The Resurrection Life, Part I

The Resurrection Life

There is no one who can tell the purpose of the Lord's coming and the relevance of it to mankind better than the Lord himself. Jesus our Lord came for a specific purpose, and it is to give us abundant life. This much He told us in John 10:10.

John 10:10
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

What kind of life is this that Jesus offers? Is it not the same as we now have? If it is, it would have been a waste of our time. Would He have died to give us the same as life as we have now?

This life He offers cannot be well appreciated without reference to our pre-life state wherein we were under Satan who together with his cohorts and the system they have forged in this world has only one mission - steal, kill and destroy. John 10:1-11

It is the usual Satan's playbook tactic. The system robs you of your inheritance. Now, Peter rebuked the Lord for laying His life down. You dare not die! You that carry the hope of Israel. It will never be your portion. But He had to die to remedy the error of Adam.

Mark 8:31-33
And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

Peter was not focused on the things of God. His mind is dominated by things of men, to live under your own hand, by your own power, on your own terms. This was the same approach with Eve in the garden. Jesus said, I have to die to fulfil the will of God. Peter influenced by Satan, on the other hand said you will live and not die, completely outside God's will though zealously attempted. Jesus responded, to live is to die first for the cause of God.
The things of men leads to everlasting loss.

Mark 8:35-36
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

No matter how successful you become in the things that pertains to this life, by giving the more earnest heed, you don't get rewarded with more life. Every passing day may bring you more success but the reality of death draws nearer with it. Most human activity as presently constituted are an attempt to steal human devotion to His creator orchestrated by Satan as profit to the detriment of your soul - that is its destruction.

Proverbs 11:4
Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

Psalm 49:6-14
They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption, For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others. Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish. This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah. Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.

Under this influence, man is beaten down, robbed and cunningly deprived of his inheritance by shifting his focus away from his God to Satan through vain conveniences, lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life, the end of which is death.

Proverb 14:12
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Now, he wants wealth but would not give heed to what God says about wealth and how to apply it. He wants fame and affluence. The Bible call these things lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life. So, without care for God being dominated by the things of this world, he uses his own vision just like Eve.

Genesis 3:6
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Her motivation to despise God's word was driven by the niceties of life she could experience fed into her mind by her deceived senses and influenced by Satan. All of a sudden, the forbidden stuff is now good for food...the end of which is certain death. Sin brings death in its wake. God said that in advance. They were aware.

Genesis 2:17
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

The first couple transgressed and would eventually bring pronouncement of judgement on themselves because sin and death go together. Not only would they die physically, they would also be removed from the paradise in which they lived, away from heaven so to say.

Genesis 3:17-19, 22-24
And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

It would be unfair on humans if God tempts them using Satan knowing that he is the adversary of man. The bible tells us how sin develops.

James 1:13-15
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

The seed of sin is lust. It is taken from the Greek word /epithumia/a longing usually for what is forbidden.

So, Satan hides behind the desires of men to strike with sin deceptively driving mankind away from God. Considering biblical account of human history with sin, the following is observable:
1. Satan is not daft to reject God's existence. It would be silly because these folks met Him. Rejection of God is foolishness not Satan. Of course, Satan is glad to use extra hand.
2. God does not have the final say over creation affairs. His position can be questioned.
3. We see idea such as there are no consequences for contravening God's instruction. God is just bluffing.
4. There is a different reality attainable by taking advantage of hidden knowledge.
5. Man's free will is really free.

Sin came then and death by sin.

Romans 5:12
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Death was given a legal foothold in the world. The sin of men gave it power. Adam had children under the sinful regime where death reign.

Romans 5:14, 17
Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

That victory is required over death is clear indication that it reigns over the people.

1 Corinthians 15:54-56
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

Death as we know is not an end that brings eternal closure, but only drawing a close on our sojourn here on earth but the beginning of our eternal journey either in life the one Jesus offers or (second) death. This second death is the eternal consequence of human rejection of God and the freedom He offers in His Son Jesus Christ from sin and death.

When a person dies physically without the hope of resurrection in his/her heart, that is, who does not believe in the Lord Jesus, such person will die the second death, which is to a permanent, eternal separation from God in the lake of fire.

2 Thessalonians 1:3-10
We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed ) in that day.

This theme of separation in judgement, to be away from the presence of the Lord, is explored throughout the Bible, old and new testament. Let us consider them.

Matthew 7:21-23 (Luke 13:27)
Not every one that saith unto me , Lord , Lord , shall enter into the kingdom of heaven ; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven . Many will say to me in that day , Lord , Lord , have we not prophesied in thy name ? and in thy name have cast out devils ? and in thy name done many wonderful works ? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you : depart from me , ye that work iniquity .

Matthew 22:12-14
And he saith unto him , Friend , how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment ? And he was speechless . Then said the king to the servants , Bind him hand and foot , and take him away , and cast him into outer darkness ; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth . For many are called , but few are chosen .

Isaiah 66:22-24
For as the new heavens and the new earth , which I will make , shall remain before me, saith the LORD , so shall your seed and your name remain . And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another , and from one sabbath to another , shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD . And they shall go forth , and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die , neither shall their fire be quenched ; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh .

Daniel 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 .

Matthew 25:41, 46
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand , Depart from me , ye cursed , into everlasting fire , prepared for the devil and his angels :
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment : but the righteous into life eternal.

Mark 9:43-49
And if thy hand offend thee , cut it off : it is better for thee to enter into life maimed , than having two hands to go into hell , into the fire that never shall be quenched : Where their worm dieth not , and the fire is not quenched . And if thy foot offend thee , cut it off : it is better for thee to enter halt into life , than having two feet to be cast into hell , into the fire that never shall be quenched : Where their worm dieth not , and the fire is not quenched . And if thine eye offend thee , pluck it out : it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye , than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire : Where their worm dieth not , and the fire is not quenched . For every one shall be salted with fire , and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.

Luke 16:25-26
But Abraham said , Son , remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things , and likewise Lazarus evil things : but now he is comforted , and thou art tormented . And beside all this , between us and you there is a great gulf fixed : so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; ; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

2 Peter 2:17
These are wells without water , clouds that are carried with a tempest ; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

Jude 1:12-13
These are spots in your feasts of charity , when they feast with you , feeding themselves without fear : clouds they are without water , carried about of winds ; trees whose fruit withereth , without fruit , twice dead , plucked up by the roots ; Raging waves of the sea , foaming out their own shame ; wandering stars , to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

Revelation 14:10-11
The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God , which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation ; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels , and in the presence of the Lamb : And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever : and they have no rest day nor night , who worship the beast and his image , and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

Revelation 20:13-15
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it ; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them : and they were judged every man according to their works . And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire . This is the second death . And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 21:8
But the fearful , and unbelieving , and the abominable , and murderers , and whoremongers , and sorcerers , and idolaters , and all liars , shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone : which is the second death.

Revelation 22:14-15
Blessed are they that do his commandments , that they may have right to the tree of life , and may enter in through the gates into the city . For without are dogs , and sorcerers , and whoremongers , and murderers , and idolaters , and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

That people die is a clear indication of an impending judgement of God for sin, the second death which will come in its due time.

Summarily, we see three strain of separation as consequence of sin. There is the ultimate judgement of eternal separation - being condemned to hell but this is preceded firstly by a separation - enforced departure from the presence of God from the garden of God.

Genesis 3:23-24
Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

And secondly, physical death occasioned by living under the element of outside the garden earth which requires toil, sorrow, sweat with poor yield ultimately leading to death.

Genesis 3:17-19
And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

However, God, because of His great love for His creation would not allow man to perish. We know of God's great love for mankind because scripture discusses this.

Psalm 51:1
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

Psalm 86:5, 15
For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

Psalm 103:8-11
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

Isaiah 55:7
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Jonah 4:2
And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.

Micah 7:18-20
Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.

Romans 10:12
For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

Ephesians 1:7-8
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

Ephesians 2:4-9
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

1 Peter 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

We would never outperform God in His lavish and extremely liberal demonstration of His giving virtue. It does not matter how much you give up to 100% of your income, you cannot outperform God.

So, because of this grace, He would take on the responsibility to take away sin and it's consequence, death which cannot be done by fiat. If death is the wages of sin, it takes death to adequately atone for sin. Here, we must die to self/selfishness and trust God's wisdom and stay within. His boundaries. Romans 8:1-8

Having sinned, to go back into the garden where abundant life is requires going through the angels at the garden and their flaming sword. If you go through, you die. So, what is the point? This is the reason for atonement. We see the imagery in the tabernacle of Moses and the temple of Solomon wherein the blood of an unblemished animal is brought within the veil by a qualified priest. The life of this animal is given in place of man to give him access to live near God once again.

The implication of this means shedding this now depraved human nature made subject to death by sin. To have permanent atonement, God became a man, sharing identity with us and living with us outside the garden, to make an entrance for and on our behalf into the garden of God to bring us near God once again but better even permanently.

Romans 5:10
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

1 Peter 3:18
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins , the just for the unjust , that he might bring us to God , being put to death in the flesh , but quickened by the Spirit:

Not only did the Lord die for us to take away our sins, He also restored access to the Father by a new way. Now we can stand in the presence of God as it was in the garden without the fear of death.

Hebrews 10:19-22
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

The fact that the Lord rose from the dead is the clearest indication that the way to God is opened to all humanity.

His claim to sonship is validated.
Romans 1:3-4
Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

The claim of scriptural redemption is true. Christ is risen, our preaching is true; we are not false witnesses, so is our faith in Him and our sins are forgiven.
1 Corinthians 15:12-19
Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

The life in the garden lost to all humanity from the time of Adam and Eve, now new to us is opened in Christ to all those who believe. The resurrection life is a now reality with a future component.

Romans 6:4-10
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

1 Corinthians 15:20-26
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

In His resurrection, the power of death is stripped and live and immortality reigns.
1 Timothy 1:8-10
Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

The future component of this now reality is a have glorified bodies same as the Lord, jesus Christ. it would be the beginning of eternal bliss for the man in Christ.
1 Peter 1:3-5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 Corinthians 15:42-49
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.