“Do you really believe in the resurrection,” asked C. H.
Spurgeon? In a sermon preached at New
Park Street Chapel, in London, on February 17, 1856, Spurgeon said,
“There are very few Christians who believe the resurrection
of the dead. You may be surprised to hear that, but I should not wonder if I
discovered that you yourself have doubts on the subject. By the resurrection of
the dead is meant something very different from the immortality of the soul:
that, every Christian believes, and therein is only on a level with the
heathen, who believes it too.”[1]
Spurgeon’s point is that there is a tendency among
well-meaning Christians to view eternal life as an eternal existence,
established by the Gospel, but that existence is lived out in “an airy
fantastic body” rather than an existence that is a more glorified state than
now, yet retaining some of its continuing, distinctive elements. The reality is that to simply believe in
immortality is a doctrine, just a step up from paganism. Perhaps we have embraced an incomplete Gospel
hope by not realizing that “Christ died not only to save my soul, but to save
my body.”1
Practically speaking this transforms a funeral service. Any Christian with even the basics of the
faith has the comfort to know that their believing loved one is with the Lord. “Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be
away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8, ESV).
Therefore we do not “grieve as
others do who have no hope.”[2] So then why do we weep? Spurgeon explains:
“You do not weep because your father, brother, wife, husband, has
ascended to heaven — you would be cruel to weep about that. None of you weep
because your dear mother is before the throne; but you weep because her body is
in the grave, because those eyes can no more smile on you, because those hands
cannot caress you, because those sweet lips cannot speak melodious nose’ of
affection. You weep because the body is cold, and dead, and clay-like; for the
soul you do not weep.”1
But wait, the doctrine of the resurrection addresses
that. Indeed, for those in Christ are
assured that that body will rise again.
We will see that face again.
Those eyes of affection will once again look upon us. Those words, so tender, will again speak to
us. Those “Daddy’s hands” will again
touch us.
There is also comfort for those who die in Christ in
relation to pain and suffering. “He will wipe away every tear from
their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor
crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4, ESV), not
because there is simply a spiritual, ethereal existence, but because the body
has been forever healed and glorified.
Lastly, the doctrine of the resurrection of the body is
practical because it provides for us a guiding principle about the care of our
own bodies today. In expounding on
Romans 12:1-2, Dr. John Piper writes,
“In the Bible, the body is not significant because of the
way it looks, but because of the way it acts. The body is given to us to make
visible the beauty of Christ . . . God wants visible, lived-out, bodily
evidence that our lives are built on his mercy.”[3]
“If your bodies are to dwell in heaven, I beseech you take
care of them. I do not mean, take care of what you eat and drink, and
wherewithal you shall be clothed; but I mean, take care that you do not let
your bodies be polluted by sin.”1
“The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the
Lord for the body.”[4] “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?”[5] “Or do you not know that your body is
a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not
your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20, ESV)
“But the master argument with which we close our proof is
that Christ rose from the dead, and verily his people shall.”1 “Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you
say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection
of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.” (1 Corinthians 15:12–13, ESV)
[1] Spurgeon, Charles. The Complete Works of Charles
Spurgeon: Volume 2, Sermons 54-106 (Kindle Locations 12427-12439).
www.DelmarvaPublications.com. Kindle Edition.
[2] The Holy Bible:
English Standard Version. (2016). (1 Th 4:13). Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Bibles.
[4] The Holy Bible:
English Standard Version. (2016). (1 Co 6:13). Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Bibles.
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