Sermon #791                                                      Hebrews Notes

 

     Title:            A Better Resurrection

     Text:            Hebrews 11:35

     Readings:     David Burge – 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 12-26, 35-58

     Subject:       Christ Our Resurrection

     Date:            Tuesday Evening – March 26, 2002

     Tape #         W-93a

     Introduction:

 

My text tonight is Hebrews 11:35. We will begin our reading at verse 32.

 

(Hebrews 11:32-35)  "And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:"

 

 

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” (1 Cor. 15:19). In making that statement Paul does not mean that:

 

·        The believer’s life in this world is a sad, morbid life.

·        It is really more delightful and pleasurable to live in this world without faith.

·        Were it not for the hope of eternal glory, the people of God would prefer not live as they do in obedience and submission to our heavenly Father.—We do not serve Christ for gain!

 

When Paul says, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable,” he simply means this – If there were no eternal life in Christ, no eternal bliss of life with Christ in glory, and no resurrection, then the believer would be the most miserably frustrated person in the world.

 

·        We would never have that which we most earnestly desire.

·        We would never see the end of our hope.

·        We would never embrace Christ, or be embraced by him.

·        We would never see our Redeemer.

 

Such a thought is the most distressing thought I have ever entertained. Nothing could be more cruel and miserable than to  live in hope of seeing Christ, being life Christ, and spending eternity in the presence of Christ, only to die like a dog! “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” What a horrible thought! What a tormenting supposition!

 

But it is not so. I live in hope of the resurrection; and my hope is both sure and steadfast“For 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: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me” (Job 19:25-27).

 

·        In sickness I am calm, because I live in hope of the resurrection.

·        In sorrow I am peaceful, because I live in hope of the resurrection.

·        In trial and affliction I am at ease, because I live in hope of the resurrection.

·        In bereavement I am confident, because I live in hope of the resurrection.

·        And I hope to die in confidence and joy, because I live in hope of the resurrection.

 

Our assurance of the resurrection is much more than belief in a point of orthodoxy. It is faith in and hope in a PersonChrist is Himself our Resurrection!

 

This is not some fool’s philosophy. It is not a mere religious tranquilizer by which I am able to cope with the trials of life. This is the calm, confident assurance of my heart. It is the necessary, inevitable result of faith in Christ (John 11:25-26).

 

(John 11:25-26)  "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?"

 

Proposition: The Lord Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life of all who trust him; and all who trust him shall in the last day be resurrected with him.—All who trust Christ shall, indeed, “obtain a better resurrection!

 

Divisions: Let me show you why I hope to obtain this “better resurrection.I live in hope of the resurrection for three reasons:

 

1. I have been resurrected with Christ representatively.

2. I have experienced the resurrection of Christ in regeneration.

3. I believe God’s revelation concerning the resurrection.

 

I. I have been resurrected with Christ representatively (Eph. 2:5-6; Rom. 8:29-30).

 

(Ephesians 2:4-6)  "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;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:"

 

 (Romans 8:29-30)  "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."

 

When the Lord Jesus Christ arose from the grave, he arose as our Representative. All that he has done and all that he had experienced, all of God’s elect have done and experienced in him, by virtue of our representative union with him.

 

·        His obedience to the law was our obedience (Rom. 5:12, 18-21).

·        His death as a penal sacrifice for sin was our death (Rom. 6:6-7, 9-11; 7:4). This is our atonement!

·        His resurrection was our resurrection.—This is our life!

 

A. The resurrection of Christ is an indisputable fact of revelation and history upon which we rest our souls (1 Cor. 15:1-8).

 

Disprove the resurrection and you disprove the gospel – “If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins” (1 Cor. 15:17).

 

B. The bodily, physical resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ necessitates the resurrection of all who are in Christ.

 

     Five arguments:

 

1. That which as been done for us representatively must be experienced by us personally.

 

2. We are members of Christ’s mystical body, the church.

 

·        If one member of the body were lost, the body would be maimed (1 Cor. 12:12, 27).

