so in a we're in acts chapter 24 and if you would look at verse 10 it says there
then after the Paul and then Paul after that the governor had beckoned unto him
to speak and answer speak and answered for as much as I know that though it's
been of many years a judge in this nation I do more cheerfully the answer
for myself so Paul here is making his case he's defending himself and I really
don't want to go a whole lot of the context I'm really just gonna focus in
on one phrase here towards the end there in verse 15 but if you know the story
Paul you know he's been arrested by the Jews they're accusing him he's being
drugged in front of governor someone and so forth and he's making his case and he
says in verse 15 verse 15 and have hope toward God which they themselves
also allow that there shall be a resurrection of the dead both of the
just and the unjust so in his defense he's explaining the fact that I believe
and I have hope just as these people do the Jews the Pharisees that there shall
be a resurrection from the dead so even though Jews you know that these people
that are falsely accusing him of being you know someone who's called causing
insurrection and trying to you know cause atonement and you know you know a
rebellion of sorts even they are going to agree with Paul on this point that
there's going to be a resurrection of the dead and I want to talk to us this
morning about that resurrection and specifically this phrase that he uses
there the resurrection of the dead both of the just and the unjust that's the
title of the sermon this morning the resurrection of the just and the unjust
and right away what we should understand is that there is going to be a
resurrection and that is a that in and of itself is a very profound truth
that one day we are going to when we pass away and our body is put in this
grave we understand that to be absent from the body is to be present with the
Lord that our spirit will go and be with the Lord but that one day when Christ
returns he's going to resurrect also our physical body and actually make it even
give us a glorified body a new body in Christ which is another amazing truth
we'll talk about here in a further minute but that is something that we
need to think about you know we often as Christians we think about the
resurrection of Jesus Christ and we believe that you can't you can't be
saved and going to heaven if you don't believe in the resurrection of Jesus
Christ that is you know a major component of the gospel believing in
the resurrection but sometimes I think as Christians we get you know we get a
little short-sighted we get so wrapped up in the affairs of this life in the
cares of this world that we forget what lies ahead for us and sometimes we look
around and we see what's going on and we get real down and depressed and we can
get you know feel downtrodden and kind of wondering you know what's the point
of it all kind of an attitude and we can get you know a little down in the mouth
as they say but here's something that we should think about is the fact that we
have a hope in Christ called the resurrection now this resurrection
applies as he Paul says they're both of the just and the unjust and the reason
why he says that is that there's actually a this term the resurrection of
the dead is an event that it's it's a term that refers to two separate events
it's the same thing you know it's the resurrection it's the body being
reunited with the soul we understand that but actually there's two instances
of this that's that's going to take place in the future that regard mankind
there's the resurrection of the just and then there's the resurrection of the
unjust now the resurrection the just those are people who are saved you know
I'll understand that that we're justified in Christ that we have
justification through his blood that we're saved we're justified that that is
us we are the resurrection of the just you know if you're saved if you put your
faith in Christ this morning you are going to take part in that resurrection
the resurrection of the just now it doesn't mean you're just because you
live such a good life or that you've just been such an upstanding person you
know we assume that everyone does that you know we try our best to do that but
we're we're take part in the resurrection of the just not because of
our deeds but by Christ deeds by his righteousness we are made just in Christ
we're justified in him and then there's of course the resurrection of the
unjust which would be those that are unsaved those that are going to be
judged according to their works and found wanting so the resurrection of the
just is those of the saved who have died and you know sometimes people get a
little confused about when he says the resurrection of the dead and they think
well that only applies to the unsaved and that's not true and the reason why
they think that is because the Bible often refers to those that have died in
Christ as those who are asleep and if you would go over to 1st Thessalonians
chapter 4 1st Thessalonians chapter 4 so when he says you know the resurrection
of the dead when we say somebody is dead you know that doesn't necessarily mean
that they're unsaved and a lot of people think that they get confused and they
think well I thought we always said that when people died in Christ that they're
just asleep but we don't even really use that terminology and even the Bible
you know Paul says says it both ways that those that have died in Christ are
dead and he also says that those that have died in Christ are asleep and you
know the reason why you know it's so right there we understand that you know
this using this term of those that are dead in Christ have gone to sleep that's
not a really if I were to say that today you know that would make a lot of sense
to a lot of people if I were to if you were to say you know if some relative
were mine to pass away and then you were that you know you didn't know and
you asked them you said hey how's so-and-so doing I said well he's he's
asleep you'd assume he's at home taking a nap you wouldn't think oh you had a
funeral you put him in the ground he died you know you wouldn't counsel me
you know you would try to comfort me over the fact that he's you think oh
he's taking that well good for him you might say something like oh great I'm
glad to hear it I'm jealous you know I wish I was sleeping you know but here's
the thing you know the point I'm trying to make is that you know this trip this
term of sleeping or dead this can apply to the both of these terms can apply to
the believer now you would not say that about someone who is unsaved in the and
you don't see that in the scripture that those that are dead without Christ they
are not asleep okay because because when you're when you're saved when you're
when you're taking part of the resurrection the just you know death to
you is like asleep you know just look there in first let's go into chapter 4
and Paul uses that term of sleeping or being dead in Christ as a way to comfort
people it kind of gives us perspective okay that's the why that's why even
uses that term okay it's not because they're there you know I we call it a
dirt nap right but that's not because they're sleeping they are actually dead
we just use that term as a form of a source of comfort okay to give
perspective he says in verse 13 of 1st Thessalonians 4 but I would not have
you be ignorant to be ignorant brethren concerning them which are asleep so he's
trying to comfort them because he goes on and says that you sorrow not even as
though others which have no hope you know so he's using this term of you
know they're asleep to try and you know break this to them gently to remind them
that they have a hope in Christ that those that have died in Christ before us
and have gone on to be there with the Lord and glory you know that that we we
need to look at their passing on as nothing more than just asleep as it's as
if they are they're just sleeping and one day they will be awakening and that
will be reunited with them so that's how he's using that term because he goes on
and says in verse 14 for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again even some
though them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him so you see how
he's using that term to sleep in this particular context to comfort these
