In this sermon, Eric Bechler discusses the concept of resurrection, emphasizing that it involves the raising of the same bodies that fell by death, as opposed to the creation of new bodies. He references John 5:28-29 and 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 to argue that if there is no resurrection, then Christ is not risen, rendering faith vain. The sermon outlines two paths for resurrected bodies: some will rise to everlasting life and honor, while others to shame and contempt. This is supported by scriptures from Daniel, Galatians, Romans, Philippians, and 1 John. The resurrection of the just will conform them to Christ's glorious body, while the unjust will rise to dishonor. Bechler concludes with a call to seek heavenly things, as believers' lives are hidden with Christ.

This paragraph is pretty straightforward, but we'll go through a number of verses beyond what we just read that help support this and just have a couple of comments on it. It's not really too much here, but anyway, bodies shall be raised and this being the resurrection. The term resurrection implies that the same bodies shall be raised that fell by death. For if God should form new bodies and unite them to the departed souls, it would not be a resurrection. It would be but a new creation.

From John 5, 28, and 29, that we just read, Marvel not at this for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth. If the new bodies were to be produced and created, they would not in truth be said to come out of their graves. So, on the other hand, if there's no resurrection, what then? Scripture mentions this if we go to 1 Corinthians 15, 12 through 19, Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how can some say among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen.

And if Christ is not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ, whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised and if Christ be not raised your faith is vain You're yet in your sins Then they also which are falling asleep in Christ are perished if in this life only we have hope in Christ we are of all men most miserable. Thankfully, that's not the proper position that's taken there. We know that Christ did rise from the dead.

We read further in 1 Corinthians there. It follows, but now has Christ risen from the dead and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. So back to the paragraph this morning from the confession, we have the picture of two paths, two directions for the bodies to be resurrected.

Some will be raised to everlasting life, and some will be raised to shame and everlasting contempt to dishonor. And there are many scriptures supporting this, and we'll go through quite a number of them here. The bodies of the unjust shall be raised to dishonor. We see this supported from the book of Daniel in chapter 12. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

And again, from what we read before in John 5, Marvel not at this for the hours coming in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice 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. Two classes of people will be judged simultaneously and immediately after their resurrection and upon the second coming of the Lord. We see this in Galatians 6, 7, and 8. Be not deceived. God is not mocked.

For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption. But he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting. The second part of the paragraph, the bodies of the just will rise to honor and be made conformable to his own glorious body. There's a lot of passages here, I'll read through a number of them.

Again, this is pretty straightforward stuff. From Romans 8.1, There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. In Philippians 321, 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 to himself. From 1 John chapter 3 verse 2, Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." Talking about Christ. And of course in 1st Corinthians 15 verses 42 through 50 we see this repeated over and over.

So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, It is raised in power. It is sown a natural body is raised a spiritual body There is a natural body and there is a spiritual body and so it is written the first man Adam was made a living soul the last Adam was made a quickening spirit how by that was not first which is spiritual but that which is natural and afterward that which is spiritual The first man is of the earth, earthy.

The second man is the Lord from heaven. As the earthy, such are they also that are earthy. And as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.

Neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. In Romans 8, 28 through 30, and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose, for whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate, to be conformed to the image of his son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called, and whom he called, them he also justified, and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Romans 8, 17, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with him that we may be also glorified together. So in summary all bodies will be raised, Some will be raised to dishonor and to shame.

Some will be raised to eternal life, to honor, to glory. These will be made in the likeness of Christ's glorious body. And I'll close with Colossians 3, verses 1 through 4. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, which Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ and God. And when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Amen.