Scripture Proof...

Scripture Proof

34:20

Give me scripture...

Adam (sinless flesh, no sin in him).

Jesus (sinful flesh, no sin in him).

We, unlike either the first or the second Adam (sinful flesh, sin in us).

To go to heaven we must have the mind of Christ to cease to sin on earth

like Christ and we must lose the corruption of the flesh being as like Adam.

Tangible evidence says that Jesus’ flesh was changed at the

resurrection. Was it as the flesh of Adam before sin? Did sin change the

flesh of Adam? No. The flesh of man was changed by the birth through the

woman by the seed of the man for neither did the woman have sinful flesh.

A transformed body, a spiritual body, a glorified body, a heavenly body, no

longer subject to death and decay and corruptibility. It has put on immortality.

It is how we are changed at the coming of Christ. Lazarus had not

immortality, neither Enoch, Elijah, Moses, or those released from the grave

after Jesus’ resurrection. None will without us. The doctrine of the

resurrection of Jesus Christ is essential. It is at the very core of the Gospel.

The bodily, flesh and bones character of our hope of resurrection or moment

of change is emphatic in biblical truth. It is by far the fullest treatment of the

believer’s hope of resurrection and glorious transformation to imperishability

within the entire bible. Resurrection is an event in which the present body is

sown, but a body distinct from the present body is raised. There is this

affirmation that the present body will be “changed” and “clothed” of necessity

implying its revivification and enhancement. Predicate

complements describe a change of quality rather than of substance, in which

what was once perishable, dishonored, weak, and mortal is endowed with

imperishability, glory, power, and immortality. Two contrasting modes of

existence of the same body, one prior to, and the other subsequent to the

resurrection, the change.

A spiritual body refers to a body composed of spirit, distinct from the body of

flesh. The first Adam was made a living soul, such a being as ourselves, and

with a power of propagating such beings as himself, and conveying to them

a natured body like his own, but none other, nor better. The second Adam is

a quickening Spirit; he is the resurrection and the life. The first man was of

the earth, made out of the earth, and was earthy; his body was fitted to the

region of his abode: but the second Adam is the Lord from heaven; he who

came down from heaven, and giveth life to the world; he who came down

from heaven and was in heaven at the same time; the Lord of heaven and

earth. If the first Adam could communicate to us natural and animal bodies,

cannot the second Adam make our bodies spiritual ones? If the deputed lord

of this lower creation could do the one, cannot the Lord from heaven, the

Lord of heaven and earth, do the other? We must first have natural bodies

from the first Adam before we can have spiritual bodies from the second;

we must bear the image of the earthy before we can bear the image of the

heavenly. Such is the established order of Providence. We must have weak,

frail, mortal bodies by descent from the first Adam, before we can have lively,

spiritual, and immortal ones by the quickening power of the second. We must

die before we can live to die no more. Yet if we are Christ's, true believers in

him for this whole discourse relates to the resurrection of the faithful, it is as

certain that we shall have spiritual bodies as it is now that we have natural

or animal ones. By these we are as the first Adam, earthy, we bear his image;

by those we shall be as the second Adam, have bodies like his own,

heavenly, and so bear his image. And we are as certainly intended to bear

the one as we have borne the other. As surely therefore as we have had

natural bodies, we shall have spiritual ones. The dead in Christ shall not only

rise, but shall rise thus gloriously changed.

Does scriptural context describes the composition of the future body, as a

body composed solely of spirit? Spiritual body does not refer to a body

composed of spirit, but to the fleshly body endowed with imperishable life by

the power of the Spirit. What raised up Jesus? Who gives to us the earnest

of the spirit? Was Jesus a spirit? Can this change be beyond our view of

reality? It is very important that we understand that Jesus is God. It takes

God in the Person of Jesus to save us. Jesus is called ‘the Great God and

Savior.” We must give tremendous priority to Jesus’ return and his own

resurrection from the dead. No matter what it cost; no matter what the

obstacles. Remember, the bible truth says, “by any means”. We are resident

on earth but our permanent citizenship is in heaven. Our citizenship is in

heaven, from where we eagerly await our Savior who will transform the body

of our humiliation to be like the body of His glory. The reality of truth deserves

reasoning. If anyone is not looking forward to the resurrection, to be with

God in the place prepared for them, God is ashamed of them. The

implications are frightening. These are not ones who die in faith confessing

themselves to be strangers. God is not ashamed to be called their God.