people you know sometimes we do the same thing with like kids and stuff you know
when they don't understand fully death and everything like that you know we'll
have an elderly relative that dies you know we'll say something whoa you know
they went to heaven we'll say something like that they're they're with the Lord
we want to say well they're dead now you know because that's kind of a that's
kind of a harsh you know I want to say it's a harsh term but it's very it could
be very cold you know in some instances you know we use terms like they passed
away they went on to be at the Lord they've gone to glory they went home you
know these are the things that we say about those in Christ as these are terms
that we used to comfort one another with these words and the word sleep here is
another way to another term that we can use to comfort one another with these
words because when you were when you're saved when you had you have this hope in
Christ that even though you someone you know and love and dies in Christ that
one day you're going to be reunited with them that's a source of hope for us but
notice there how even in this context died and sleep are still used to
describe the same thing right did you catch that he says in verse 14 for if we
believe that Jesus slept know that Jesus died so the sleeping means that they
died that he died and rose again even so the muscle which sleep in Jesus or are
dead in Jesus or died in Jesus so you know I want to kind of clarify that
because sometimes people get confused about that I think well you know the
resurrection of the dead that refers only to you know people and better that
are unsaved know the resurrection of the dead as Paul pointed out is of the just
and the unjust you can refer to those that have died in Christ as dead just as
easily could those that are without Christ but you could not say that those
that are without Christ are asleep yet something that only applies to the
Christian because we have that hope that we will rise again and notice also here
we're gonna move on that how they which are asleep in Jesus are both with him
and will rise again
ok now look at verse 15 he says for this we say unto you by the word of the Lord
that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent
them which are asleep those that have died in Christ
ok for the Lord shall descend from heaven without a shout the voice of the
archangel with the trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first then we
which are alive remain shall be caught together with them in the clouds to meet
them in the Lord in the air so shall we ever be with the Lord wherefore comfort
one another's with these with these words to notice there he's saying look
when we are when we are alive if we remain unto the coming of the Lord the
rapture ok that we're not going to prevent those which are asleep that
meaning that we're not going first we're not going to prevent them we're not you
know you know it'd be like we're not cutting in line you know if I were to
prevent you from you know if we went to some you know if we went to some you
know taco stand which you know what isn't too far-fetched around here and I
said hey I'm gonna prevent you I'm going first you know I'm preventing you from
going ahead of me but he's saying here we're not going to prevent them which
are asleep that what is he saying that they're going to arise first for the
Lord shall descend from heaven and the dead in Christ shall rise first right so
he's saying at the resurrection before we're caught up together and to be with
the Lord in the air that the dead are going to be caught are going to be
raised again and and and brought to the Lord but notice in verse 14 it also said
this if we believe that Jesus died and rose again even so then also which sleep
in Jesus will God bring with him so not only are the dead rising to meet with
God those are asleep are being risen again to to ahead of us to meet the Lord
there but they're also with him you say well what's going on here well like Paul
said that to be absent from the bodies to be present with the Lord we know that
man is both body soul and spirit you know that this physical this vessel that
we inhabit this is just a vehicle that our our soul lives in in order to
interact with this physical realm you know that we are there's a separate part
of us a spiritual part of our our being that you know we can't really fully
comprehend because we're we're in this physical realm but he's saying look the
soul is going to come with Jesus that that that part of them that have died is
going to come with them the souls that have died in Christ they're with him
right now you know that's the hope that we have they're with him right now when
he returns he's bringing them with him then the dead in Christ those which
sleep in Jesus their body is going to be resurrected and reunited with their
spirit their soul and then we're you know then we which are alive remain
shall be caught up to the Lord with the Lord near which is a profound thou and
you think about the fact that there's going to be a group of people that never
die their body is never going to go through death there when the Lord comes
are going to be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye and then they're
going to be made uncorruptible in Christ we hope that's us right we that part we
really like but remember that those are also the people that went through the
tribulation and so on and so forth there's a you know it comes at a price
okay but we'll move on here so we see first of all you know that the
term sleep is something refers only to the the resurrection of the just the
term dead can refer to either and that we are with that the resurrection is
going to take place when when Christ returns when he comes back and
immediately precedes the rapture right again look at verse 15 he says for this
we say unto you by the by the word of the Lord that we which are alive remain
unto the coming of the Lord that is the rapture okay that's when this whole
thing takes place it immediately precedes the rapture and what is it if
you would go to 1st Corinthians chapter 15 1st Corinthians chapter 15 what is
the resurrection it is a reuniting of the flesh and the spirit it's when the
body and the flesh are reunited and made one again and you say well what about
people have been cremated you know you know God listen God's God gives life to
he's that he is the author of life right he's the one that you know knit us
together in our mother's womb he's the one that you know saw our substance
before we were even born God knit us together he can make us look if if
someone gets burned up in their ashes scattered in several different parts of
the world as often happens these days you know God can still gather that all
together again it's not beyond him if you can make life out of nothing you
can easily just bring all those parts back together now you know that kind of
leads into the top this isn't sermon really isn't about that you know you
know what we should do with people's remains when they pass on you know I I
definitely think that it's that's a matter of personal preference but I do
believe that it's a good testimony to bury somebody I don't believe cremation
is something Christians for testimony's sake should be partaking it and it's
unfortunate today because the cost of burying people it's like it's like they
want to make money off of you every step of the way I mean they make money off of
you when you're born they make money off you through your childhood your working
years your old age and even when you die you know you're not even around but
they're still gonna profit off of your corpse by you know charging thousands of
dollars for a casket in a service and everything else you know and gone are
the days when at least in this country where you could just you know put
somebody in a pine box and bury them on the back 40 you know and but but you
know what so people often are off are opting for the convenience and the
inexpensive just cremate somebody what you know I don't think if you do
something like that you know you've somehow messed with the resurrection you
know but it's a picture you know that you know if an ear you know if a corn
die and go into the ground it you'll look much fruit that it's going to be
