Wednesday, October 04, 2006

RAISED UP

RAISED UP
Perhaps the most outstanding feature of the Christian Faith is the fact of the resurrection of Jesus, with the promise of the same thing for those who believe in Him.
We have some scriptures to bring you, but first, let me say that Jesus was NOT RAISED UP AGAIN TO A NATURAL LIFE. HE WAS RAISED IMMORTAL. In this way He became the "Firstfruits of them that slept". I Corinthians 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and] become the firstfruits of them that slept. We will also be raised IMMORTAL.
The promise of our resurrection in His likeness is assured us in I Corinthians 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
God put so much emphasis on the "firstfruits" and the "firstborn" in the ceremonies of the Law of Moses because He wanted it to be impressed upon the minds of His people. Fifteen hundred years were used to teach them certain things. They serve as a teacher to us in this New Testament age also.
Both the "firstfruits" and the "firstborn" had to be dedicated to God. He claimed them. They were His. They were Holy.
He wants the best that we have, and in return He gives us the best that He can give us for the present, and reserves the best for the future, for those who put Him first in their life.
James 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Revelation 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, [being] the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
The strongest point of the message given by the first Apostles was the resurrection of Jesus. Acts 1:22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
According to the best of my understanding of scripture, we are not fully born of God until we have come into Immortality by one means or the other-- resurrection, or "changed in the twinkling of an eye." Luke 20:36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
This explains the following scripture; I John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
I believe this is referring to those who qualify, and see Jesus when He returns from the Holy of Holies. They will be the "reapers" of the "Feast of Tabernacles." The time of "ingathering" is at hand. The "reapers" will be ready, as Moses was.
Only true Christianity has the "Hope of the Resurrection",
Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
All the other religions must depend on the doctrine of "Reincarnation", or "Transmigration of the Soul" for their hope of the future. It is a false and disappointing hope.
I wonder, sometimes, if we modern Christians are putting enough emphasis on the fact and hope of the resurrection. The Lord added His anointing to the message of His resurrection. Acts 4:33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
Those first apostles discovered the awesome authority (exousia) and power (dunamis) which sprang into action when they used the Name of the Resurrected Jesus.
Acts 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, [even] by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
Paul, in his prayers for the Ephesian belivers refers to the resurrection as being a mighty display of God's power.
Ephesians 1:19 And what [is] the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Eph. 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set [him] at his own right hand in the heavenly [places],
One student of the Greek language wrote that this was the greatest display of God's Power ever recorded, according to the words Paul used.
Aren't you glad the resurrected Jesus is alive today?

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