Colossians 3:4

The resurrection in other New Testament passages

POST OVERVIEW. A study of miscellaneous New Testament passages about the resurrection, particularly emphasizing the fact that all believers will be glorified in the resurrection, whether living or dead.

Another chapter in my upcoming book, “The Resurrection: when the church is glorified.”

Having covered the major New Testament passages about the resurrection, we now turn to other places where this event is mentioned or referenced. In reviewing these verses we will emphasize that all believers will be resurrected, whether they are physically still alive or “have fallen asleep.” This is consistent with what we have already seen in other New Testament passages, that there is one resurrection event of both the living and the dead (see 1 Thess. 4:15-17; 1 Cor. 15:51-55).

1 Corinthians 6:14 – Now God has not only raised the Lord but will also raise us up through His power.

This verse makes clear that “raised” or “raised up” speaks of resurrection, for “God has ‘raised’ the Lord” definitely refers to the resurrection of Jesus. Paul then makes the declaration that, as certainly as God has raised (resurrected) the Lord Jesus, so He will also “raise us up” (resurrect us) through His power. As God raised up Jesus in glorious resurrection on the third day, so He will raise up all believers in glorious resurrection on the last day.

Philippians 3:20-21 – 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

Those whose citizenship is in heaven are all those who have put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whether they are physically living or dead. These are the ones who eagerly wait for the coming of our Savior. When Jesus comes, He “will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory.” All believers currently dwell in “a body of humble state,” whether their body is living (and groaning; 2 Cor. 5:2, 4), or their body has already died. But at the resurrection, all those whose citizenship is in heaven will be glorified. There is no distinction made between the living and the dead. When He comes, He will transform all believers into His glory.

1 John 3:2 – Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.

The “we” that John is addressing in this verse about Jesus’ return and the resurrection is obviously all Christians because he calls them “beloved” and “children of God” (John 1:12). There is no distinction made between the living children of God and the children of God who have already died.

Thus when Jesus appears in power and glory, “we will be like Him.” All believers, whether dead 1,900 years like the Apostle John or still living like you and me, will be glorified when Jesus appears. This is the resurrection, which applies to all believers equally.

Colossians 3:4 – When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

Here Paul expresses the same idea that John expresses in 1 John 3:2 (above). Every believer, whether alive or “asleep,” is now in a state of eager anticipation (Phil. 3:20) as we await the coming (παρουσία) of the Lord Jesus. We await in our humble state, where we appear very ordinary and where our bodies groan (2 Cor. 5:2, 4). But when Christ appears, we will all be changed (1 Cor. 15:52). All believers will be resurrected and will appear with Him in our glorified bodies.

Matthew 24:37-41 – 37 For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.

In this passage from the Olivet Discourse, only Matt. 24:40-41 concern the resurrection of the saints but 24:37-39 are given to show that the context is the coming of the Lord Jesus on the last day. We know from our entire study of the resurrection and from the two passages which we have just considered that the coming of the Son of Man and the resurrection of the saints are simultaneous events. When Christ is revealed, then the saints will be glorified. This is explicitly what Jesus is teaching in this text.

24:37-39. Jesus speaks about the state of the world when He returns in glory. As when Noah was building the ark and was also preaching righteousness (2 Peter 2:5) to the world of the ungodly, so will the world be before the coming of the Son of Man. In that day the world will be living in rebellion to God and will go through their daily routines as if there is no God and as if God has not given laws and commandments which must be obeyed. While the faithful church proclaims the righteousness of Jesus Christ and the need for repentance, the world indulges their sin and their wickedness, denying God and living as if there will never be a judgment. The wicked world will not “see all these things,” so they will not “recognize that Jesus is near, right at the door” (Matt. 24:33). They refuse to repent (Rev. 9:20-21) and so are surprised when the day of the Lord comes upon them with sudden destruction (1 Thess. 5:2-3), and they will not escape the judgment. The world will be terrified at the coming of the Son of Man (Rev. 6:12-17).