raised again you know that we are sown in corruption but we're raised in
incorruption right so it's a picture it's it's a we bury ourselves it's
because we're we're showing that we're expecting to be raised again that that
bot we're not done with that body that God is going to open the graves one day
that's kind of a separate subject but it ties in so it's a reuniting with the
flesh and spirit that's what the resurrection is of the just and of the
unjust look at first Corinthians 15 verse 39 it says all flesh is not the
same flesh but there's one kind of flesh of men another of beasts another
fishes another of birds there are also celestial bodies and bodies terrestrial
so celestial is referring to heavenly right this we refer to the stars as
celestial beings and then the terrestrial like terra firma terrestrial
that's talking about the earth you know there's a body that's in heaven there's
heavenly bodies that's one kind of flesh and then there's another kind that
inhabits the earth you know and that's the kind that we have we have that
terrestrial body right now but one day we're going to receive a celestial body
you know it's gonna be you know Jesus when he was resurrected said he said a
spirit hath not flesh and bone as you see me to have meaning that he had flesh
and bone but it's also interesting that he's that he didn't mention in the blood
because flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven right so yes he
had flesh and bone but he did not have flesh and blood because because you know
and I'm kind of going off on a little bit of it you know sidetrack here but
you think about it the Bible says that the life of the of the flesh is in the
blood that the blood is the life you know that's what keeps us going right
now and but here's the thing when you're resurrected you know you're given a new
you're born again you're safe the blood is no longer the life okay and I there's
it's kind of hard to explain all that I don't understand it but we don't just
that's that that's the case that Christ is our life that he when we're given
that glorified body that celestial body that doesn't seem like there's going to
be any need for a you know cardiovascular system you know that
there's not going to be any blood involved okay that's an interesting
thought you know again we see through a glass darkly a lot of these things were
just told we don't understand how but we just know this is what the Bible says
this is what we see in Scripture this is the way it is and he says look there is
a bot there is a there is a also celestial bodies and bodies terrestrial
there's a heavenly body there's an earthly body there is one glory of the
Sun another the moon another of the stars for one star differth from one
star and glory so also is the resurrection of the dead it is sown in
corruption it is raised and in corruption meaning this terrestrial body
is going to be put in the ground but one day when it's risen again it's going to
be in corrupt it's going to have that celestial body it's not going to have
the the sin it says there it is sown and dishonored you know our flesh wars
against our spirit you know we're it's a it we have this treasure in earth
and vessels the Bible says it is sown in dishonor it is raised in glory you see
how he's talking about hey it's it's it's sown in disorder there's a there's
a terrestrial there's a celestial it's sown in dishonor it's raised in honor
he's saying like he's saying this that the resurrection of the just there's
going to be a change of the body you know and it's not gonna it's not gonna
I'm sure that we're gonna have some resemblance of this of what we look like
we're probably gonna be able to tell who we are and no we're not ruckmanites we
don't believe that everybody's gonna be a 30 year old white male it's crazy that
people believe this kind of nutty stuff we're gonna we're gonna recognize one
another you know but we're gonna have there is going to be a change there it's
going to be glorified it is sown a natural body it is raised a spiritual
body there's a difference here okay there is a natural body the and there is
a spiritual body so when this resurrection of the just takes place not
only we're gonna be with the Lord not only are we gonna be reunited with lost
loved ones or excuse me not lost loved ones saved loved ones who have gone on
before us you know we're gonna meet those we're gonna be reunited with the
friends that we had here the people that we are the fellow Christians that we knew
on this earth what I mean that alone is a wonderful thought to think about that
this life that this is all there is to it that there is life beyond the grave
and it's a much better one than this in fact that it's with the Lord that it's
in heaven and on top of all that you also get a new glorified body and this
is something that I think about you know time to time and every time I do you
know it really blows me away to think about what the hope that we have in
Christ because when we have that spiritual body you have to understand we
understand a little bit about what that's going to look like and if you
would go over to 1st John chapter 2 1st John chapter 2 because here's the thing
when you have that spiritual body that body is going to have the abilities of
the resurrected Christ we're gonna we're gonna be like him and we see it we get a
glimpse just a glimpse of what that's like you know in the book of Acts toward
the latter end of the Gospels we get to understand just a few things you know
and Paul said that he beheld things in heaven that were not lawful for him to
speak we can't understand you know and I kind of like that it's that way I kind
of it's reminds me it's like the best Christmas present there is you know part
of the great thing about the Christmas you know the presents and stuff is the
anticipation of what's in that package you know now as you become an adult you
you know what's in the package because you're the one who bought it right but
as a child you're looking at you go man what is this you're trying to guess you
know which can go wrong I had an aunt she guessed all of her presence when
you're she picked it up she'd shake it and she knew everything that she'd
gotten she proud to never do it again all right but with the resurrection with
what's gonna take place in heaven you know we want to know these things we
want to understand these things and God just gives us a hint you know it's
bigger than a bread box or you know it's you know whatever the hints that he
gives he gives us just a little glimpse of what that body is going to be like
and from what little we see it's quite amazing okay you're there in first John
chapter 2 look at verse 1 he said behold what manner of love the Father hath
bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God I think God could
have just stopped there God could have said look I'm gonna save you and when
you die you could come to heaven but you're gonna keep that old carcass
you're gonna you're gonna be just like you were on earth you know he'll clean
you up a little bit get this you know you won't have a lot of sin but look God
goes beyond that you know not only be the sons of God not only going to
inherit the earth he says therefore the world know that it's not because it knew
him him not beloved now we are the sons of God and it doth not yet appear what
we shall be it's like look we don't fully understand what we're going to be
we don't know anybody that has a glorified body we haven't seen it we
don't know what it's like but we know that when he shall appear the Lord we
shall be like him that's why he says we shall all be changed in a moment in the
twinkling of an eye that's what that change is is when this in corruption
puts or this corruption puts on in corruption when this mortality puts on
immortality when we receive that new body that we are going to be like him
not only to God love us not only God save us but then he also gives us a body
like the Lord Jesus Christ and it's amazing we shall see for we shall see
him as he is and every man that hath this hope in him purify itself even as
he is pure you know that's a good reason for us to keep ourselves pure and
that's the motive there that's what he says look every man that hath this hope
in him purify it himself even as he is pure that because why because we shall
see him as he is you know if we would just stop and contemplate that thought
