The Resurrection and the Life

.... In order to begin a proper discussion on the resurrection from the dead and eternal judgment, it is helpful to begin with a discussion on life itself, then on death, and of what transpires for the Christian in each case. Let us begin with a discussion on life, especially in relation to Jesus' own life:

.... Before we heard the gospel and believed, we were alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that was in us, because of the hardness of our hearts (Ephesians 4:18). But when we heard of Jesus and believed on Him, all of that changed, for He told us, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6).

.... Jesus did not say that He would ‘give’ us the life, but rather that He is the life-- and He said this again in John 11:25. As such, there is an actual exchange of life between ourselves and the Lord:

.... "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

(Galatians 2:20)

.... In this quotation, it has been plainly stated that in Christ we no longer live; and therefore it is has been said of our own lives:

.... "For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory."

(Colossians 3:3-4)

.... And thus Jesus said to us again:

.... "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live."

(John 11:25)

.... The life of Jesus, who overcame death itself, is the life that animates us even now, through abiding in Him and He is us. So even when our earthly body dies, the part of our life that is bound in Christ remains alive, just as He Himself is alive forever more. We have passed from death into life, for He is our life. And in like manner, when He appears again, we will appear with Him in glory. For He said not, "I will resurrect everybody," but rather, "I am the resurrection."

.... Abiding in Christ, by the exchange of life between us during our pilgrimage on the earth, is the very heart of our understanding of the resurrection. Our lives continue in His service until the day, should Jesus tarry, when we are gathered into His presence through the mortality of our bodies, or sooner if He comes back to this world to gather us to Himself. But even if we die before He comes, we will not really died in the sense that matters:

.... "Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death."

(John 8:51)

and again,

.... "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 life."

(John 5:24 KJV)

.... By the grace of God, Jesus has already tasted death for each one of us (Hebrews 2:9). Through His death He has destroyed him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and He has released all believers from the fear of death that had daunted us throughout our lifetimes (vs 13-15).

.... So if we have passed from death into life, then what does it mean when mortality takes us away from this world? What happens to us now, and where do we go? And how will the resurrection and eternal judgment effect us? These questions are more complex than our traditional understandings have allowed, and may only be resolved through looking to Christ Himself as our pattern. These are the questions we will answer as this module continues.

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Daily Bible Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3