As I watched the body of my friend laid to rest, I thought of the cross, the second coming, and the resurrection of the dead. My hope in seeing my friend and all my family members who have died in Christ…is based entirely upon the truth of God’s word and the good news (gospel). Then it occurred to me; the good news goes beyond the cross. Why don’t teachers talk about this more? Why are they not talking about the resurrection and the second coming in the light of the cross? All three of these topics make a complete gospel (Cross, Second Coming, Resurrection).
The death of Jesus provided a way out; a way to escape the penalty of sin i.e. eternal death. The punishment for sin is nothing more or nothing less than death.
“The wages of sin is death.”
Romans 6:23.
Only those with a saving relationship with Christ have eternal life. The lost have death.
“He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life,
John 3: 36.
Jesus paid the penalty by dying the death of a sinner who has no hope of ever living again. As he hung upon the cross bearing the sins of the world, He could not see any hope or look through the portals of the tomb. As gruesome as this was, it is good news (gospel) for those who desire to live for eternity. Jesus paid the price for our sins. If we believe it and accept, by faith, His sacrifice atones for our sins regardless of how gruesome the cross appeared physically. The prophets foretold through the sacrificial system and direct prophecies of the day the Messiah would die, but they also went further…
If we stop at the cross, we only hear part of the gospel. It is not complete unless Christ was raised from the dead. Without the resurrection, we have no hope, and our faith is useless. I didn’t say this; Paul did:
” And if Christ has not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.” 1 Corinthians 15: 14.
Also, all those who have died in Christ have perished. Again Paul says,
“Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.”
1 Corinthians 15:18
Belief in the resurrection of Jesus is the basis of a saving relationship:
“if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:9
The oldest book of the Bible proclaims the hope of the resurrection. Listen to Job. Where was his hope? It was in the coming of the Lord on the last day!
For I know that my Redeemer lives,
And He shall stand at last on the earth;
And after my skin is destroyed, this I know,
That in my flesh I shall see God,
Whom I shall see for myself,
And my eyes shall behold, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me! Job 19: 25-27
“For the Lord, Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
1 Thessalonians 4: 16-18
But well-intentioned ministers give a false gospel when other words are used to “comfort.” They skip over the plain words of death being like sleep when the next moment of conscience, they see the coming of the Lord (Every eye shall see Him come). Instead, they proclaim that the dead are conscience with eyes and ears to see and hear the things of this sinful world. They falsely say that the reward of immortality is given at death. But the scripture is plain that the reward of immortality (eternal life) is given at the time of Christ’s return:
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me.”
Revelation 22:12
“For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” 1 Corinthians 15: 52,53.
Notice that immortality is given when Christ returns…not before.
Isn’t it so clear that the good news (gospel) is that Jesus died but was raised again to become the “first fruits” of the resurrection promised to all who “die in Him?” It places a different perspective on the second coming because He brings His reward of immortality with Him.
“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” 1
Corinthians 15:20
“to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come— that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.” Acts 26: 22-23
Teachers and ministers fail to give the complete gospel if they stop at the cross. The coming of Jesus to bring immortality to those who have died in Christ is good news indeed! Without it, we have no hope and our loved ones have perished.
To me it is comfort to know that my death will seem like a twinkling of an eye. The passage of time will be imperceptible. It will seem like I had just closed my eyes for a moment, and then I awake to the glorious appearance of the Lord! Even though my body may have turned to dust, I know the Lord can create it again out of the dust…like He did when he created Adam from the dust. This is the gospel too!