and think a little bit more about the fact that one day we are going to stand
before God that we're going to see him with with our eyes we're gonna lay out
we're gonna we're not gonna have to wonder whether Jesus was this color or
that color we're gonna know we're not to wonder whether what he looked like now
we know a few things that you know he certainly didn't have the long hair they
all want to make him out to have right but we're gonna know all that I mean
we're gonna be able to look at him and see him and he's gonna be magnificent
and it's gonna be quite that you know if we would just think about that the fact
that one day you're gonna stand before God you know that might affect the way
you behave yourself on this earth it might cause you to want to purify
yourself to live a clean godly life you know we always get accused of that you
know oh you preach out that easy believe ISM and you're telling people they can
live however they want and you know what that's true we do because believing is
easy and you know it's not by works of righteousness that we are saved by his
grace he saved us we're saved by grace and not of works it doesn't matter how
we live our life you know as far as going to heaven will suffer the
consequences of sin on this earth but isn't it funny that though we preach
that yet the some of the just the most godliest people who are living the
cleanest lives of the people that believe that and why is that is it
because they're trying to earn their way to heaven no and it isn't funny that's
the people who teach that you got to earn your way to heavens are often the
ones living the most wicked lives you know I think of how many different
Catholics I've known over the years that have just lived just there you know
they're out drinking they're smoking committing adultery they're doing
everything the world does but then they're sitting there and saying and
you got to work your way to heaven it's like what a miserable existence good
luck with that hope let me know how that works out for you because from what I'm
seeing it's not going too well you weren't trying very hard you know this
the score isn't looking good for you but yet it's funny that we teach that it's
not of works and yet you see so many people that believe that living the
godliest lives now why is that because they do it out of love because they want
to because they understand God you know you know behold what manner of love God
the the father hath bestowed upon us you know we're moved by God's grace to want
to live for him and then we understand that we're gonna have this glorified
body that we're gonna see Christ as he is that moves us to live a more pure
life that causes us to purify ourselves at least it ought to go over to Luke
chapter 24 Luke chapter 24 God loves us and he's going to give us this this
resurrected body this incorruptible flesh this glorified form that is after
the image of his son what Christ has and because of that we're going to have some
of the abilities that Christ had you know on this earth and again he gives us
just a glimpse and when you talk about this stuff you know people laugh and
they think that it sounds crazy but it's true and the problem is today that you
know you know everyone's he thinks it's all just a bunch of make-believe because
they've watched too many superhero movies now I'm not saying we're gonna
run around you know shooting lasers out of our eyes and you know whatever else
they do but there are certain things that we're going to do that Christ can
do we see just a bit here look at Luke chapter 24 verse 27 and the beginning at
Moses and all the prophets he expounded on them and all the scriptures of things
concerning himself and they drew nigh unto the village whether they went of
course this is him walking with disciples along the road Damascus Grove
and when he made us he would gone further but they constrained him saying
abide with us for it is toward the evening and the day is far spent so
remember this is right after Christ's resurrection they haven't even seen him
they don't even recognize him as Christ right now and he went in to tarry with
them and it came to pass as he sat at meet with them he took bread and blessed
it and break it and gave it and gave to them and their eyes were opened and they
knew him so it would appear that while he's walking with them he kind of veiled
their understanding of who he was you know and then explained to him them in
the scriptures how he Christ ought to suffer all these things and to be
glorified and then once they kind of came to an understanding of that you
know but when they sat down for to eat God opens up their eyes you know gives
them the understanding then they're able to perceive that this is the
resurrected Christ and it says there and their eyes were opened and they knew him
and then what does it say there and he vanished out of their sight and he
vanished out of their sight you know I don't I believe that Christ had some
limitations before his resurrection when he came and he took on the form of a
servant and he humbled himself and became a man like us that there were
certain limitations that were placed upon him you know that you know he had
like the scripture says that he had to grow in stature with God and man okay
and then he had to grow in wisdom and knowledge and understanding he was fully
God the whole time okay don't get me wrong but because he willingly took on
these limitations and there were certain things that he didn't wasn't able to do
I don't know that before the resurrection he could just vanish out of
people's sight maybe he could have I don't know but we know for sure that
afterwards he did that afterwards he's just vanishing out of their sight so you
know this is you know pretty much teleportation right that cool that's
what we get that ability to just I believe that I believe that we're gonna
have work look the Bible says we shall we shall be hit like him we shall see
him as he is and that we will be like him does that mean we're all gonna look
exactly like him like the ruckmanites want us to believe or does that mean
that we're gonna have be like him in the sense that we're gonna have the same
glorified body in Christ that we're going to have the abilities that he has
I have that's what I believe and this is one of them and so what's the purpose of
that well remember that those you know that we're going to rule and reign with
Christ that those that are you know diligent and serve the Lord on earth
that God is going to give rewards unto them and part of that reward is the
ability to which they rule on earth you know like he gives that parable where he
says you know well done thou good and faithful servant thou has been faithful
in a few things I will make thee rule over many things you know he he makes be
thou over ten cities enter thou or the joy of thy Lord enter thou into the joy
of the Lord be thou over you know five cities and then of course there's the
Christian who does nothing and gets nothing in return you know he can go
sweep the floors or something so what I'm saying is this is that if that's our
reward to rule and reign with Christ during the millennium a time when the
population is going to take off you know the earth is going to have a new form as
well that you know curse is being lifted so on and so forth you know death isn't
people are going to live much longer you know meaning this that there's going to
be a lot of ruling and reigning to do now we're gonna live in Jerusalem the
new Jerusalem okay we're gonna be with the Lord in that city but we're also
going to be over certain cities how are you gonna get there you know let's say
you know I don't know that America necessarily is gonna be here during that
time that's another big deep long subject but just for argument's sake
let's just say you know we're appointed over Tucson you know you get appointed
over Tucson and you know Miranda the surrounding areas you know you lived a
mediocre Christian life you get five cities okay you get but it's a big one
okay two sons big city lot to do it'll be even bigger than if it's around I
don't know that it will be but but let's say you know for argument's sake that's
what you get are you gonna take the train from the new Jerusalem over here
you're gonna catch a flight you know they're gonna you're gonna have you get
