Posted by Searcher
on 7/3/2009, 1:03 pm, in reply to "Something from John 11"
75.104.128.56
Dear Ray,
You said that "Jesus had to correct Martha for not believing in resurrection from the dead during our earthly lifetime; right?"
When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, Lazarus was raised to live more years before dying again. This illustrated that the Lord has the power of life. Lazarus was not raised to immortality at that time. He was not given an immortal body.
Romans 6:4 is discussing the believer's identification with Christ's death and burial. We are also to believe that we shall one day live with Him in resurrection. The core of the discussion in Romans has to do with considering our old man dead. We are full of sin, but we are to consider ourselves dead to sin and instead yield ourselves to God. We should "put on" the new man which is given to us when we believe.
Compare Romans 6:3-13 to Eph 4:22-24
"That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts: And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and holiness."
The new man is Christ in us, a new man. The walk is especially discussed in Eph 4-6 and Col 3.
There is no such thing as a spiritual death found in the Word.
The resurrection Martha spoke of in John 11 "at the last day" is the same as the resurrection found in 1Cor 15:54 "at the last trump [trumpet]". (Rev 8:6) This has to do with Israel's resurrection at the time of His coming down to earth the set up His earthly kingdom promised to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, etc. There is more than one resurrection. Christ is the Firstfruits. He is the Firstborn from the dead. We know from Rev 20 that there will be a resurrection of the overcomers before the millennial kingdom and a second resurrection after the thousand years. (Rev 20:4-6)
Neither of these has anything to do with His appearing in heavenly places. The resurrection spoken of in Col 3:4 has nothing to do with the promised land or the restored kingdom promised to Israel or even the heavenly city that will descend from heaven onto the new earth. The resurrection of believers as found in the prison epistles involves a hope in the highest of heavens, not a kingdom on earth.
No one has been resurrected to immortality as yet except Christ Himself. As far as Php 3:10-14, Paul says he follows after resurrection of the dead. He "reaches forth unto those things which are before". Php 3:14, "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
As stated in Php 3:11, it is not as of he had already attained. Paul, like all men had to die. He is resting in the grave. Christ knows who are His and will resurrection those who believe in Him from death to eternal life. Man is mortal. There is no part of man that is immortal. Immortality is only possible from One who Only has immortality and will give it at our appointed time. Not now.
Searcher
Message Thread:
« Back to thread