“THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD” (Acts 24:15)
April 20th, 2003
Int. Reflecting sometime ago on the sad state of the churches at the present moment, I was led to look back to apostolic times, and to consider wherein the preaching of the present day differed from the preaching of the apostles.
1. The main subject of the apostles was the resurrection of the dead.
a. Ninety percent of the churches in America will have a message today on the resurrection and the vast majority of them don’t believe in a literal resurrection of Christ from the dead.
2. The Apostles were always preaching the resurrection of Jesus, and the consequent resurrection of the dead.
3. The Alpha and the Omega of their gospel was the testimony that Jesus Christ died and rose again from the dead according to the Scriptures.
4. When they replaced Judas, who had become apostate, (Acts I.22), they said, "One must be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection;"
5. When Peter stood up before the multitude, he declared unto them that "David spoke of the resurrection of Christ." (Acts 2:31)
6. When Peter and John were taken before the council, the great cause of their arrest was that the rulers were grieved :because they taught the people and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.” (Acts 4:2)
7. When they were set free, after having been examined, it is said, "With great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all." (Acts 4:33)
8. The message of the Resurrection was what stirred the men of Athens. , "They said, he seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods, because he preached unto them Jesus and the resurrection of the dead."
9. The message of the Resurrection was what moved the laughter of the Areopagites : "Some mocked, and others said, we will hear thee again of this matter."
10. In Paul’s defense before the council of the Pharisees and Sadducees, he said: "Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am called in question." (Acts 23:6)
11. To the Corinthians, Paul said: "IF Christ be not risen from the dead, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is vain, and ye are yet in your sins." (1 Cor. 15:14)
12. Even in Dr .John Owen's works, containing much that is valuable on almost every subject; there is scarcely more than the slightest mention of the resurrection.
13. There are very few professing Christians who believe in the resurrection of the dead.
14. By the resurrection of the dead is meant something very different from the immortality of the soul
I. FIRST, THERE SHALL BE A RESURRECTION OF THE JUST.
A. SAINTS OF ALL AGES HAVE BELIEVED THIS FACT.
1. Abraham believed in the Resurrection.
a. (Heb 11:19) "Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure."
2. Joseph no doubt believed in the Resurrection.
a. (Heb 11:22) "By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones."
3. Job certainly believed in the Resurrection.
a. (Job 19:25-27) "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: {27} Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me."
4. David believed it beyond the shadow of a doubt, for he sang of Christ.
a. (Psa 16:10) "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption[1]."
b. "CORRUPTION": "Neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption; that is, to lie so long in the grave as to putrefy and corrupted; wherefore he was raised from the dead on the third day, according to the Scriptures, before the time bodies begin to be corrupted;" see (John 11:39; (J. Gill)
5. Daniel certainly believed in the Resurrection.
a. (Dan 12:2) "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. Souls do not sleep in the dust; bodies do.
c. (Isa 26:19) "Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead."
d. (Hosea 6:1-2) "Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. {2} After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight."
e. (Heb 11:35) "Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:"
B. THE TRANSLATION OF ENOCH AND ELIJAH ARE PROOFS OF THE RESURRECTION.
1. (Gen 5:24) "And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him."
2. (2 Ki 2:11) "And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven."
3. The battle over the body of Moses is proof of the Resurrection.
a. (Jude 1:9) "Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee."
b. Now would there be a contention about that body if it had been of no value?
c. Would Michael contend for that which was only to be the food of worms?
d. Would he wrestle with the enemy for that which was to be scattered to the four winds of heaven, never to be united again into a new and goodlier fabric? No, a thousand times no!
C. THE RESURRECTIONS THAT HAVE ALREADY TAKEN PLACE GIVE US HOPE.
1. (Mat 27:52-53) "And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, {53} And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many."
2. (John 11:43) "And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth."
3. The Raising of Jairus’ daughter is an encouragement to us.
a. (Luke 8:41) "And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house:"
b. (Mark 5:41) "And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise."