patent get on Pan Am or something or whoever's flying across the art of the
oceans that's what you're gonna do no you're gonna do this say oh I've got
some business to attend to in my city poof there you are passing out judgment
ruling and reigning with Christ okay that matters taken care of I got to get
over to this one you're there that's you know you say that sounds far-fetched
that's the Bible and I like to think about these type of things because you
know that's the hope that we have in Christ you know it's so many Christians
they just drag their light and themselves through the Christian like
well the Christian lives so boring do you even understand what you have in
Christ even understand what's what you what you have waiting for you on the
other side I don't want to serve God it's so boring look teleporting from
city to city ruling and reigning with Christ that is exciting and you say oh
it's just a fairy tale then you know it's Bible this is the Bible I'm
preaching this morning now go goes on it says in verse 32 and they said one to
another this is after he vanishes out of their sight did not our heart burn within
us while he talked with us by the way and while he opened to us to scriptures
and they arose up the same hour and returned to Jerusalem and found the 11
gathered together with them that were with him saying the Lord is risen indeed
and it appeared to Simon and they told what things were done in the way and how
he was known of them in breaking of bread look at verse 36 and as they thus
spake Jesus himself stood in the midst of them now if you were to compare this
with John chapter 20 you don't have to but this this parallel passage it says
the same day an evening being the first day of the week when the doors were shut
where that where the disciples were assembled for fear the Jews came Jesus
and stood in the midst and saith unto them peace be unto you so Jesus is
showing up and the doors are shut the Bibles being very careful make us help
us to understand that you just walk in the front door that wasn't like you know
Peter in the book of Acts or they're like it's Peter you know like did you
open the door no right this isn't Jesus you know knocking and coming in he's
it's just I mean imagine how that might and of course they're afraid right
that's what takes place here it says and it says and they were terrified and
affrighted and suppose that they had seen a spirit because who's doing this
who just shows up in the middle of a room you know if I were to do that to
you or any one of us when we get to each other you know we would probably be a
little freaked out you know you're at home just eating dinner having a casual
conversation over the over the dinner table and then boom brother Corbin's
there what are you having got any extra mind if I stop in you're like I didn't
hear him knock how did he get here I don't open the door did you let him in
no the doors shut it's locked that's what happens and look the Bible is just
giving us a glimpse of what this glorified body this that's gonna that
we're gonna have those of us that part that are gonna are going to take part in
the resurrection of the just okay look at verse 38 he says and he said of them
why are you troubled why do thoughts arise in your hearts behold my hands and
my feet that it is I myself handle me and see for a spirit hath not flesh and
bones as you see me to have so again he says flesh and bones say looks spirits
don't have flesh and bones I'm not a spirit I'm not a ghost I'm not an
apparition I have flesh I have bone right any notice also he says behold my
hands and my feet he's pointing out the wounds okay so it also you know again
it would show that we probably do we're going to bear the resemblance of our
earthly form it's not like you're gonna look completely different it's just that
that body is going to be glorified it's going to have different abilities okay
and he says uh verse 41 and while they yet believed not for joy and wondered he
said unto them have ye here any meat and they took him a piece of boiled fish and
a honeycomb and he took it and did eat before them so you all can breathe a big
sigh relief okay because apparently there's still eating that takes place
right we know that in other passages scripture talks about how the Son of Man
is going to gird himself he's going to serve us that you know there's going to
be the marriage supper of the Lamb that Jesus said I will not drink of the wine
till I drink it new with you in the kingdom of heaven you know that there's
there's going to be eating in heaven okay that part that process is still
there we still are able to consume food okay go over to Acts chapter 1 Acts
chapter 1 so we're just looking at you know the just a small glimpse that God
gives us of this glorified body and just trying to you know keep in mind this
morning what we have in Christ okay he says in Luke 25 or excuse me 24 you're
going to Acts 1 and he led them out as far as to Bethany lifted up his hands
and bless them and it came to pass while he blessed him he was parted from them
and carried up into heaven and they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem
with great joy so this is of course you know Jesus ascension from the earth into
heaven and we get more detail Acts chapter 1 now it said there in Luke that
he was carried up into heaven and I believe it's kind of just referring to
the way it looked you know it was as if someone carried him as if someone just
kind of reached out and picked him up and brought him up into heaven okay I
don't think it was like you know like he just went up in a bolt I believe he went
up it kind of made a grand exit okay look at Acts chapter 1 verse 9 and when
he had spoken these things while they beheld he was taken up and a cloud
received him out of their sight and while they look steadfastly toward
heaven as he went up behold two men stood by them in white apparel which
also said you men of Galilee why stand you gazing up into heaven which seems
like a dumb question because I just saw a guy go up into a cloud the Lord that's
why I'm standing here in wonder and awe gazing and of course they're saying you
know they're trying to they're using this as an opportunity say why are you
gazing into heaven you know why does this surprise you this same Jesus who
was taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as he's seen him
go into heaven and they're making the point don't just stand around staring at
the sky waiting for him to come back and get to work that's the application here
is that look he's coming back again and it's great to think about the fact that
the Lord has risen that he's in heaven but you know it's another thing to also
think about the fact that he's coming back you know that if we're just
standing around gazing up into the in the sky when's he coming when's he
coming and not getting me done you know it might not be as a as a fun time as we
think when he gets here you know he might might be ashamed he might be one
of those people he says you know I mean what'd you do oh nothing I just stared
at heaven all day you know yeah that's kind of the application here but what
I'm trying to get at is this is that again we have this glorified body we
shall be like he is I mean he's just appearing out of thin air he still has
ability eat he repairs the resemblance of his former body you know we there's
certain the scars and things were there I don't know that how that all plays out
with us but it'll probably be recognizable but the other thing is is
that he's being carried or he ascends out of heaven I believe we're gonna have
that ability that he we will actually be able to fly basically you say well
that's crazy well you know maybe I'm wrong but I I think it's the truth I
think it's something we're gonna be able to do and I really like that idea so
don't ruin it for me but I mean I think that's when he's showing us here you
know we're showing us that we're gonna have certain abilities in heaven and
this is one of them to be able to just defy gravity to some degree or another
now we've talked quite a bit about this morning about the reservoir and what is
this all tie into this all ties in the fact that this is what awaits people who
will participate in the resurrection of the just there's a resurrection of the
