WHAT DO YOU SEE IN THE CASKET?
I Corinthians 15:2 By this gospel you are saved if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
The apostle Paul certainly had many problems with the Corinthian church, but none was more surprising or greater was their denial of the resurrection of the dead. This was cutting at the heart of the affirmation of Jesus’ victory over sin and death. If we only had the gospel of Christ that tells us that Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, the twelve, to more than 500 of the brothers at the same time, to James and Paul, it would be enough! Yes, all the other teachings in the Bible are good, but it is this gospel that lays down the basic principle for the reason for our belief and trust in Jesus as being the son of God, just as he said! Now Paul is trying to make his defense of the resurrection of the dead by the affirmation of Jesus’ own resurrection.
Part of the problem may have been that the Corinthians were receiving some teaching from the Sadducees. They were Jewish religious leaders that while part of the Sanhedrin didn’t believe in the resurrection of the dead. Then too, it just may have been the reality that when a Christian dies their body isn’t resurrected like Jesus’ body was, but this doesn’t mean that everlasting life doesn’t exist for everyone. As we see in Luke 16:19-31 everyone both those that are righteous and unrighteous are raised from the dead following their physical death. The soul or spirit leaves the body to go where it is assigned by God. While the body clearly deteriorates, the soul or spirit continues on. At death both the righteous and unrighteous persons are give a spiritual body.
Before Jesus’ atonement for the sins of humanity on Calvary’s cross everyone went to the abode of the dead. The two abodes were separated by a gulf that neither could cross over. (read Luke 16:19-31 if you haven’t reviewed it yet) The unrighteous were in torment while the righteous were blessed. Neither could go to heaven because both had sinned in their physical lifetime. Remember Romans 3:23 says that, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Every single person that has ever lived or will live a physical were born with the sinful carnal nature. This is why it says in Psalm 51:5 that from birth we were in sin. The only one that wasn’t this way was Jesus. He was conceived in Mary by the Holy Spirit and not by Joseph. He lived a perfect life without sin as well making him the only person not needing a savior to atone for his sins. Jesus lived the perfect holy life that God intended for all of us to live! Jesus did what none of us could do, and provided for us what we could not for ourselves. This of course is forgiveness and reconciliation with God!
For God to be perfectly just and holy he needed to give everyone a chance to receive his grace that died before Calvary’s cross, just as he would after Calvary’s cross. This is why we see in I Peter 4:6 that it says, “For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.”
Following Jesus’ death on the cross he went to the abode of the dead to explain his gift of salvation by faith in the grace of his atonement. All had a chance to find forgiveness. Did they all receive it? We don’t know. If they were smart they did, but salvation is not a matter of knowledge but the heart. This is why Satan and the other fallen angels continue to rebell against God. They know scripture better than we do, yet they refuse to humble themselves and seek Jesus’ forgiveness and obey him. They will continue to remain in their sinfulness due to their free will to reject the Lord. Sad to say chances are that even after Jesus explained his salvation to the multitude in the abode of the dead many still rejected his free gift of grace. The reason I say this is because of the multitudes that know about Jesus’ salvation today and still reject him. But for all who humble themselves and receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior they receive forgiveness and eternal life with him in heaven for all eternity. At their death in a twinkling of an eyes they are transformed from having a perishable body to having an imperishable one. Their old body was sown in dishonor, but their new one is raised in glory. Where it once was weak now it will be strong. And just as we had the likeness of humanity, when raised they will have a spiritual body in the likeness of Jesus! Now is that good news (gospel) or what?
Satan would like to instill within us a doubt that there is no life after death in order to nullify all this good news that I have just shared with you and so much more! Doubt is a major means in destroying faith and hope. While faith is necessary to please God and receive Jesus’ salvation, God has given us good reason to believe if we only want to. The problem is many don’t want to. God will not make us believe or receive Jesus’ salvation although it is a free gift. Our free will demands that we choose life or death. As Joshua challenged all Israel, he and his family chose life in the Lord.
Have you chosen life, or are you still staring at a lifeless body in a casket? You will never know the reality of your decision until that last breath. Are you willing to take that chance? What do you have to lose?
Prayer: Holy Spirit, please move on everyone reading this and people all over the world.
Please convict them of their sins, the righteousness of Christ and your judgment. Please help them seek forgiveness while they still can. Please help Jesus have a beautiful Bride and a glorious kingdom. We ask this in Jesus’ name for his honor and glory.
