TOPIC:‌"Let's Look at the Resurrection"

               by Rev. Dr. Reg Dunlap

 

TEXT:‌‌Romans 8:18-23

 

"waiting for...the redemption of our body" (8:23)

 

‌The belief of a bodily resurrection from the dead is an essential truth of Christian theology. Within the heart of every Christian God has placed a confident hope and compassionate longing for life after death. This is what the Apostle Paul calls “waiting for the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:23). We can be sure that God who raised up Christ from the dead will not leave the Christian's body neglected in the earth.

 

‌The words of Christ give evidence of a future resurrection of all believers. He proclaimed: “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die” (John 11:25-26). Here, then, in convincing language, we have the assurance of a future resurrection from the dead. Man's destiny is not a hole in the ground, but a home in glory.

 

I.

 

‌Consider, to begin with, the PROSPECT of the resurrection in the Old Testament. It is fair to say that the Old Testament writers believed in a future resurrection. They looked forward with anticipation to the resurrection of the body from the dead. The patriarch Job had this hope when he declared: “And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God” (Job 19:26). The prophet Daniel had this hope when he cried: “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life” (Daniel 12:2). The Psalmist David had this hope when he proclaimed: “My flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou will not leave my soul in Sheol” (Psalms 16:9-10).

 

‌Other Old Testament statements that set forth the belief of a future resurrection are: “I shall behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake with thy likeness” (Psalms 17:15). “But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me” (Psalms 49:15). “Thou shalt receive me to glory” (Psalms 73:24). “I shall go to him” (II Samuel 23:23 - David's hope in seeing his dead child). “I will ransom thee from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death” (Hosea 13:14). “Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead” (Hebrews 11:19, speaks of Abraham).

 

II.

 

‌Having looked at the prospect of the resurrection, let me now turn your attention to the P . . .