When is this truth of the new creature to be? Do they have a new name, and

wear a new livery, a new heart and new nature? Or is this change the grace

of God made in the soul? Old thoughts, old principles, and old practices, are

passed away; and all these things must become new. Regenerating grace

creates a new world in the soul; all things are new. The renewed man acts

from new principles, by new rules, with new ends, and in new company.

A thought: what inner turmoil, what internal deliberation and confusion do

we have about why we have not ceased to sin? Do we doubt as did Thomas?

Why are we unbelieving when we have the evidence of a sinless being at

creation and at the giving of the Son of God? What separates us from the

joy, the wonder of not sinning? Are we as the disciples: opened he their

understanding, that they might understand the scriptures. Unless our minds

are about what has been written about him we will not see the first

resurrection, the change. Jesus must be our worship life. The entirety of the

scripture points to him. The story of Israel must be stitched to the story of

Jesus. The scripture is not spontaneously clear about everything. One

needs instruction, something that opens the mind, in order to be able to

understand them. It is only after that we learn of Christ how to worship that

we worship, trust, are joyful, in the spirit of truth that we come to reverence

and bless God. We hear the gospel when it is taught to us. We receive the

gospel when we agree with its message and appropriate it for ourselves. We

take our stand on the gospel when it becomes the foundation stone of our

lives. We are reminded of the gospel with every word that we come to truth

in reasoning. Faith must be sustained as it relates to the resurrection. The

motivation for the way we live should be the anticipation of the coming of the

Lord and the resurrection. No one can force another to readiness; all we can

do is make it possible by showing the way. It is a matter of choice. It should

make us choose to live differently. We are to tell others all these things.

Urge, advise, encourage, warn and rebuke with full authority. Let none of us

refrain from teaching truth. We have to be ready for the Lord. We have to be

at peace. As much as is humanly possible, live at peace with one another.

Note the words “first of all” in the inheritance chapter of the bible. This is the

rock of our truth – Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. Jesus

died for us in keeping with the prophecy of old testament scripture. Note the

words of the faith of Job echoing the inheritance chapter,“for I know that my

redeemer liveth”. Hope in the coming resurrection. And the prophetic

wisdom of Daniel, “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall

awake”. Faith in the coming resurrection. Seeing Jesus in the flesh after the

cross was essential for apostleship. The believing sight of Jesus was greater

than the sun at the zenith of the sky, and it caused Saul to be without sight.

As we await Christ’s return, our lives should reflect a resurrection mindset.

When we think on the resurrection we think on the things of the Spirit. We

glorify God. The resurrection matters because when we think on it, it

determines what we do. We obey the word of God. Put off sinful patterns.

Unbelievers can’t do what God commands. Isn’t that an amazing and

stunning thought? Those who don’t have the Holy Spirit, those who are

unbelievers, are enslaved to sin. They can’t obey because they lack

resurrection life. We sin because often we put our hope in what is passing

away instead of what awaits us. To unbelievers: if the truth were to be told,

there is much more evil in an unbeliever than these would ever admit. There

are secret sins that would embarrass deeply if they were known. Imagine

this: imagine a movie screen suddenly came down and all were on the

screen. And everyone was able to watch the things of good or evil done in

the life. All see those who get angry or commit chosen sin and the thoughts

in the heart are open for all to see. Others could read the thoughts, and

others see the jealousies felt when someone or something betters them. The

bitterness and resentment felt is devastating. Now believers have just as

much to be embarrassed about. Believers have practiced evil as well, but

through love, faith, obedience, and repentance have found forgiveness in

Jesus Christ. A resurrection mindset leads to holiness. We can have that

mindset because God has made known to us a glorious mystery “which is

Christ in you, the hope of glory”.

