IF A MAN DIES, SHALL HE LIVE AGAIN?

The title comes from the words of Job as recorded in Job 14:13-14, “Oh, that You would hide me in the grave, That You would conceal me until Your wrath is past, That You would appoint me a set time, and remember me! If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, Till my change comes.” The Bible is clear that there will be a general resurrection of the dead one day. The Bible is clear that if a man dies, he shall live again. However, the resurrection he obtains to will be based upon how he lived his life on this earth. Jesus stated in John 5:28-29, “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” The general resurrection is real!
 
There are those that denied resurrection in Jesus’ day such as the Sadducees (Ac. 23:8). There were great “thinkers” at Athens who mocked at the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Ac. 17:18, 32). Even some in Corinth said that there was no resurrection of the dead (1 Cor. 15:12). In our age we have skeptics, agnostics, atheists, materialists, naturalists, and evolutionists who all deny the resurrection. Truly there is nothing new under the sun (Ecc. 1:9). It should not be thought incredible that God raises the dead (Ac. 26:8) as nothing is too difficult for Him (cf. Gen. 18:14; Jer. 32:27).
 
The faithful believe in the resurrection just as Abraham did with his son Isaac (Heb. 11:17-19; cf. Gen. 22:1-19). Belief in the resurrection is foundational and essential to Christianity (1 Cor. 15:12-21). The apostles served as witnesses to the fact that Christ was resurrected (Ac. 2:30-32). The apostles were clear in both their preaching and writings that Christ was resurrected which assures us of our resurrection (Ac. 17:30-34, 24:14-15; 1 Cor. 6:14).
 
To give us more assurance consider some of the resurrections recorded in the Holy Scriptures. Elijah, through the power of God, raised the widow of Zarephath’s son (1 Kgs. 17:17-24). Jesus raised the widow of Nain’s son (Lk. 7:11-16) as well as Jairus’ daughter (Lk. 8:41-42, 49-56). Jesus also raised Lazarus who had been dead for four days proving beyond any doubt that he was indeed dead (Jn. 11). Truly Jesus is the resurrection and the life (Jn. 11:25). It is an amazing thing that after Lazarus was resurrected the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus (Jn. 12:9-11)! Some will hold to false beliefs so tightly even when the evidence is right in front of them. Jesus Christ was resurrected of which all three of the Godhead were involved (Gal. 1:1; Jn. 10:17-18; Rm. 1:3-4; 1 Cor. 15:1-23).
 
In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, we gain a glimpse of what the general resurrection will be like. Jesus will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God (1 Th. 4:16). Someone wrote that this is the loudest verse in the Bible and as such no one will miss this event! The dead in Christ will be the first to rise (1 Th. 4:16). Christ is coming for His own and He knows His own (Jn. 10:14; 2 Tim. 2:19). Those faithful who are still living when Christ returns will be next to meet the Lord in the air where we will never be separated from Him (1 Th. 4:17). What a comforting passage and indeed that is the intent of it (1 Th. 4:18)! The latter part of 1 Corinthians 15 details more of what the general resurrection will be like. Like a seed, our body is planted in the earth when it is buried and will be raised a different body (1 Cor. 15:35-41). The body is sown in corruption and raised in incorruption (1 Cor. 15:42). It is sown in dishonor and raised in glory (1 Cor. 15:43). It is sown in weakness and raised in power (1 Cor. 15:43). It is sown a natural body and raised a spiritual body (1 Cor. 15:44). As we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man (1 Cor. 15:45-49). That said, the inspired apostle John wrote in 1 John 3:1-2, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”
 
Let us make sure we are making every effort to be ready for that great day. Paul counted all things as loss so that he might obtain Christ. He wanted to know Him and the power of His resurrection so that he might attain to the resurrection from the dead (Php. 3:7-11). We, like Paul, press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Php. 3:12-14). Let us walk by the same rule and let us be of the same mind (Php. 3:15-16).

Are you ready for that day to come?

Trent Thrasher