Assurance of the Resurrection

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: 2 Corinthians 5:1-8

 

1 Corinthians 15:51-53

Behold, I tell you a ^[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 trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

(NKJV)

 

1 Corinthians 15:51-53 along with 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 are passages of scripture that bring hope to all believers in Christ. They bring hope that is not just wishful thinking but hope with confidence for it comes from the word of God and God cannot lie (Numbers 23:19). As we age and these earthly bodies begin to fail, the assurance of the resurrection and our new glorified bodies gives even more comfort.

 

The text begins with Paul comparing our earthly tent or body with the heavenly house God has prepared for us that is eternal in the heavens (2 Corinthians 5:1). As a tent maker by trade, Paul was familiar with how tents made with his hands would fall into destruction when exposed to the elements. While our bodies are not made by human hands, they have become corrupt due to the fall of man in the Garden (Genesis 3). We groan while in these corrupt earthly bodies, earnestly wanting to be clothed with our incorruptible heavenly bodies (2 Corinthians 5:2-3). It is not our desire to exit our earthly bodies and be naked but instead to put off the clothing of mortality and be clothed with the immortality of eternity with Christ (2 Corinthians 5:4). We have assurance in this hope of immortality because it is from God with God giving us the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of its fulfillment (2 Corinthians 5:5).

 

The confidence and hope of a believer in Christ is the assurance of knowing that living in their earthly bodies with their corruption, aches, and pains is only a temporary situation (2 Corinthians 5:6). This is because a believer in Jesus Christ does not walk by what is seen, the corruption, aches, and pains, but by faith in what is unseen, their resurrected and glorified bodies (2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 11:1). The confidence of a believer is knowing that when they exit this earthly and corruptible body, they will be in the presence of the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8).

 

There was an ongoing conflict between the Sadducees who did not believe in the resurrection and the Pharisees who believed in the resurrection during the time of the Apostle Paul (Acts 23:6-10). Sadducees and Pharisees may have approached the believers in Corinth leading to confusion in an already troubled Church. This text brings clarification on the topic of the resurrection, something the Apostle Paul, a Pharisee believed in even before becoming a believer in Jesus as His Lord. Paul would later write to the Romans that for one to experience Salvation, they must confess and believe in their heart that Jesus died, was buried, and resurrected from the dead (Romans 10:9-10). Paul also earlier taught the believers in Corinth that those who have fallen asleep in death will rise at the rapture of the Church (1 Corinthians 15:51-53). To deny the existence of the resurrection would, therefore, be a denial of eternal hope for those in Christ.

 

The most quoted and memorized portion of Scripture is John 3:16, giving the promise of not perishing but having everlasting life. However, in the nearly two thousand years of Church history, many believers have perished in death. Does this mean the promise of everlasting life is untrue? The answer is no for even though these individuals have perished in death, the resurrection occurring at the last trumpet will bring them eternal life (1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18).

 

Easter Sunday, or as some call it, Resurrection Sunday, is a time when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the grave after his brutal death by crucifixion on Good Friday. With Jesus representing the first fruits of those resurrected from the dead, I encourage everyone to find hope in knowing that we will share in the resurrection of Christ at the last trumpet with no need to fear. If you are reading this and do not have the hope of eternal life with the assurance of the resurrection of the dead to spend eternity with Jesus Christ, I invite you to pray with me now,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God challenge, convict, and encourage everyone reading this post.