·        If one member of the body were lost, the Head would not be complete (Eph. 1:22-23).

·        These bodies of ours must be fashioned like unto his glorious body (Phil. 3:21; John 17:24).

 

(Philippians 3:21)  "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."

 

 (John 17:24)  "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world."

 

3. Christ was raised as the firstfruits of them that sleep (1 Cor. 15:20). The full harvest must follow!

 

(1 Corinthians 15:20)  "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept."

 

4. Christ is the Second Adam. As we have born the image of our first covenant head, we must bear the image of the second (1 Cor. 15:21-23, 47-49).

 

5. Christ has obtained the victory over all that could hinder the glorious resurrection of his people – Sin – Death – Hell – The Grave – The Devil (Col. 2:13-15; Heb. 2:14-15).

 

C. Above all else, the covenant engagements of Christ as the Surety of God’s elect are not complete until the hour of our resurrection (John 6:37-40). -- “Holy and unblameable.” -- “Lo, I and the children thou hast given me.” -- “There shall be one fold and one Shepherd.”

 

(John 6:37-40)  "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 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."

 

II. I have experienced the resurrection of Christ in regeneration.

 

The new birth is nothing less than a resurrection from the dead. To be born again by the Spirit of God is the first resurrection (Rev. 20:6; John 5:25; 11:25-26; Eph. 2:1-4).

 

(Revelation 20:6)  "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."

 

 (John 5:25)  "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."

 

(John 11:25-26)  "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?"

 

(Ephesians 2:1-4)  "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,"

 

Illustration:     Ezekiel’s infant (Ezek. 16).

                             The dry bones (Ezek. 37).

                             Lazarus (John 11).

 

A. Lazarus’ Condition (v. 14) – “For the glory of God” (v. 4).

 

B. Lazarus’ Calling (v. 43).

 

·        Personal

·        Irresistible

·        Effectual

 

C. Lazarus’ Conversion (v. 44).

 

     The grave clothes that bound him must be taken away.

 

·        Ignorance

·        Superstition

·        Tradition

·        Fear

 

D. Lazarus’ Communion (12:2).

 

E. Lazarus’ Conflict (12:10-11).

 

III. I believe the revelation of God concerning the resurrection (John 5:28-29).

 

(John 5:25-29)  "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. 26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 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."

 

“Whosoever liveth and believeth on me shall never die.” God’s elect never die!

 

A. There shall be a resurrection of life at the second coming of Christ (1 Cor. 15:35-44, 51-59; 1 Thess. 4:13-18).

 

     This will not be a secret rapture, but a glorious resurrection.

 

(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)  "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. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

 

B. There shall also be a resurrection of damnation (John 5:29).

 

·        The wicked and unbelieving shall be raised by the power of Christ, in order to be judged and condemned.

·        The believer shall be raised by virtue of his union with Christ, in order to be judged and rewarded with everlasting glory.

·        The wicked shall be raised in wrath.

·        The believing shall be raised in love.

·        The wicked shall be raised for execution.

·        The righteous shall be raised for a wedding.

 

“Prepare to meet thy God.” Soon you and I will stand before the living God in judgment (2 Cor. 5:10-11).

 

(2 Corinthians 5:10-11)  "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. 11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences."

 

Illustration: Rowland Hill’s Dream.

 

Application:

 

1. Let us comfort one another with these words.

 

·        Those Who Are Sick And Suffering.

·        Those Who Fear Death.

·        Those Who Are Bereaved.

 

2. Let us be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. What we now do is not vein!

 

3. Would you have part in the first resurrection and in that glorious resurrection to come?

 

·        Awake (Eph. 5:14).

·        Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

·        You shall never die.

 

Illustration: I heard a choir singing.”

 

 



1 See Misc. Sermon #3 preached at Lookout, WV (04/10/77) and Fairmont, WV (04/09/77) and Misc. Sermon #641 preached at Danville (Sunday PM 05/05/85 and 10/13/92). This message was preached at Danville (Tuesday 03/26/02).