dead both of the just and of the unjust the just got a lot to look forward to
don't they I mean even if you want to take away all that say brother Corbin
you're crazy you read too many comic books growing up there's no flying
there's no teleportation you know you're not gonna be able to do any of that you
probably still give me eating though that you will eat so carnal right there
will be eating though well as long as we can do that who cares about flying and
the rest of it are we gonna be able to eat yes we know that for sure and you
say you know you don't get any of that well you know at least you're still
going to heaven there is still that you're still going to heaven you're
still gonna be with the Lord you're sitting here united with everybody we
the those that participate in the resurrection of the just even if you
want to take away all these cool things I just mentioned still have a lot coming
to them I mean we get to enjoy heaven for all of eternity okay that's just one
group right the resurrection the dead it's two different groups what about the
unjust you know fortunately they don't have any of this to look forward to none
okay go over to Revelation chapter 20 Revelation chapter 20 I'll be getting
reading in verse 1 it says and I saw an angel come down from heaven having the
key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand and he laid hold on
the dragon that old serpent which is the devil and Satan and bound him a thousand
years and cast him into the bottomless pit and shut him up and set a seal upon
him that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand year should be
fulfilled and after that he must be loosed a little season so this is of
course the end of you know the the tribulation and God's wrath and God's
wrath is poured out the end of the seven years of you know the three and
a half years of God's tribulation and then the three and a half years of God's
wrath being poured out upon this earth which we will not participate in as
believers will be taken out in the midst of that okay so this is the end of that
right before the millennial reign of Christ right before Christ comes back
and rules and reigns upon the earth for a thousand years he's going to bound
heaven and cast him or bound the devil and cast him into the bottomless pit
okay now look at verse four and I saw thrones and they that sat upon them and
judgment was given unto them okay again that's us ruling and reigning with
Christ okay and I saw the souls of them which were beheaded for the witness of
Jesus and for the word of God which had not worshiped the beast neither his
image neither received his mark upon their foreheads or in their hands and
they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years but the rest of the dead
okay so what's taking place here is the you know in that in the midst of that is
the rapture okay that's already taken place Christ has already come back and
and and resurrected the dead in Christ we which are alive have been caught up
to be with them forever with the Lord and that happens at that midway point
but it says there in verse five but the rest of the dead live not again until
the thousand years were finished this is the first resurrection so notice again
that you have two different resurrections you have the first
resurrection and then you have the rest of the dead which live not again meaning
their their bodies were not brought back to life until the thousand years were
finished until the millennial resin has ended but notice that those in the first
resurrection the just are again referred to as the what the dead so that's an
applicable term okay so referring to somebody the reservoir of the
resurrection of the dead can refer to either group he says the rest of the
dead see I'm saying meaning that those that were resurrected before the saved
are also considered the dead the resurrection that anyway I'm just kind
of reiterating that point but look at verse six he said blessed and holy is he
that hath part in the first resurrection on the second death on such the second
death hath no power but they shall be the priests of God and of Christ and
shall reign with him a thousand years and when the thousand years are expired
Satan shall be loosed out of his prison and shall go out to deceive the nations
which are in the four quarters of the earth Gog and Magog to gather them
together to battle the number of whom is the sand of the sea and they went up
upon the breadth of the earth and compass the camp of the Saints about and
the beloved city and fire came down out of from God out of heaven and devoured
them and the devil that deceived them was cast in the lake of fire and
brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are and shall be tormented day
and night forever and ever and I saw a great white throne and him that sat on
it from whose face the earth and heaven fled away and there was found no place
for them and I saw the dead and this is talking about the unjust this is the
other part of that resurrection of the dead I saw the dead verse 12 small and
great stand before God and the books were opened and another book was opened
which is the book of life and the jet the dead were judged out of those things
which were written in the books according to their works and the sea
gave up the dead which were in it and the death and hell delivered up the dead
which were in them and they were judged every man according the works and death
and hell were cast in the lake of fire this is the second death and whosoever was not
found written the book of life was cast in to the lake of fire so the
resurrection of the just we see takes place after the millennial reign of
Christ meaning this that those that are going to participate in that
resurrection during the millennium they're just sitting in hell you know
there's hell and then there's the lake of fire and they're brought up and
they're cast in the lake of fire people have different ideas about what the lake
of fire is I'm not going to go into all that this morning but it says death and
hell were cast in the lake of fire so it's like God changes the location of
hell and calls it the lake of fire but this is all that the people the
resurrection of the unjust have to look forward to just that that's it no
glorified body no being in heaven it's just it's just hell for a minimum of a
thousand years and then right in the lake of fire it's just a brief moment of
standing before God in the great white throne which is going to be a terrifying
experience being judged according to their works being found guilty and
that's when every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord to the glory of Father all these people want to deny God and
these atheists these God haters want to say God doesn't exist you know they're
going to confess God at that point it's gonna be kind of hard to deny his
existence when he pulls their soul out of hell and causes them to stand before
him and then opens up the books and judges them that's why it says every
knee shall bow the question is do you want about that knee today or do you
want to bow it then you know it's better to bow it now because then you get to
take part in the resurrection of the just because you'd be justified in
Christ and we get all those wonderful things we just talked about but those
that don't do that those that reject Christ this is all they have looked
forward to a minimum of a thousand years in hell and then immediately into the
lake of fire that's why it says they were cast in the lake of fire I mean
imagine imagine what it's like when your kids are getting trouble I don't know if
anyone does this at home but sometimes you say go to your room you know go to
your room I'll be in in a minute you know a lot of time they don't they're
not that's not a fun trip to their room right sometimes you got to make them go
in there okay you got to cast them into the room we don't literally throw the
kids around but you're trying to get them to go to place they don't want to
go you know if when they stand with that when the dead stand before God the
unjust stand before God and God says lake of fire you think there's going okay
Lord if you say so no they have to be taken and cast and they're gonna go
kicking and screaming because they know what's waiting for him you know and I've
