Resurrection of Jesus

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Dr. Mike 2021, Think About That...

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I (Paul) preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me…

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, 12-26 (ESV)

There are times the Scripture needs no further explanation. Chapter 15 of 1st Corinthians known as the Resurrection chapter is such a powerful and logical argument for the basis of our belief, what more can I add. Paul hits a home-run with his persuasive points. If Christ wasn’t resurrected, then our faith is in vain. But based on the eye witnesses of over 500 people, the majority probably still alive when Paul wrote this letter to the Church, who witnessed Jesus alive after his crucifixion – a jury trial would easily reach the same conclusion.

And Paul goes one step further in acknowledging Jesus Christ as the first human morphed into a spiritual being, and eventually you and I will join him when HE returns to fully establish and deliver HIS Kingdom to GOD the Father after destroying every rule, power, and authority under Satan’s spell.   

The same power of God which confirmed that Jesus is the Messiah and Lord, is also the same power at work sanctifying you and I.  The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the basis of yours and mine faith. You either believe and live it out looking forward to a new heavenly life or you deny and slowly decay into oblivion. A 21st century, five-star, award winning Sci-Fi movie couldn’t be written any better. The difference though, this is real life.

Enjoy this Easter season as your reminder that Jesus lives and plans to return for the finale. Until his physical presence is seen again, HE lives in you and I through the Holy Spirit which is transforming us from the inside-out into HIS image. Some days I shake my head as if I am living a dream. Yet the fruit and transformation over the years in my life and others is our statement to the world. HE LIVES.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Author of e-Books

 *  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

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What Does the Bible Say About the Resurrection of the Dead?

Dr. Mike 2020, Scriptures , , , ,

RESURRECTION 2
I Peter 1:3-5
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for  you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

 *****
Matt. 22:29-32
Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.  At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. 

 *****
John 11:24-26
Martha answered, “I know he (Lazarus) will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

 *****
I Cor 15:12-57
But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?  If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.  And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.  More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead.  But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.  For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.  And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.  Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.  If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.  For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.  For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.  But each in his own turn: Christ, the first-fruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.  Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.  For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.  The last enemy to be destroyed is death.  For he “has put everything under his feet.”  Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ.  When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made  subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead?  If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them?  And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour?  I die every day – I mean that, brothers – just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord.  If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained?  If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”  Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”  Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God – I say this to your shame.  But someone may ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?”  How foolish!  What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.  When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else.  But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body.  All flesh is not the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another.  There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies in another.  The sum has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and the star differs from star in splendor.So will it be with the resurrection of the dead.  The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.   If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.  So it is written: “The first Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit.  The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual.  The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven.  And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.

I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, not does the perishable inherit the imperishable.  Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.  For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.  When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.””Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?”  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God!   He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 *****
Rev 20:4-6
I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge.  And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God.  They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands.  They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.)  This is the first resurrection.  Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection.  The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.

 *****
Acts 17:18-19
They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.

 *****
Phil 3:10-11
I (Paul) want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

 *****
Acts 4:1-2
They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.

 *****
Luke 20:35-36
But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels.  They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection.

 *****
Luke 14:13-14
But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed.  Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.

*****

How does your theology explain life after death in comparison with the resurrection from the dead?

All scripture taken from the New International Version Bible unless noted.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Leadership 360
Author of e-Books:

 *  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

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Is Your Jesus Dead or Alive?

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms , , , , , , , ,

RESURRECTION 5

Easter is the time that traditional Christianity comes together to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We in the faith may argue whether or not He died and was buried for a full three days or three nights as He prophesied, or whether they were portions of three days and nights. We in the faith may argue among ourselves in regards to the symbolism of the bread and wine; whether the bread is actually His body or simply a reminder of His human sacrifice. We in the faith may also debate whether or not communion is an institutional doctrine of the church to be taken only in a “Church Service” or more of simply Jesus’ method to remind us at each meal (Middle-eastern culture)when we break bread and drink wine to acknowledge what Jesus did and a reminder that He shall return.

No matter the discussions and disagreements, there is one universal truth among believers: Jesus arose from the grave and lives today!

He didn’t arise and simply disappear into heaven for His sake. He is now at the right hand of God the Father; intervening for humanity before our great God. He is working through the hands and feet of His body, the universal Church, preparing a people for His return. A time where the Bible describes a one-thousand year reign where Christ’ Kingdom will be visible; a time that will prepare the way for a new heaven and a new earth to finally merge together as one with God’s throne among all people visible for all to see.

How many people do you know live their life with a living Christ rather than a dead Christ? As we live each day in faith, trusting the Spirit to lead us into a deeper relationship with the living God, isn’t that where Christ becomes more real and alive in us?  However, if we try to do it all along, thinking that Christ is dead and is not coming back, doesn’t that leave one struggling with a dead faith?  Easter is a time to reflect on what Christ did, is doing, and will be doing as He moves history toward the restoration of all things. My prayer is that all may come to know and allow Christ to express Himself freely through us all.

OUR PRAYER

life1

Holy Father, Holy Lord, and Holy Spirit – Thank you for revealing yourself through creation, the Bible, and your involvement in our life. Help me every day to listen for your words of encouragement, love, and mission. Help me to come and know you more and more each day. Help me to hang out with you more and more each day. Let your resurrection power be expressed through me and toward others so they may also experience the great life you have to share with your children. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Yours In Christ,

Dr. Mike

Consultant, Coach, Encourager
Author of Great Business Emulates A Good God

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