Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standard WSC #38

Doctrinal Standard #38 (1 of 2 weeks)

• Q. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection?
• A. At the resurrection, believers, raised in glory, will be publicly recognized and declared not guilty on the day of judgment and will be made completely happy in the full enjoyment of God forever.

Memory Verses

• Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17, ESV).

Scripture

• Study Passage: I Thessalonians 4:13-5:11
• Support Passages: I Corinthians 15:51, Daniel 12:2-3, Hebrews 9:28, Job 19:26-27
• Bible Story: Matthew 25:31-46

Thoughts  

• Below is an explanation of the resurrection of the dead taken from J. Dwight Pentecost’s book, The Moody Handbook of Theology (pg. 376-377).
• “The return of Christ has an important implication for the believers because it means the hope of bodily resurrection. The resurrection hope is taught in both the Old and New Testaments and is foundational to the Christian faith. David spoke of awaking in God’s presence (Ps. 17:15). Korah expressed the hope that God would rescue him from the power of death and receive him to His presence (Ps. 49:15). Asaph had faith that God would guide him throughout life and when life was over, God would receive him to hope: ‘Your dead will live; their corpses will rise. You who lie in dust, awake and shout for joy. For your dew is as the dew of the dawn. And the earth will give birth to the departed spirits’ (Isa 26:19). Daniel also clearly describes the future resurrection as all people will be resurrected form the dust of the earth, some to enter into everlasting life, others to judgment and everlasting condemnation (Dan. 12:1-12).“The New Testament provides added revelation concerning the resurrection. In His debate with the Sadducees, Jesus rebuked them for their mistaken notion in denying the resurrection. They neither understood the Scriptures (for the Old Testament taught the resurrection) nor the power of God (for He is able to raise the dead) (Matt. 22:29; cf. Mark 12:24-27; Luke 20:34-38). In John 5:28-29 Jesus spoke words reminiscent of Daniel 12:2 when He explained that the dead would hear the voices of Christ and come forth, some to a resurrection life, others to a resurrection judgment (John 5:28-29). Christ also promised eternal life to those believing in Him; they had the assurance that He would raise them from the dead (John 6:39-40, 44, 54). At the raising of Lazarus Jesus declared, ‘I am the resurrection, and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die’ (John 11:25-26).”

  In his detailed defense and explanation of the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15, Paul cites the resurrection as foundational to the Christian faith. If the resurrection is not true then Christ has not been resurrected, faith is useless, and the sin problem remains unsolved (1 Cor. 15:17). The resurrection is also explained in connection with the return of Christ (1 Thess. 4:16).” [1]

Discussion Questions

• What is a resurrection?
• Explain Jesus resurrection?
• How will man’s resurrection be similar to Jesus’ resurrection?
• Why is the resurrection of Jesus Christ so important to the Christian faith?
• Will unbelievers be resurrected as well? Explain
• How does the future resurrection of your body make you feel?