heard I've heard some theories about what people say that that this isn't a
moat they don't that they you know they they don't get to even have this
momentary relief from hell but I believe that they do I believe that they're
gonna when they stand before God they're gonna have just after all that time in
hell they're gonna stand before God and just gonna be this moment of the
physical anguish is going to stop for a moment they're gonna have some sigh of
relief just a moment just to just to be reminded of what it's like what they
could have had what they didn't have to endure and they're gonna be judged and
they're gonna be and you know what they're gonna do it they're gonna agree
that they're guilty there's gonna be no denying it and then they're gonna have
to be taken and cast a link of fire this is the resurrection of the unjust it's
you know you say well that sounds scary it's supposed to be say it doesn't sound
fair well you know what God's ways are not our ways and we as man you know we
can't even begin to comprehend the holiness of God and you know God is a
lot of things you know God is love God is all these things but God is also
just God is also holy God is also righteous you know you say well that
doesn't sound like nice of God well that's why he died for us that's why the
Bible says for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life it's
not like these people didn't have opportunity you say well what maybe they
didn't have opportunity maybe nobody time well maybe we should go tell him
then now that's what it always drives me nuts about people want to bring up the
hypothetical pygmy in the jungle somewhere the guy who never heard well
maybe you should go tell him then if you're so concerned about it because I'm
busy right now telling you you know I'm busy coming to your door and knocking
you not to get there you have to have a bone in your nose before you're worth
preaching the gospel to you have to be some you know living in some the Congo
before I could preach you the gospel how about I get you saved and since you have
such a burden for people have never heard how about then you go tell them
and I'll just keep knocking I'll go knock your neighbor's door and you can
go worry about a guy on the other side of the earth and I'm kind of going off
but people you bring up hell people being cast like a fire and people kind
of thing that's not fair and they're always trying to find cute little ways
to get out of this you know you talk to these Mormons well you know God's gonna
everyone's gonna get a second chance the Jehovah Witnesses oh they'll get another
chance they're gonna be taken out and the only the only people to go to hell
are gonna people that just continue to reject Christ do you think anyone would
reject Christ after you spent you know a second in hell if you just went through
your whole life rejecting God not believing in the scripture and then you
woke up in hell after you died you would believe the Bible immediately
immediately you go oh it's true and then all of a sudden you're you know at the
resurrection of the unjust you're caught you're brought before God and you see
God on the great white throne in heaven look there's no faith required you know
I mean they're going to believe in Christ but by then it's too late because
that's not faith you know they say well I would you know if God's real why does
he just show up why does he just stand here and tell me you know what that's
gonna happen one day at the resurrection of the unjust it's exactly how it's
gonna play out but by then it'll be too late because without faith it is
impossible to please him we have to come to him in faith believing that he is God
and that he's a rewarder of them that diligently seek him there's no faith
required when you've just spent you know a thousand years in hell and now you're
staring God in the face the only thing the resurrection of the unjust is going
to experience our experience is hell and the lake of fire and you know what the
worst part of that you know one of the another you know is this that couldn't
get any worse think about this Satan's going to be there you know everyone has
this idea because they watched you know too many Looney Tunes or something that
you know they're like the devil's porky the pig or something living in hell they
think the devil's already there he's not there the devil doesn't want to go
to hell the devil doesn't rule in hell hell God Bible says that God made hell
for the devil and his angels not to give them a place to live and hang out but to
torment them the devil doesn't want to go to hell any more than anybody else
but think about the company you're gonna be in when you end up in the lake of
fire Satan and all of his demons are gonna be there and it's not like they're
gonna be running around you know you read these stupid books you know five
minutes in hell they go on how they were in this dungeon and this demon came and
took him out and did this to him it's like no those demons are being tormented
every minute it butches everybody else it's just that you have to be there with
them you know and one of the worst things about hell I've heard the
preacher say this and I always think about it is the sound of it we think
about we always think about the fire and the heat and the inescapability but
think about what it would sound like to be there just the the Bible says you
know there's gonna be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth and it's
not like you're just gonna you know like when a kid throws a fit they get it out
of their system and just kind of single you know they do that that's never going
to end it's not like you're just gonna stop it's just gonna go on and go on and
drive you mad so the resurrection of the just is something to look forward to
isn't it we like to think about that and it's not you know it's something that we
we delight in it's the hope that we have in Christ it should encourage us it
should cause us to live for God it's something that we look forward to but
I'm telling you the resurrection of the unjust that's not such a pleasant
thought in fact it's something that should it's gonna bring just dread and
terror upon people that participate in it but you know what when you consider
both of these resurrections when you think about the fact that the
resurrection of the just have so many good things coming to them and that one
that at the very least they don't have to participate in the resurrection of
the unjust it makes any suffering that you have to endure on this earth so much
more bearable no matter what you go through in this life you could think
well I'm saved you know and it's cliche and it's easy to say but it's the truth
you know it's something we need to get a grab and get our minds wrapped around
because you know we are gonna go through suffering in this life that's just the
nature of life saved or unsaved you're going to suffer to some degree or
another we're gonna get old you know there's gonna be disease people we know
we're gonna go through things so on and so forth life has its trials and
tribulations built into it but you know what when we consider this when we could
consider the resurrection of the just and of the unjust it makes any suffering
go through so much more bearable I don't care what you have to go through in this
life it doesn't even come close to what's awaiting the resurrection of the
unjust doesn't even come close to pick the worst disease you could ever have
just decades of suffering I would go for I go through all that rather than one
second of hell I'd rather go through all that than just even spend a second in
that place it makes suffering more bearable go over to Philippians chapter
3 Philippians chapter 3 we'll wrap it up here but it says in Romans chapter 8 the
spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God
and if children than heirs heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ so you
always want that long-lost uncle to come along and leave you a million bucks you
know what I got I got something better than that how about how about your joint
heir with Christ how about you have an inheritance incorruptible reserve in
heaven for you that's there's an inheritance and you know you have it he
says this we are joint heirs of the Christ if so be that we suffer with him
that we may also be glorified together for I reckon that the sufferings of this