24:40-41. But while 24:37-39 tells of the judgment of the unsuspecting ungodly at the coming of the Son of Man, 24:40-41 speaks about the resurrection of the righteous who are on the alert and are ready for the Lord’s coming. In the first scene (24:40), two men are in the field. At the coming of the Lord, the believer is “caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thess. 4:17) in the resurrection while the unbeliever is left on the earth to face the wrath of the Lamb in terrifying judgment (Rev. 6:15-17; 19:21). The second scene is similar as two women are grinding at the mill (24:41). As the Lord descends from heaven with a shout (1 Thess. 4:16), the believing woman goes up in glorious resurrection while the unbeliever faces “the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty” (Rev. 19:15).

The two verses describe the same truth. At the coming of the Lord, those believers who are alive and remain will be “taken,” meaning they will be gloriously resurrected and will meet the Lord in the air.

CONCLUSION

This study has demonstrated that the resurrection of the saints on the last day at the coming of the Lord is a common theme throughout the New Testament and has shown that the teaching about the resurrection is consistent between the various New Testament authors.

Soli Deo gloria            rmb                 7/2/2024                     #707

The resurrection in 1 Peter 1

POST OVERVIEW. Here we take a careful look at three verses in 1 Peter 1 to discover how the fact of our future resurrection should give us confident hope today.

Although not the central theme of 1 Peter, the resurrection, both of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead and of all believers on the last day, appears in various places in the first chapter of 1 Peter. This article looks at the appearances of the resurrection in 1 Peter 1.

God the Father has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. – 1 Peter 1:3

THE CERTAINTY OF THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS. Here Peter explicitly mentions “the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” Thus the resurrection of Jesus is presented as an established fact that Peter does not need to prove. The apostle Peter was an eye-witness to the crucifixion and then to the empty tomb. According to Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:5, after the Lord’s resurrection, He appeared to Peter (Cephas) first. Peter saw the glorified Jesus Christ ascend to heaven in the cloud (Acts 1:9) and he heard the two “men” (angels) say He would come back the same way He left. Peter was as certain of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead as a human being can be.

LIVING HOPE. So Peter is not here arguing for the resurrection of Christ, but he is encouraging these scattered believers by telling them what the resurrection of Jesus means to them. The historical fact of Jesus’ resurrection has given to all believers a “living hope” that, as Jesus was glorified in His resurrection, so all believers will be glorified in their resurrection on the last day. The “living hope,” then, is the confident anticipation of that day when we will receive our eternal resurrection bodies. Believers have a living hope of future resurrection because Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead in glory as first fruits (1 Cor. 15:20-23).

who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. – 1 Peter 1:5

WHAT SALVATION? The apostle here speaks of a salvation that will be revealed in the last time. In this verse, “in the last time” refers to the last day. But what “salvation” will believers receive on the last day? We remember that all believers have already been saved by faith (Eph. 2:8-9). We also know that all living believers are being saved through our sanctification. But in the future, “in the last time” all the believers of all time will be saved in glorification at the resurrection. Therefore, this “salvation ready to be revealed” again refers to the resurrection of the believer on the last day.

fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. – 1 Peter 1:13

What exactly is this “grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ?” We know that the “revelation of Jesus Christ” refers to Jesus’ Second Coming, His παρουσία. Jesus’ παρουσία is described in 1 Thess. 4:15-17 and in that passage, it is clear that Jesus’ παρουσία occurs at the same time as the resurrection of the saints, on the last day. Thus, the “grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” is a reference to the resurrection of all believers. In 1 Peter 1:13, therefore, the apostle is instructing believers to fix their hope (see “living hope” 1:3) on their resurrection when Jesus returns.

To confirm this interpretation, consider Colossians 3:4. “When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” What Paul is teaching in this verse is that when Christ returns in glory, we will also be glorified. So, when we consider 1:13 in the light of Col. 3:4, we conclude that “the grace to be brought to us” is our resurrection in glory. Therefore, our hope is fixed on the resurrection.

SUMMARY

What we have seen is that, in 1 Peter 1, the anticipation of the resurrection of the saints on the last day gives believers confident hope as they face the various trials (1:6) of life between the advents in a fallen world.

Soli Deo gloria            rmb                 1/31/2024                   #690

Studies from John 6 – When is Jesus coming?

