Nain, Luke 7:15; Lazarus of Bethany, John 11:44; saints at the time of Christ’s resurrection, Matthew 27:52; Dorcas, Acts 9:40, are generally accepted not as literal resurrections but as revivals to life. Christ the Firstfruits It must be clearly understood that there could not be, in the true sense of the term, any literal, bodily resurrec tion prior to that of our Lord. This is established in the resurrection chapter of I Corinthians 15 where it is clearly stated “ . . . now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept,” (vs. 20) and “ . . . every man in his own order: Christ the first-
life” (John 5:24). As others have explained, and I have previously set forth in my book The Prophetic Pulpit, this is a spiritual resurrection; and it should be clear in our thinking that this describes that which takes place when a man is bom again. The same is also true of the next verse, “ 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 5:25). There can be little question that this is a spiritual resurrection also for the Lord said, “ the hour is coming and now is,” thus proving this refers to the spiritual resurrection which now is, for the bodily resurrection is not yet. Here is the great genius of the Church of Jesus Christ; for every time the Gospel is preached to lost men it is preached to those that are dead in their trespasses and sin, and they that hear and live. That is a resurrection. It is a coming out of death unto life, yet remember it is not the bodily resur rection but a spiritual resurrection. Distinction Between Spiritual and Bodily Resurrection Yet in this same chapter of John 5 we find the bodily resurrection, for in verses 28 and 29 we read, “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 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.” Now to some this might seem to teach a simultaneous resurrection of all the saved and lost. However, such will change quickly when they observe that just as “ hour” of verse 25 has already lasted nineteen hundred years, why should not this “ hour” of verse 28 endure through the thousand years of the millennium? Here in verse 29 two resurrec tions are clearly named, one unto life and one unto dam nation; and in Luke 14:14 the first resurrection is called “ the resurrection of the just.” Therefore, the new birth is in reality a spiritual resur rection that is taking place today as individuals come by faith to Jesus Christ. A miracle is performed in which they are resurrected from the spiritually dead into new ness of life. This is necessary to understand, because it has a direct bearing upon the first resurrection. Those who have experienced this spiritual resurrection will, we are assured, experience the bodily resurrection of the dead in Christ. II. THE DEAD IN CH R IST Now what happens to those who have experienced this spiritual resurrection which we have discussed? Of course, we know that eventually they may die physically like all men. In this respect there is no difference in (concluded on page 26)
Q U I E T “ In quietness and confidence shall be your strength ” —Isaiah 30:15 "Quiet," What a strange old word To use on this day's air! 'Tis many years since it was stressed By humans anywhere. Our very entertainment, And the daily tools we need, Either prattle, shriek, or roar, To help our work succeed. When some youngsters try to study, Or type themes, or even think, There must be a radio blaring, (For mere quiet makes them shrink). Hot impatience rules our living; We can't wait for anything. Things jump into place on order, Or we rant instead of sing. Our Bible bids us to be quiet;
— And our God proves values, too. 'Tis BELIEVING, that He asks for; That's one thing that we can do. (Mrs. F. McQuat) Mother Mac fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming” (vs. 23). More about this later. It is most important that we understand first the new birth or spiritual resurrection. In Ephesians 2:1 we read, “ And you hath he quickened, who were dead in tres passes and sins;” Arthur S. Way in his translation puts it, “ Yea, to you also has God given life from the dead . . . for dead you were, slain by your trespasses and sins . . .” Phillips in his translation puts it “ to you, who were spiritually dead . . .” This introduces us to the subject of the resurrection because the new birth, quickening, or resurrection has a direct bearing upon all that follows, it being qualitative rather than sequential. To see this let us turn to a portion of Scripture that sometimes is misunderstood. In John 5 we have des cribed a resurrection, that is, a coming to life from the dead, but it is a spiritual resurrection, “ Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto I. TH E S P IR ITU A L RESURRECT ION The New Birth
Dr. Lindsey has been an outstanding voice for evangelism in the Pacific Northwest.
He has also been speaker at Biota’s annual Torrey Memorial Bible Conference.
His article continues next month in THE KING’S BUSINESS.
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T H f KIN G'S BUSINESS
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