The mortal body is not the whole story. The Spirit in us is life because of

righteousness. Now that is a strange phrase. The Spirit is life because of

righteousness. Only because we belong to Christ can we be brought to

eternal life. Bodies that were dead, bodies that are alive will be changed.

But only for those who are righteous. Only for those who have the Holy Spirit.

Our sins separate us from God. So, we aren’t righteous because of our own

goodness. None of us can earn such life by obeying since God demands

perfection. We need the righteousness and goodness of another. And this

is where Jesus Christ comes in. He always did the Father’s will. He was the

only perfect human being. And yet Jesus was crucified on a cross and

suffered. Why did he suffer? Because of his great love for human beings. For

our sake and for our salvation he bore our sins on the tree. The punishment

we deserved was poured out on him. He absorbed the wrath of God that we

should have experienced. But that wasn’t the end of the story. God was

pleased with his Son’s obedience and raised him from the dead, showing

that the sacrifice on our behalf was accepted. If we trust in him, if we believe

in him, if we give our lives to him, then we become his children. We put our

lives in his hands, and he gives us his righteousness and his life. And

because he lives, we will live forever and ever and ever. And when we see

Jesus on the day of our change, the day of the righteous dead’s resurrection,

we will understand in a way that we don’t now, why God made us. For then

we will see the King in his beauty.

What means this resurrection mindset is so significant? Let’s embrace the

truthfulness of the bible’s claims. Our access to the resurrection of Jesus is

really no different than the access we have to nearly all historical events: we

access historical events through the witnesses that were present and the

testimony of written records provided. Resurrection is a historical claim that

everyone must face to their own salvation or their everlasting condemnation.

It’s not something that can be ignored. It’s not just a religious idea...not a

mythological story. Jesus’ resurrection means that God is faithful to his word.

Jesus’ resurrection means that Jesus himself is righteous. Death is God’s

judicial response to sin. Jesus’ resurrection means that Jesus’ people are

forgiven and declared righteous when they believe and accept all his acts of

grace and mercy. When Christ bore our sin on the cross, he created a value

of grace and righteousness that changes the lives of those who have faith in

every word of God. The cross of Christ is the power of God and the wisdom

of God. Jesus’ resurrection means that his people are free to live for God.

In other words, there’s an objective, historical reality: Christ died and was

raised from the dead. But then there’s also a mysterious union between

Christ and his people, such that what happens to Christ in the past makes

necessary what happens to his people as they’re united to him by faith in

their own lifetime. Christ’s historical resurrection transforms our present

experience when we believe in him. Fear moves to love, despair to joy. Our

worth to God is confirmed. Compelled to be better in hopes of seeing loved

ones together with God. Because he still lives to God, his people can live to

God. When we’re united to Christ, moral transformation occurs. Jesus’

resurrection means that our resurrection is “already and not yet.” Jesus’

resurrection means that God’s new creation is also “already and not yet.”

Jesus’ resurrection is the inauguration of that new creation. By rising from

the dead, Jesus becomes the new and final Adam who establishes a new

humanity dominated by the Holy Spirit. That has personal dimensions:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation”. It also has cosmic

dimensions: “The creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption

and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God”. So, we’ve already

entered the new creation as believers in the reality of faith, and we’re also

waiting for the new-creation fullness. Jesus’ resurrection means that he will

come again to judge the world. His resurrection does not allow us to

approach him neutrally. It’s not something that we believers commit

ourselves to as a way of merely easing our troubled conscience. It’s not

something that we can just keep to ourselves, as if it helps us to get through

life personally but really has no bearing on any others. Rather, Jesus’

resurrection says that all are accountable to him, and that means that

everything about our lives matters. History is not the past for God’s people

as it is for the world. For people who believe in God, "history" isn't just a

collection of past events. It is a narrative actively shaped by God's hand,

where past events are seen as part of a larger, ongoing story of God's plan

and redemption, allowing us to learn and grow from the past in a way that

transcends simply remembering it as a detached sequence of occurrences.

