STUDIES IN ACTS OF THE APOSTLES- PART 86

                                May 29, 2005

 

DOCTRINE OF THE BODILY RESURRECTION

 

  In view of Paul’s reference to resurrection in Acts 24:15,

We will examine the doctrine (omitting larger portions on

the bodily resurrection of Christ).

 

Definition: resurrection (anastasis=to stand up, rise up) –

the restoration of full personhood to humans following physical death

by rejoining soul/spirit with a body.

    Two categories are found:

a) Resurrection of Christ      b) Resurrection of humans

1.  The doctrine of human resurrection is essentially tied to the resurr.

 of Christ who is described as the “firstfruits of those who have fallen

 asleep”- I Cor.15:20 and that without his resurrection, the hope of

 the Christian faith is vain- 15:17.

2.  Bodily resurrection fits into the scope of eschatology (last things)

 as an event in the final ordering of affairs of this world in movement

 to a New Heaven & New Earth- Rev. 20:6 and 21:4.

3. Resurrection of the believer’s body may be referred to as “redemption

 of the body” in Rom.8:23 as the third (and final) act of deliverance

 in the work of salvation.  The deliverance is from “bondage of corruption”

 (8:21) which is the whole effect of diminishing, restricting and limiting that sin

 has in a person’s life.  As it allows believers to more fully enter into

 the glory of eternal salvation, it may be called “glorification”—Rom.8:18,

 21 and 30; Phil.3:21; I Cor.2:7, 15:43; II Cor.4:17; II Tim.2:10; Heb. 2:10;

 I Peter 5:1 and 4.

4.  Resurrection of the believer’s body reveals the value by God that is

  placed upon a full and complete experience of His person and His

  majesty under optimum circumstances- John 17:9-10, 20-24;

  II Cor. 4:15-5:5;  II Thess. 2:13-14; Rev.22:3.  While we may taste of

  such “glory and power” now, such is hindered by physical, psychological,

  and circumstantial corruption that is inherent where the sin nature from

  Adam remains- Rom.8:18; II Cor.3:7-11; Heb.11:35.

5.  The restoration of full humanity (transformed body minus the sin nature)

  is described in the most attractive terms:

  “conformed to His glorious body”- Phil.3:20  “glorious liberty”-Rom.8:21

                and from I Cor.15 a number of descriptive terms:

   “celestial bodies”-vs.40    “incorruptible”- vs.42  “glorious”- vs.43

   “in power”-vs.43    “spiritual body”-vs.44   “image of the heavenly”vs.48-49

   “changed”-vs.51    “immortal”-vs 53