Children Of The Resurrection

1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble. 2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. 5 Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; 10 But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? 11 As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up: 12 So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. 14 If a man die, shall he live again? Job 14:1-2, 5, 10-12, 14a.

During troubling times, man reads things into the events happening and thinks they see apocalyptic inferences. Many speak of the coming End of Time. Often these spoken inferences are accepted as common understandings. Mankind begins to wonder about life after death.

‘If a man die, shall he live again?’ This has been the greatest, longest running question, What happens after death? Will man live again? Many Christians believe they will live again, in a heavenly body. How do we know we will live again? Will it be in a place we hope to live? In truth, all are children of the resurrection; some to everlasting life with the Creator; the rest to everlasting life with their temptor. All shall be resurrected. The question, therefore, is not, "Will we live again?”, but, "where will we live again?”

This morning, I want to look at the proof of us ‘living again’. For those who do not believe in a life hereafter, let us hear what The Bible says. Will you believe The Bible? Each one should answer the question, "Where will I live again?”

What Biblical proof gives me assurance of a resurrection and life after death? Turn with me to Luke 20:27-40.

Jesus speaks of the Children of The Resurrection.

Here the Sadducees pose a question to Jesus about the resurrection of the dead. Vs. 27. 27 Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection;

The Sadducees do not believe in the resurrection. The Pharisees, another sect of Jews, do; and so does Jesus. Today, as then, there are those who believe and those who don’t.

Who are the Sadducees? They are the descendants of Zadok, whose lineage can be traced back to Eleazar, son of Aaron. They were granted the privilege of officiating as priests in the Temple after the return from the Babylonian Exile. These “Zadokites,” from which evolved the word “Sadducees,” formed the nucleus of the priesthood staffing the Jerusalem Temple of first century Palestine. They were like an aristocracy, composed at this time of both priests and well-to-do laity.

The Sadducees were conservative, limiting their beliefs to what was in the written law. They maintained that the oral interpretation of the written law, extending it to apply to every imaginable circumstance, was not revelation, and, therefore, not to be believed. Therefore they did not believe in a resurrection. Compared to the Sadducees, The Pharisees, largely a lay movement sect, bought into the oral law. The Pharisees believed in the resurrection of the dead and in angels; two doctrines not explicit in the Pentateuch, the first five books of Hebrew Scripture.

The discourse over the next few verses is a trick by the Sadducees toward Jesus about the resurrection life, ‘Who will be married in the next life?’ If the question was impossible to answer, so also was the situation provoking it absurd, and so was belief in a resurrection. This proves it, or so the Sadducees thought.

Notice what Jesus plainly says—vs. 34-36. 34 And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: 35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: 36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

In verse 34, ‘children of this world marry and are given in marriage:’ Jesus speaks first of the condition of this present life. Marriage and procreation are necessary for the continuation of the human race, for “children of this age” to continue in being.

In verse 35, ‘neither marry nor are given in marriage:’ Jesus says there is a sharp difference between life as we know it here on earth, and life in eternity. In the “age to come” people will not die, nor will children be born. Hence, there is no need for marriage and procreation. Life will be different, not a mere continuation of this life in imaginary, or ideal terms. Now, Jesus does not speak of the resurrection of the dead, the general resurrection at the End Time, but of resurrection from the dead, the resurrection of the righteous who are among the dead. In this new age, the next life, people are not involved in marriage relationships. Personal relationships will transcend to a new level, making procreation unnecessary. Jesus is saying that “marriage,” as such, is a condition quite foreign to the new age. (Heaven)