The biblical subject of the resurrection is a mystery to many Christians. Maybe not the fact Jesus was raised, but rather, why do we have to be raised?
Why would we want to have our body raised to life after we have died? It makes no sense, and doesn’t even seem desirable.
Why, after we have escaped this mortal coil, our immortal soul separated from our bodies for centuries, would we want to have that soul jammed back into a regenerated corpse?
The answer to this question is simple and will shock you.
The teaching of the resurrection is not an afterthought in scripture, it is mentioned in many verses in the bible. It was the hope of men of old like Job, as they suffered through the most horrible trials of their lives:
Job 19:26… And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God
The resurrection was mentioned by Jesus as the great point of reward for the faithful of all generations:
Luke 14:13… when thou makest a feast, call the poor…for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
John 5:25… when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live… that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 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.
The preaching of the resurrection was one of the main doctrines taught by Jesus and his apostles during his ministry
Acts 4:1 the Sadducees, came upon them,?2 Being grieved that they taught the people… the resurrection from the dead.
Acts 17:18 … because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
Paul identified the resurrection as one of the most important beliefs he held and taught:
Acts 23:6…I am a Pharisee… of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
In fact, the resurrection was such a vital belief to Paul, that he made it clear that without a belief in the resurrection, there was no hope for a Christian. Please note how he differentiates between the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the hope of the resurrection for believers:
1 Corinthians 15:12 …how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead… if there be no resurrection of the dead… your faith is also vain. …18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
2 Timothy 2:18 … Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
Looking at the Resurrection again
So again I ask, how can the resurrection be clearly such a vital principle of scripture teaching, and from your point of view seem useless and redundant?
It’s simple. You’ve been lied to. You have been told that man goes on to another life after death, that he has an immortal soul that escapes the body at the moment of death and goes to heaven. This is not what the bible says. The bible makes it clear man is unconscious in death.
Consider these following verses:
Psalms 146:4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.
Ecclesiastes 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing…Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished…
Psalms 6:5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?
Psalms 49:17-20 For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away…19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light. 20 Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.
Psalms 88:10-12 ¶ Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah. 11 Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction? 12 Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
Psalms 115:17 The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.
So the bible tells us that in the very day we die, our thoughts perish. That we don’t know or remember anything, even of God. All of our love, our emotions and our intelligence ceases on the day of death.
The following link explains the state of death more fully:
The dead are unconscious in the grave
Death Referred to as Sleep
Sometimes the dead are referred to as sleeping, another state of uncontiousness. The difference is that the faithful dead who have been baptized will be awoken from this sleep when Christ returns.
Psa 13:3 Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;
Did you ever wonder why so many times in scripture people who were dead were referred to as sleeping?
John 11:11-14 Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. 12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. 13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. 14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
Luke 8:52 Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. 53 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.
Acts 7:60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. …he fell asleep.
In fact, the bible talks about people being awoken from the sleep of death many times , this awakening is called “the resurrection”:
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
Ephesians 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
1 Corinthians 15:16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised…Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 20 ¶ But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 ¶ But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. …15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1 Corinthians 15:51 ¶ Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible…
Some people don’t ever awake from the sleep of death, it is permanent without end. Let’s make sure we are not amongst those who are not saved and are destroyed for all eternity:
Job 14:12 So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.
Jeremiah 51:57 and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.
Job 7:21 for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.
Baptism is essential to be raised in the resurrection
It is commonly believed that Baptism is not essential, and even optional, but baptism has a vital importance to servants of Jesus Christ.
Baptism is essential because it brings us out of the grave. We need to come out of the grave because , not an existence in the heavens as angels. If we are not baptized, there is no and no hope of . This is what is meant by the term “Salvation”. Our lives are literally saved by baptism.
- Romans 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
- Colossians 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
The bible also makes it clear that Baptism is not optional, it is essential
- Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Now you know
Now you know why the bible tells us about the resurrection. It is our hope, our only hope of life again after death.
You now also know why you have to be baptized, because baptism is what brings you out of the grave on judgement day
Romans 6:4 … 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. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Man’s only hope, is to be raised by Christ when he returns to earth, and then be approved at the great judgement of God almighty. Those who are approved of God are given eternal life in a body that is incorruptable (incapable of sin) and immortal. This is man’s only hope and it is tied to the promises God made to Abraham so long ago.
Here are some more bible verses
Psalms 71:20 … shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
Isaiah 26:19Thy dead men shall live…the earth shall cast out the dead.
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD…shall mount up with wings as eagles; … run,… not be weary;
Daniel 12:2… And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life
Matthew 22: 30 … For in the resurrection…are as the angels of God in heaven. 31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead…32 God is not the God of the dead, but of the living
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day
John 11:21 …Martha …I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
John 5:21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
Acts 17:31 …given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. 32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked
Acts 24:14 … there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
Acts 26:8 …Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?
Acts 26:23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead…
Romans 4:17 … even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
Romans 8:11 …he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
1 Corinthians 6:14 And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.
1 Corinthians 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead 51…We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed…immortality
2 Corinthians 1:9… we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
2 Corinthians 4:14 … Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus…
Ephesians 5:14 … Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
Philippians 3:11 …11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.?12 Not as though I had already attained…
Colossians 2:13 …And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him
1 Thessalonians 4:16 For …voice of the archangel… trump of God…dead in Christ shall rise first:
Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ…and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment
Hebrews 11:33 … others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
1 Peter 1:3 … begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…
Revelation 20:5But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection…second …
Revelation 20:12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God… 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…15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
John 6:39…every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Let’s get the full story
Read this link below. It explains God’s plan for salvation, and why people come out of the grave. It all starts with the promises God made his servant Abraham…