We are come to the providence of God in His purposes through us where

even seemingly negative events contribute to a greater good. We glean

spiritual lessons and insights into God's spirit and truth through Jesus’

character and encounters. We see historical events as a powerful symbol of

God's faithfulness and deliverance, offering hope and encouragement for the

difficulties that we must face. There is a glory to follow all our sufferings and

trials. And there are others who desire to look into the workings of the Holy

Spirit in God’s people teaching the gospel. Even the righteous angels long

to know more of the resurrection. God's sovereign rule over history is

absolute and perfectly righteous. And because God is the author of every

moment, history as a form of knowledge is objective without being

impersonal - yet personal without being arbitrary or unpredictable. Because

of history we have divine revelation to go back to the beginning to see what

went wrong and we know about the rest of the world. And the beginning may

bring greater understanding to God’s work. Consider the heavens declaring

the glory of God and showing His handiwork. There is a unique and precise

celestial sign of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Those who study will

appreciate the evidence found as you study to show yourself approved.

Without debate, the book of Job, written as God's message is that

phenomena of nature to show God's greatness and man's weakness. God

shows Job a glimpse of the universe's complexity. God also asks Job to trust

in his wisdom and character. The stars presented a sign of the birth of Jesus.

I dare not deprive a people of God from acquiring the depth of wisdom

associated with “truths” discovery. The heavens testifies of the greatest

event in history, the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. By

what source did Enoch prophesy? Of the prophecy of Enoch we have no

mention made in any other place of scripture; yet now it is scripture that there

was such prophecy. One plain text of scripture is proof enough of any one

point that we are required to believe, especially when relating to a matter of

fact; but in matters of faith, necessary saving faith, we are tried. The bible

tells us of Christ's coming to judgment that we might receive and

acknowledge truth. We are told for what great and awful ends and purposes

he will come. Enoch, showing as also will the 144000, prophesied the

resurrection...”behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his

saints”. Signs in the heavens...what did God reveal to Abraham.

“And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and

tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy

seed be.” There is a reason that God preserved the ancient stars positions

by His divine hand that we too might have witness to His power. God will

use signs in the heavens to signal the beginning of His intervention to punish

humanity for our sins – and to rescue us from self-destruction before the

great and terrible day of the Lord. The sixth seal offers a prelude.

Thoughts of the resurrection reveals mystery truths of God. We are informed

how truth and faith affects us. Not despite our past, but, because of it, God

has a plan to turn it for a great purpose and a beautiful tomorrow. We must

not truncate the gospel by leaving off the culmination of the whole salvation

message. There must never be offered a defense for sin. Death is not the

end of the book; there is another chapter, and it is called the resurrection.

There is no eternal life without resurrection. There is much more to salvation

than just eternal life which in itself is wonderful; but the pinnacle of human

history is the resurrection. Our salvation can be likened to a spiritual

‘betrothal’. Our union with Jesus will not be complete until our resurrection.

There is incredible excitement in heaven. What is it all about? It’s about you

and me. If we are truly longing for Jesus’ appearing, it shows in the way we

live; the practical outworking in our daily lives. We should be living lives

differently to those who are not awaiting the appearance of Jesus. The

longing should cause us to cultivate personal holiness. An indication that we

are anticipating the Lord’s return is continuing prayer. That is very important.

We can know doctrinally that Jesus is going to return, but unless we spend

time in God’s Word and in prayer, it will seem a very distant event. There is

no way we can be constantly filled with anticipation for Jesus’ return, unless

we shut ourselves in with God’s Word and spend time with Him in prayer.

