The First Resurrection

Temple Baptist Church - 4-4-2010

John 19:38-20:18

Introduction:

A. This Easter Sunday, I want to look once again at the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, the Capstone of Christianity! I thank God that He was not found in the tomb on that particular Sunday. His resurrection was on the first day of the week, not the Sabbath.

B. His resurrection was a bodily one. He did not swoon; He was not stolen away; He arose from the grave that morning through the power of God! He gloriously resurrected from the grave.

C. I want to call your attention to another verse this morning and take my text from it.

Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

D. There are several resurrection mentioned in the Bible but they can be categorized into two major resurrections. These two resurrections will be separated by 1007 years.

John 5:28-29 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

1. The Resurrection Of Life – the resurrection of the saved of all ages which takes place at the moment of the rapture of the church and just preceding the Tribulation Period of the time of Jacob’s Trouble.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

2. The Resurrection Of Damnation – the resurrection of the unsaved of all ages which takes place at the end of the Millennium at the Great White Throne Judgment.

Revelation 20:12-13 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

E. I thank God that I will be in the First Resurrection! Hell is both hot and eternal for those who have rejected the salvation that is found in Christ Jesus alone. Religion always incorporates the goodness of man and the grace of God together. The Bible says, “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” (Romans 11:6) Salvation is either all of grace (which means that we do not deserve it) or it is of works (which means that we do deserve it). It cannot be a mixture of both! I am saved by the finished work of Calvary!

F. I want to look at the blessings and benefits of this First Resurrection for a few minutes this Easter Sunday. The Importance of the Resurrection:

1. There Is Validation

a. The Resurrection Validates His Person - Romans 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

b. The Resurrection Validates His Purchase - Isaiah 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

c. The Resurrection Validates His Promise - Matthew 28:6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

2. There Is Implication

a. Through The Resurrection We Are Saved - Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

b. Through The Resurrection We Are Sanctified - Romans 6:4-5 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (5) For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

c. Through The Resurrection We Are Secure - 1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

d. Through The Resurrection We Are Sure - John 14:19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
e. Through The Resurrection We Are Satisfied - Psalms 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

3. There Will Be Imitation

a. It Will Be A Bodily Resurrection - Philippians 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

b. It Will Be A Blessed Resurrection - Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.