POST OVERVIEW. A Bible study based on the teaching of John 6 intended to determine when the coming of the Lord occurs.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study in the Scriptures is to determine when the coming of the Lord occurs. This could also be the question, “When will Jesus be revealed?” or “When will the appearing of the Lord occur?”

FROM JOHN 6. We will begin with Jesus’ teaching in John 6 and asking the question,

“According to Jesus, when does the Resurrection occur?”

39  “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing but raise it up on the last day.” Jesus is speaking about those who will be saved. He will raise them up on the last day.

40 ”For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” Jesus Himself will resurrect all believers on the last day.

44 ”No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.” Jesus will raise up on the last day all whom the Father draws.

 54 ”He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” Once again, Jesus will raise them up on the last day.

A final reference will be from John 11:24.

24 Martha *said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” In this conversation between the Lord and Martha about Lazarus, Martha knows that Lazarus will rise on the last day.

Based on five unambiguous verses from the gospel of John, we can say with complete confidence that:

The Bible teaches that the Resurrection occurs on the last day.

This now becomes a doctrinal truth for all other Bible study.

(NOTE: “The Resurrection” is defined as the event when God’s people receive their glorified, resurrection bodies. Thus, the Resurrection is the believer’s glorification.)

But our OBJECTIVE as stated above was to discover when the coming of the Lord occurs according to the Scriptures. Why start with when the Resurrection occurs? It is because the timing of the Resurrection and the timing of the coming of the Lord are related.

The Bible also teaches that the coming (παρουσία) of Jesus occurs at the same time as the Resurrection of the saints.

SCRIPTURAL PROOF

FROM COLOSSIANS 3:4. “When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”

The verse tells of the future time when “Christ is revealed,” which certainly speaks of the coming of the Lord in glory. Note that, at that time, “(we) also will be revealed with Him in glory.” Christ is revealed in glory at the same time that we are revealed with Him in glory. The coming of the Lord and the Resurrection occur at the same time.

FROM PHIL. 3:21.  Christ “will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory.” Jesus will transform us into glorified saints. Our bodies will be conformed to His glory. When will this occur? When He is revealed in glory, of course. Thus this verse teaches that we will be transformed at the time when Jesus is revealed.

FROM 1 JOHN 3:2. “We know that when He appears, we will be like Him.” In this verse, John says what Paul has said in Colossians and Philippians. When Christ appears, He will be coming in blazing glory. And John says, “We will be like Him.” This must mean that we are going to be glorified (resurrected) when Christ comes. In other words, His coming and our Resurrection occur at the same time.

FROM 1 THESS. 4:15-17. This section of 1 Thess. is explicitly about the timing of the Resurrection. In these three verses, Paul unambiguously teaches how the coming of Christ relates to the Resurrection of the saints. We will quote the whole passage.

15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

The apostle gives the details of the “coming of the Lord,” and he also supplies the order of the Resurrection. At “the coming of the Lord” or when “the Lord Himself will descend from heaven,” the Resurrection of the saints will occur. Saints who have “fallen asleep” (“the dead in Christ”) will be resurrected first, then saints who are still alive will be resurrected next. Then the resurrected saints will meet the descending Lord Jesus in the air. In the clearest possible words, Paul says that the coming of the Lord happens at the same time as the Resurrection of the saints.

[FURTHER NOTES: There can be some confusion about what happens after the glorified saints “meet the Lord in the air” (4:17), but the Bible is not unclear about this. See my teaching on this in Post #625 from February 22, 2023.]

Now, since the Bible teaches that the Resurrection occurs on the last day, and since we have shown that coming of the Lord occurs on the same day as the Resurrection of the saints, we can state as a doctrinal truth that the coming of the Lord occurs on the last day.

The Bible teaches that the coming of the Lord occurs on the last day.

IMPLICATIONS: In the course of this study, we have established two doctrinal truths. First, the Resurrection of the saints occurs on the last day, and second, the coming of the Lord occurs on the last day. Our next post will consider some of the implications of these truths.

Soli Deo gloria            rmb                 2/22/2023                   #626