We are going to need strength through prayer to stand in the last time. Prayer

is an essential part of our relationship with God. There is no substitute for

holiness and righteousness. God knows when there will be a generation

ready for the return of the Lord. It is the generation that brings this gospel of

the kingdom to all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the

end come. The word of God reveals all the wisdom needed to come to be

one who enters life eternal at the return of Christ. Christ did not die for

Himself. He died the death of Adam and Eve and of all their descendants.

He died our death. The gospel validates and transforms our lives. All of the

aspects of the gospel - Jesus’ sinless life and sacrificial death, are vital. But

this part - the resurrection - is what gives us our greatest confidence and

hope in the entirety of the gospel - because the resurrection is the means of

a transformed life. Jesus’ resurrection points to our own. Jesus is the

firstfruits of the resurrection. Firstfruits is an interesting and helpful word

because it carries with it the clear idea that Jesus is not the only one who will

be resurrected. Jesus was the first, but He is by no means the last. More

fruit is coming. The framework of creation, the fall, redemption, and

transformation by the renewal of the mind is central to the gospel story that

runs throughout the pages of scripture. This framework plays a significant

role in how we understand God’s active work in all of creation. Jesus will

restore all things to God’s intended design. Resurrection speaks of

completion and restoration - completion of the gospel story and restoration

when everything God created as very good will once again measure up to

that standard. It is by the resurrection that God’s story has always been

designed to connect with our story. It is because of His Story that our stories

make sense, have meaning, and carry on into eternity. All of God’s work is

moving toward this end. The mindset of the resurrection has multiple

meanings, including a warning and a message of hope. The resurrection is

a warning that judgement day is coming and that His Father will be the

judge. The resurrection is a judgment on those who contributed to Jesus'

crucifixion. It's a wakeup call to the world to repent. The resurrection is a

message of peace and hope. But this peace is not a peace of stillness.

Jesus’ salutation to the disciples at his appearance saying, “peace be unto

you” was first to calm their fear then he repeated the saying to raise their

attention to the message he was sending them forth to teach. Message is

the sum and substance of the resurrection. It conveys that Jesus will raise

people up from the defeat of death to the victory of life, just as he did

himself. It also gives people a mission to spread the good news of God's love

and to help establish the kingdom of God. The resurrection is a confirmation

that Jesus was who he claimed to be. It's also God's assurance to the true

believers that they have been forgiven. With this message that we are given

comes the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that brings peace and

confidence in God. It is the Holy Spirit that gives us courage to take up the

mission of Jesus. It is the Holy Spirit that transforms us into the body of

Christ. It is the Holy Spirit that inspires us with love for all of our brothers and

sisters. It is the Holy Spirit that gives us the power to forgive each other's

sins. We see the effects of the resurrection and the power of the Spirit lived

out in our witness...our testimony...our faith. The first resurrection to eternal

life began in the Garden and was settled in the Garden. But the bible doesn't

specify a precise date for its completion. There have been first resurrections,

not all from the grave, but some from sleep and none to eternal life except

Jesus and there is no indication that any raised are typed as “wicked”.

.

Moses was resurrected. Lazarus was resurrected. The son of a widow in

Zarephath. The son of the Shunammite woman. The man cast into the

sepulchre of Elisha. The son of the widow from Nain. Jairus’ daughter. Many

saints came out of the graves after Jesus’ resurrection. Tabitha, also called

Dorcas was resurrected. And Eutychus. The first resurrection is a process

that takes place over time. It involves the prayers, the pleadings, the faith in

the power of God. God taught the first pair of the death of their Savior that

gave them life when death was their due. The mindset of the resurrection

began. And there are untold numbers who faithfully complete their earthly

lives since creation that await Christ's appearing the second time. The

resurrection gives those who believe in Jesus the power of eternal life. What

is the last question...who is this King of glory!

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📖 Applying the Study

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