Resurrection of the Flesh

 

Resurrection of the Flesh

 

There is much controversy about the Resurrection of the Dead in the Church. Some teach that the First Resurrection is a Spiritual Resurrection that takes place when a person becomes a believer. A new Believer or a Born Again Christian dies to themself and the world when they believe and confess that JESUS is The Son of GOD who takes away the sin of the world. That they are buried in death with CHRIST and raised to Life by the Power of His SPIRIT – Water Baptism symbolizes this burial and resurrection. It is true that when we become a Born Again Christian we are to die to ourself and the world and live a new (Born Again) life in CHRIST by His SPIRIT that now lives in us. But this is a personal experience that happens to each Believer at the point of their New Birth. Paul describes this in Galatians 2:19-21 “For I through the Law died to the Law that I might Live to GOD. 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. I do not set aside the Grace of GOD; for if Righteousness comes through the Law, then CHRIST died in vain.” The First Resurrection (Revelation 20:4-6) as described is of the whole Church – body of Believers who have died being raised from the dead and those still alive being transformed in the air, 1 Corinthians 15:50-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

 

A small resurrection: some graves in Jerusalem were opened and those in them rose and witnessed about JESUS around Jerusalem Matthew 27:50-53. This happened on the day He was crucified not the day He rose from the grave.

 

The order of His Resurrection appearance according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John: Mary Magdalene, Mary JESUS’ mother and Joanna; two disciples, Cleopas and another on the road to Emmaus; Simon Peter; the eleven Apostles minus Thomas; the eleven Apostles; Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, John, James and two other disciples.

The order of His Resurrection appearance according to Paul in 2 Corinthians 15:3-11: Peter, the twelve Apostles, by over 500 brethren at once, James, by all the Apostles and Paul as one born out of due time.

 

The order of the Resurrection of the dead: Christ First; then those who are His, the dead in Christ first, then those still alive; then all the dead; 1 Corinthians 15:22-23, 50-58; Revelation 14:12-20, 20:4-6, 11-15, 21:8