Sermon
#791 Hebrews
Notes
Title: “A Better Resurrection”
Text: Hebrews 11:35
Subject: Christ Our Resurrection
Date: Tuesday Evening –
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 Person – Christ 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).