THE THREE RESURRECTIONS
JOHN 5:21-30
Introduction:
The Bible speaks of three (3) resurrections. Each one is different from the others. Two of those resurrections will be for rejoicing of those that participate in them. However, the third or last resurrection is the resurrection of lost sinners, those that have rejected the Savior. That will be a time of great sadness.
I. THE RESURRECTION OF DEAD SINNERS
A. Sinners dead in trespasses and sins, Ephesians 2:1-5, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;”
1. Sin entered by one man, Adam, Romans 5:12, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”
2. Sin brought death, Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
3. The soul that sins, Ezekiel 18:4, “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”
B. But sinners that will hear His voice shall live, John 5:25, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.”
1. “He that heareth my words,” John 5:24, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
2. “And believe,” John 11:26, “And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”
3. “Shall not come into condemnation,” John 10:27-28, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
II. THE RESURRECTION UNTO LIFE
A. This is the FIRST resurrection, Revelation 20:4-5, “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.”
1. This is for those that have served the Lord, 2 Samuel 7:4, “Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.”
2. These are those who have become a living sacrifice for the Lord, Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
B. Those that participate in the First Resurrection will reign with the Lord, 2 Timothy 2:12, “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:”
C. We will reign with Him as kings, Revelation 5:10, “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”
D. Blessed are those who have part in the First Resurrection, Revelation 20:6, “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”
III. THE RESURRECTION UNTO DEATH
A. This is the Second Resurrection, Revelation 20:11-12, “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”
B. This resurrection is for those who reject Jesus Christ as their Savior.
1. These are those that stand before God to be judged out of the books, Revelation 20:12, “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”
2. These are those whose names are NOT written in the Lamb’s book of life, Revelation 20:15, “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
3. These shall be tormented for their sins, Revelation 14:9, “The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:”
CONCLUSION:
Three resurrections are taught in the Word of God. The resurrection from death because of our sins is by trusting Jesus Christ as Savior. John 5:24 says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
The key words are “heareth,” and “believeth.” If you will hear the Word of God and Believe on Jesus Christ, God promises that you are “passed from death unto life.”