enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22
He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst
unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23
His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been
faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter
thou into the joy of thy lord.
24
Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee
that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering
where thou hast not strawed:
25
And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou
hast that is thine.
26
His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou
knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27
Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at
my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28
Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten
talents.
29
For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance:
but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30
And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be
weeping and gnashing of teeth.
31
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with
him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
will
not be prepared for His coming
Conclusion:
a. A sobering question that each one of us needs to answer is, Am I prepared
for that great resurrection day?
b. There is coming a last great day
39
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.
40
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.
41
The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came
down from heaven.
42
And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother
we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?
43
Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.
44
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.
45
It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every
man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto
me. Isa 54:13
46
Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen
the Father.
47
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting
life.
48
I am that bread of life.
49
Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
50
This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof,
and not die.
51
I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this
bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh,
which I will give for the life of the world.
52
The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us
his flesh to eat?
53
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the
flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
54
Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will
raise him up at the last day.
c. friend will you choose to have part in the "first resurrection"?
24
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on
him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into
condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
25
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the
dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
If you will the "second, death" will have no power over you!
D. If you have not obeyed the gospel you are already in spiritual death
7
And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be
revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey
not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9
Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the
Lord, and from the glory of his power;
1
Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his
ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
2
But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins
have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
E. Will you not hear and obey the words of Jesus?
