Sons of the ResurrectionBy Allan E. McNabb Last week we talked about a descriptive phrase regarding Christians that’s not used often today, “children of promise.” In this article, I want to talk about another phrase I don’t hear very often, “sons of the resurrection.” Jesus Answers the Sadducees “‘Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife, and he is childless, his brother should marry the wife and raise up children to his brother. Now there were seven brothers; and the first took a wife and died childless; and the second and the third married her; and in the same way all seven died, leaving no children. Finally the woman died also. In the resurrection therefore, which one's wife will she be? For all seven had married her’” (Lk. 20:28-33). The Sadducees thought this hypothetical scenario (which was possible but highly unlikely) proved their wasn’t a resurrection, since a woman couldn’t be simultaneously married to seven men. But, Jesus corrected them, saying, “‘You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God’” (Matt. 22:29). “‘The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; for they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection’” (Lk. 20:34-36). Then Jesus gave two Scriptures to further prove there is a resurrection. Warning: False Doctrine Yes, the story was indirectly related to the Mosaic Law concerning widows. But, the Sadducees twisted the Scripture to create a false doctrine. Today, people are doing the same thing. They present a hypothetical story and twist the Scriptures to concoct a false doctrine (2 Pet. 3:16). It’s like the hypothetical story of a man in an airplane that’s about to crash. He suddenly believes and prays, asking God to forgive him. Since he can’t be baptized in the plane before it crashes, and since God wouldn’t condemn a person who believes, he didn’t have to be baptized to be saved; therefore, no one has to be baptized to be saved. Of course, this doctrine contradicts several Scriptures and is false (1 Pet. 3:21). And it’s like Oprah Winfrey who told viewers you can get to heaven without believing in Jesus, since God wouldn’t condemn people for not believing in Jesus who had never heard about Him. So, she said there is more than one way to be saved and go to heaven – you don’t have to believe in Jesus. This doctrine also contradicts the Scriptures, and is false (Jn. 14:6). As we learn from Jesus’ response to the Sadducees, we can’t believe doctrines built on stories, hypothetical or not. We must believe the doctrine of Christ, which is only revealed to man in the Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Jn. 1:9; Col. 3:17; 1 Cor. 4:6). Sons of the Resurrection
“Jesus said to them, ‘The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; for they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection’” (Lk. 20:36). From Jesus’ words, we glean interesting information regarding the resurrection. Sons of Resurrection are the Sons of God We become sons of God when we’re baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27). Thus from the moment of our baptism, we have the promise of God that we’ll resurrect to life, and be sons of the resurrection (Rom. 6:3-5). Sons of the Resurrection Cannot Die Anymore This is not the case with everyone else. They’ll resurrect to be judged, then be cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death (Rev. 20:14-15). Sons of the Resurrection are like Angels Conclusion Like all men, we’ll put off this earthly body one day. But as sons of the resurrection, God will give us a spiritual body in the image of Jesus Christ, and we’ll live with Him forever.
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