Resurrection Most Americans Dont Believe in Resurrection A

Resurrection

Most Americans Don’t Believe in Resurrection – A Scripps Howard / Ohio University poll found that “most Americans don’t believe they will experience a resurrection of their bodies when they die…” Though the Nicene Creed and the Apostles’ Creed (ancient statements of faith that have unified the Christian world over the centuries) both profess resurrection, only 36% of poll respondents affirmed they believed that. Evangelical Protestants had the highest level of belief of the groups interviewed, with 59% confessing belief in personal resurrection. “This reflects the very low state of doctrinal preaching in our churches, ” said the president of a Baptist Theological Seminary. “I continually am confronted by Christians, even active members of major churches, who have never heard this taught in their local congregations. We have a lowest-commondenominator Christianity being taught…” Scripps Howard News Service, 4 -5 -06

Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. Matthew 22: 29 -32

But some may be prompted to inquire, is it necessary to understand all the details of the Resurrection and Judgment in order to possess the faith which justifies? In reply, I would say, if it were necessary, there would scarcely be found, in this generation, a corporal’s guard of justified believers. I apprehend that if a person heartily believe in “the resurrection of the just and the unjust, ” and that both these classes will appear in the presence of the Righteous Judge “to give account of themselves to him, ” their understanding so far is sound upon these two first principles; but if on the contrary, he deny the resurrection of the “unjust, ” … and repudiate the citation of the righteous for judgment, saying that there is no other judgment for them than what they are subjected to in the present state; and that they will not be called upon to give account: I can only say for myself, that I had rather never have been born than appear in the Divine Presence with such a tradition. Anastasis, 1920 ed. Preface

• Daniel 12: 2 many that sleep…shall awake • Jeremiah 51: 57 they shall sleep a perpetual sleep…and not awake • Isaiah 26: 14 They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish.

Romans 6: 10 For in that he (Christ) died, he died unto sin once: 6: 3 many were baptized into his death and… 6: 2 also are dead to sin 6: 7 Christ, by his sacrificial death, was freed (justified) from sin 5: 9 all who have died with Christ are justified by his blood 6: 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him

I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. John 11: 25 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the new testament (covenant), which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Matthew 26: 27 -28

1 Corinthians 15 12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15 …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 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain: ye are yet in your sins 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward THEY THAT ARE CHRIST’S at his coming

Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God… But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. Matthew 22: 29 -32

I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. John 11: 24 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God. Job 19: 25 -26

My faith has not been stinted in its growth. Seventeen years ago, I believed that “the dead are raised incorruptible, ” and taught that truth in Elpis Israel. But when I wrote that work (now styled by those who curse me, “a precious book, ” because they think it justifies their view and condemns mine), my attention had not been drawn to the subject in its details… We are seventeen years nearer resurrection and judgment; nay, more, we are on the verge of these awful and fearful events. It has, therefore, become necessary to study them in detail, that by adding knowledge to our faith and virtue, we may be “neither sluggard nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1: 5, 8); for the more one studies a subject and knows about it, the more lively his conception of it, and the more earnest and faithful his convictions. Anastasis, 1920 ed. , p. 26

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15: 51 -52

anastasis (Strong’s # 386) – resurrection, rising to life egerio (Strong’s # 1453) – raised, risen, raised up, arise

Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. John 20: 17 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. Luke 24: 38 -39

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 1 Corinthians 15: 51 -54

The Resurrection in its True Light “The doctrine of the resurrection of the dead is most important in the oracles of God. It is impossible to over-estimate the importance of the position it occupies in the Divine plan of human redemption. It is the keystone of our arch of faith, the foundation on which rests the world’s desire, for man universally desires life, and the only means by which he can attain unto it is by a resurrection from among the dead. Remove this doctrine from the Scriptures of Truth and you will have destroyed all hope of a future; take away this keystone from the system of faith delivered unto us by Christ and his apostles, and the building or house of God falls to pieces. What the blood is to the natural body, the truth taught by this doctrine is to the spiritual body. It is the life of it. That we do not over estimate its importance is evident from the esteem in which it was held by Christians in the first century, and the value that the apostles placed upon it cannot be but that which it actually deserves, for they acted under the influence of Divine inspiration. ” H. Mc. Cann, Advocate, October 1891, p. 241