Resurrection of the Body and Life Everlasting

I Believe
Resurrection of the Body and Life Everlasting

I. Introduction

II. Resurrection of the Body

A. I believe in the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

1 Corinthians 15:12-14 (NIV)

1 Corinthians 15:16-19 (NIV)

1 Corinthians 15:20 (NIV) But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Colossians 1:19-20 (NIV) ¹⁹For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, ²⁰and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Hebrews 2:14b-15 (NIV) ¹⁴…so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—¹⁵and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

2 Timothy 1:10 (NIV) …but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

1 Corinthians 15:42-44 (NLT) ⁴²It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. ⁴³Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. ⁴⁴They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.

1 John 3:2 (NIV) Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

Philippians 1:6 (NIV) …being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

B. Three Salvations

1. I was saved: justification

2. I am being saved: sanctification

3. I will be saved: glorification

III. Living in the Gap

A. We are currently living in the , between I was saved, and I will be saved.

B. We have two choices: or .

Romans 12:2a (ESV) Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind ….

1. What are you being formed into, and who or what is forming you?

IV. Abiding in the Vine

John 15:1-2, 4-5, 16b (NIV) ¹“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ²He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. ⁴Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. ⁵I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ¹⁶…but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last….”

A. Fruit progression: no fruit > some fruit > more fruit > much fruit > lasting fruit

1. Fruit is an job.

B. God is more committed to you reaching your than you are.

V. Spiritual Pathways

A. Spiritual pathway: the way I most naturally experience the presence of God

1. Intellectual pathway

2. Relational pathway

3. Service pathway

4. Worship pathway

5. Activist pathway

6. Contemplative pathway

7. Creation pathway

VI. Spiritual Practices

A. Bible study

B. Prayer

C. Meditation

D. Fasting

E. Solitude

F. Silence

G. Service

H. Sabbath

VII. Conclusion

A. Small investments over large blocks of time have a compounding or cumulative effect.