I LIVE IN HOPE OF THE
RESURRECTION
With Paul, I say, if in this
life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable" (I
Cor. 15:19). If there were no
eternal life in Christ, no eternal bliss of life with Christ in glory, and no
resurrection, the believer would be the most miserably frustrated person in the
world. We would never have that which we most earnestly desire - Christ. We
would never enjoy that for which we are most ambitious - Christ. We would never
see the end of our hope - Christ. We would never embrace Christ, or be embraced
by him. My mind has never entertained a more cruel or miserable thought. What a
tormenting supposition! But it is not so! I live in hope of the resurrection;
and my hope is well founded. I have three good reasons for this good hope.
I HAVE ALREADY BEEN
RESURRECTED REPRESENTATIVELY (Eph. 2:5-6; Rom. 8:29-30). When the Lord Jesus Christ arose from the grave,
he arose as the Representative of his people. We were resurrected with Christ!
His representative resurrection necessitates and guarantees the resurrection of
his people. Christ was raised as the firstfruits of them that sleep; and the
full harvest must follow, Christ was raised as the second Adam; and as we have
born the image of our first covenant head, we must bear the image of the
second. Our Lord's covenant engagements as the Surety of his elect are not
complete until we are raised from the dead (John 6:37-40).
I HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED
THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST IN REGENERATION. The new birth, regeneration, is
the first resurrection. It is nothing less than life from the dead. Those who
have experienced the first resurrection must experience the second. The second
death has no power over us, because we have been raised to new life in Christ
by the power of his grace (Rev. 20:6; John 5:25;
11:25-26).
I BELIEVE THE REVELATION OF
GOD CONCERNING THE RESURRECTION OF OUR BODIES (John 5:28-29; I Cor.
15:35-41, 51-58; I Thess. 4:13-18). "I know that my Redeemer liveth, and
that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin
worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God" (Job 19:25-26).