4. The raising of the son of the Widow of Nain gives us hope.
a. (Luke 7:11-14) "And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. {12} Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. {13} And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. {14} And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise."
5. The Raising of Dorcas gives us hope
a. (Acts 9:40) "But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, (which is by interpretation, Dorcas) arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up." (See Vr. 36)
b. (Acts 9:36) “Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and alms deeds which she did.”
6. The raising of Eutychus at Troas by Paul gives us hope.
a. (Acts 20:9-10) "And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. {10} And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him."
7. The raising of the son of the Shunammite gives us hope.
a. (2 Ki 4:32-35) "And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed. {33} He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD. {34} And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm. {35} Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes."
8. The raising of the man who was thrown into the sepulchre of Elisha gives us hope.
a. (2 Ki 13:21) "And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet."
D. THE GREATEST PROOF THAT WE NEED IS THE RESURRECION OF CHRIST HIMSELF.
E. AS OUR HEAD HAS RISEN FROM THE DEAD, SO WILL WE HIS BODY RISE FROM THE DEAD.
1. Our Lord’s appearance to Thomas give us assurance of our Resurrection.
a. (John 20:27) "Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing."
2. Our Lord’s appearance to his disciples gives us assurance of our Resurrection.
a. (Luke 24:39) "Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have."
3. Because Jesus lives, we shall live also
"Their inbred sins require
Their flesh to see the dust,
But as the Lord their Saviour rose,
So all his followers must."
4. We shall know one another in Heaven for sure.
a. When the wife of old John Ryland asked. "Do you think," she said, "you will know me in heaven?" "Why," said he, "I know you here; and do you think I shall be a bigger fool in heaven than I am on earth?"
E. NOW FOR SOME WORDS OF WARNING
1. If your bodies are to dwell in heaven, take care that you do not let your bodies be polluted by sin down here.
2. If our tongues are going to sing His praises forever in heaven, we should not let words of lust defile them down here.
3. If our eyes shall behold the King in His beauty, (Isa 33:17) we should turn off our eyes from beholding vanities down here.
4. If our feet will one day walk on a street of pure gold, (Rev 21:21) let us not hold out for bribes down here.
II. THERE WILL BE A RESURRECTION OF THE WICKED ALSO.
A. THIS IS A MUCH MALIGNED SUBJECT TODAY.
1. (2 Cor 5:10) "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."
a. Some preachers? ? ? say hell is metaphorical fire. But tell this to the Rich man in hell. (Lk 16:24)
b. If a man were to threaten to give me a metaphorical blow on the head, I would care very little about it; he would be welcome to give me as many as he pleased.
2. (Mat 5:29) "And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole (body) should be cast into hell."
3. (Mat 10:28) "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
4. (Mark 9:44) "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."
5. (Mark 9:46) "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."
6. (Mark 9:48) "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."
a. “Where the worm died not” is a figure of physical suffering—the worm torturing for ever the inmost heart, like a cancer within the very soul.”
7. What would there be a pit for if there were no bodies?
a. Why fire, why chains, if there were to be no bodies?
b. Can fire touch the soul? Can pits shut in spirits?
c. Can chains fetter souls?
d. No; pits and fire and chains are for bodies, and bodies shall be there.
Conclusion: What agony of soul and body lies in store for those of you that will die without Christ?
1. You have time for everything else in this world, but no time for Christ.
2. (Mat 7:23) "And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
3. Some of you will leave this building today and refer to me “as a hell-fire and brimstone Preacher”.
4. Right you are and one of these days, this “Hell-fire and Brimstone Preacher will be in heaven.”
"There are no acts of pardon passed
In the cold grave to which we haste;
But darkness, death, and long despair,
Reign in eternal silence there."
5. O my dear people! “The wrath to come! the wrath to come! the wrath to come”.
6. (Isa 33:14) "The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?"
7. Haste to Jesus and thou shalt be blessed.
8. (Acts 16:31) "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."
9. (Isa 1:18) "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."