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The Daily Word of Righteousness
Resurrection, #4
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds [with our Christian loved ones and friends who have died previously], to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (I Thessalonians 4:17)
The Importance of the Resurrection
The concept of being lifted from the earth to meet the Lord in the air (not in Heaven!) is a joyous thought, particularly because we shall be reunited with our loved ones at that time.
However, the emphasis of the New Testament is on the gaining of eternal life and on the stupendous significance of the resurrection, particularly the resurrection that is out from among the dead (the out-resurrection).
The "resurrection" chapter of the Bible, the fifteenth chapter of the Book of First Corinthians, does not mention Christ being lifted or our being lifted from the earth. But it does reveal the awesome importance of Christ's resurrection and our resurrection from among the dead.
And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. (I Corinthians 15:17)
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. (I Corinthians 15:19)
The Scripture does not consider us to be "alive" until we have been raised from the dead. Notice this concept in the following passage:
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. (I Corinthians 15:22,23)
We are pursuing eternal life in spirit, soul, and body so we can serve God in holiness and righteousness,. The idea that we are pursuing eternal life so we may serve God in holiness and righteousness, not so we can rest in a mansion in the spirit Paradise, needs to be brought to the attention of the Christian churches of our day.
O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? [the law of sin and death that dwells in our body] (Romans 7:24)
The Out-resurrection as the Goal of the Apostle Paul
The Apostle Paul declared that his goal was to attain the out-resurrection from among the dead. The statements that precede Paul's statement of his goal teach us what must be our attitude and practice if we hope to attain the first resurrection, the resurrection that will take place when the Lord appears.
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, (Philippians 3:8)
The above verse reveals to us the deplorable state of contemporary Christianity. In numerous instances our standard of Christian faith and behavior is far, far below the standard of the Scripture.
I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ.
I have suffered the loss of all things so that I may win Christ.
And the above from an older, experienced minister!
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: (Philippians 3:9)
To be continued.