present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be
revealed in us that's a profound statement the sufferings which of this
present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be
revealed in us say oh then you know if we're alive during the tribulation and
you know we have to run for our lives and the you know we're being hunted by
the Antichrist and you know we can't buy or sell because we didn't take the mark
you know we're starving or whatever what you know whatever the worst thing you
could think of on this earth can't be compared to the glory which shall be
revealed in us being like Christ having that glorified body being with him being
with all of our you know the loved ones that have gone on before us being
reunited can you compare I mean think about it whatever you go through in this
life and you get in heaven you're gonna look back it's gonna be laughable I went
through you say yeah I don't know what my why I had such a bad attitude through
all that and of course hindsight is always 20 20 but that's the truth this
is a great truth that we have to understand this morning that the
resurrection of the just is such an immeasurable benefit that we have it
should make life so much more bearable whatever we have to go through look at
Philippians chapter 3 verse 8 yay doubtless I count all things but loss
for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord said I just want to
know more if I had to give up everything just so that I could know more about the
excellency of Christ that's what I'm willing to do and that's what Paul did
for whom I have suffered the loss of all things I mean he's suffering on this
earth the same guy it says look it can't even be compared to the glory to be
revealed we understand that you know we're willing to let go of the things of
this world not just sit there and hang so tenaciously on to them and just think
that this life is all we got that I have to get everything I can out of this life
you know if you would understand the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus
Christ if we could understand the glory that we should be revealed us you know
that would cause us to do to loosen up to let go of the things of this world
and not hold so close to them and I get so entangled in the affairs of this life
he says I have suffered the loss of all things and to count them but dung that I
may win Christ and be found in him not having mine own righteousness which is
of the law but of that which is of the faith of Christ the righteousness which
is of God by faith that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and
the fellowship of his sufferings he's like look I want to know him I want to
know the power of his resurrection I also want to know the fellowship of his
sufferings I want to know what it was like I want to be made conformable unto
his death being conformed made conformable on his death if by any means
I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead he's not saying I have to earn
that he's what he's saying is I want a better resurrection go over to Jude
chapter 1 Jude chapter 1 the Bible says in Hebrews chapter 11 women received
their dead again raised to life raised to life again others were tortured not
accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection because in
the resurrection of the just we're going to be rewarded you know where every
man's work shall be tried by fire and you know that it'll reveal what
manner of work that is no gold silver precious stone wood hay and stubble but
the resurrected just not only get the glorified body not the only get to be in
heaven now if you'd be with Christ you get to be with all those that have gone
on before us but then you also get rewarded for your labor that you did
here on earth God is so good and God makes that available to any one of us
that want to just believe on Christ so he's saying look some people they didn't
accept a deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection Paul saying
look I want to be made conformable that I want to I want to know the powers
resurrection I want to know the fellowship of his sufferings that I
might attain on the resurrection of the dead so I'm willing to come at all loss
I'm willing to take it all I don't care I'm willing to suffer on this earth
because I know it gives me a better resurrection you know it's so many
Christians today they don't want to suffer at all yeah that's why your
resurrection is gonna be about this big it's not gonna count for much I mean
yeah you're gonna be having you're gonna have that glorified body and so on and
so forth but there's gonna you're gonna miss out on so many other things well I
want to end on this thought is that you know the resurrection of justice
something to look forward to it makes suffering something to be some the
suffering that we go through on this earth more bearable in fact it makes it
even from what Paul saying you're something to be embraced and welcomed
Jesus said you know what rejoice and when when when men persecute you you
know to leap for joy should be glad but I want to also understand this when it
comes to the resurrection of the unjust that's why it's so important that we
preach the gospel I mean if there's one thing you could do in this life that
counts for all of eternity it's to preach the gospel to other people look
at Jude chapter 1 verse 21 he said keep yourselves in the love of God keep
yourselves in the love of God you know that tells me is that you're not just
gonna be in the love of God automatically you're just gonna wake up
every day and be full of the Holy Ghost and in the love of God you have to
constantly be reminding yourself of these things constantly be remember
remembering that there is a resurrection of the just that there's a resurrection
of the unjust there's a heaven again there's a hell to shun and that we are
ambassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us be reconciled to God
that's what we are that's our job that's why he's saying keep yourselves in love
God looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ in eternal life and of some
have compassion making a difference and oh what a difference it is what a
difference between the resurrection of the just and the unjust all these just
unmeasurable benefits for the just that we don't even deserve that are just
given to us out of the love of God compare that to just the eternal
suffering of the unjust I mean night and day that's not even a worthy comparison
there's so many miles apart they're just complete different worlds apart and
that's why he says keep yourselves in the love of God and have compassion don't
walk around well I'm on the adjust which side are you on well you're one of the
unjust huh feel sorry for you yeah I remember when I was on that side didn't
have anything to look forward to it's gonna be pretty bad buddy sorry that the
attitude we're supposed to have no it says have compassion you say I don't
want anyone to go there I don't want them to come out of that I don't want
them to participate in that even you imagine your worst enemy your personal
worst enemy would you really wish hell upon them no way especially when you
consider the fact that we all were headed there and we all deserve to be
there some having compassion making a difference and others save with fear
pulling them out of the fire that's not just a figure of speech pull them out of
the fire that's he's talking literally because there is a literal fire in hell
in the lake of fire and saying pull them out how you gonna do that by having
compassion how you gonna do that by keeping yourself in the love of God by
and how are you gonna how are you gonna do all that how are you gonna keep
yourself in the love of God well consider the resurrection of the just
consider what you have and it might just cause you to understand how much God
loves you and it might humble you we keep ourselves in the love of God by
looking forward to our own resurrection we look forward to our own resurrection
the resurrection of the just we see everything that we're going to inherit
and that moves us with compassion to say look God loved me so much I'm gonna go
out and love these other people and compel them to come in to save them I'm
gonna pull them out of the fire let's go ahead and pray