Jesus, Firstborn from the Dead

Announcer:

This is Today With Derek Prince. The internationally recognized Bible teacher and author presents to you Keys to Successful Living.

Yesterday Derek Prince began his new topic ‘Resurrection of the Dead.’ He explained the meaning of resurrection and the destinies of the body, soul and spirit when a person dies. Today he continues his theme by focusing on the resurrection of Jesus and how His resurrection body is a pattern for ours. Be sure to listen at the end of today’s broadcast for our address and this week’s special offer.

Derek Prince:

John 19:40 and 42:

“Then they took the body of Jesus and bound it in strips of linen with spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.”

They would wrap a body in strips of linen but they would include a great quantity of spices because the body would be expected to decompose and give out a stench.

“Now the place where he was crucified there was a garden. In the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So there they laid Jesus . . .
And we don’t need to go any further with that.”

We also read the account of how after the resurrection of Jesus the apostles and the women went to the tomb, they all knew where His body had been buried but they didn’t find Him there. Praise God! So, what happened to the total personality of Jesus? He committed His spirit to the Father, His soul descended into Hades and He made a proclamation there and probably did a lot of other things, and His body was laid in the tomb. But when He rose, His total personality was again united, He was a complete person: spirit, soul and body.

Now, what happened through the death and resurrection of Jesus affected the universe. It also determined the destiny of souls at death. From that time onwards since the resurrection of Jesus the destiny of the righteous is not to go into Hades—it has a different and a much more glorious destiny. Let me give you two examples. When they stoned Stephen and he was at the point of death in Acts chapter 7:57 and following:

“Then they cried out with a loud voice, ‘Stop their ears,’ and ran at him [that’s Stephen] with one accord. They cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul and they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’”

He knew that his spirit was to go directly to Jesus. This is the change that has taken place because of the death and resurrection of Jesus.

“Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not charge them with this sin.’”

And because Stephen prayed that, Saul of Tarsus could be saved. If Stephen had not released him from his guilt, he could never have been saved. That’s a wonderful thought.

But I want to emphasize that for the true believer who has been cleansed in the blood of Jesus and lived faithfully for God, the destiny at death is that the spirit ascends directly to Jesus. Paul also refers to this in Philippians chapter 1. He says he doesn’t know which to choose. Shall he continue to live here or shall he go and be with Jesus? This is what he says, Philippians 1:23:

“For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better; nevertheless, to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.”

So Paul was absolutely confident that if at that time he died he would be with Christ. That is one great change effected by the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Another thing that happened, and there are some things that I can tell you but I can’t fill in all the details because I don’t know them, is that the departed souls of the righteous who were in the bosom of Abraham were released. Let’s look at that in Ephesians chapter 4. This is quoting Psalm 68 and it’s speaking about the resurrection of Jesus.

“Therefore, when he ascended on high he led captivity captive and gave gifts to men.”

Now, my understanding, and many Bible commentators will understand, that ‘He led captivity captive’ was He released the souls of the departed righteous and took them with Him up to heaven. You see, they could not be released until the penalty for sin had actually been paid. God accepted them as righteous because they had put their faith in a sacrifice that had not yet taken place. They were looking forward to the promised sacrifice. But until the sacrifice had actually been offered, the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, they could not be released. But after He had sacrificed Himself He went down into Hades and at some point and some way He took them with Him. That’s how I believe. They had been the captives of sin and of death, but He took captivity captive. They became the captives of Jesus and of righteousness. Which, to me, is exciting.

Now, the next thing that’s very, very important is this, the resurrection of Jesus is the guarantee of our resurrection; that is, if we are totally committed to Jesus. In Colossians chapter 1:18, speaking again about the resurrection of Jesus, Paul says:

“He [Jesus] is the head of the body, the church.
So Jesus is the head, we believers are the body. He’s also the beginning:
. . . the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence [or the first place]. So he is the firstborn from death, He’s the head of a totally new creation. He’s the head of a new race,”

the race in which the nature of God and man are combined in one person. He’s the head of the body, He’s the firstborn from the dead. And the resurrection is compared to a birth out of death. And this is such a beautiful picture. In a natural birth, normally what part of the body emerges first? The head, that’s right. And when the head emerges what do you know? You know the rest of the body is going to follow. And so, the resurrection of Jesus is the guarantee that His body will follow Him in resurrection.

Now, also the resurrection of Jesus in His body is a pattern for ours. I hope you’re getting excited about this. If you’re not I’m really not communicating. You see, Paul says in Philippians chapter 3:20–21:

“For our citizenship is in heaven . . .”

That’s those of us who’ve been born again, committed to live for Jesus, we live on earth, we’re citizens of a country here on earth but our real citizenship is in heaven. If you are a citizen of a country you have to have a passport, did you know that? So we have a passport, it’s the blood of Jesus.

“Our citizenship is in heaven from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ . . .
Notice a mark of true Christians is that we are eagerly waiting for the Savior. And then it says:
. . . who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.”

Now, that’s the translation but it’s not literal. If I may give you a literal translation it makes something very vivid.

“He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of His glory . . .”

You see, you may not realize it but you and I live in a body of humiliation. We’ve been humiliated because of sin. And I point out that no matter how wealthy or how healthy you may be, there are certain facts about the body in which you live which continually remind you you’re a sinner. You may eat the most sumptuous food and drink all the wine you want but sooner or later, and generally sooner, you have to go to the toilet and empty your bladder and your bowels. No matter how wealthy you are, no matter how dignified, no matter how high your place in life, this is a body of humiliation. You may also wear the finest clothes but when you get a little bit active and begin to do something energetic, do you know what happens? You perspire. Or, in a more vulgar language, you sweat. That’s a body of humiliation. You see, God has ordained that every one of us should be continually reminded by our body that we are in a state of humiliation because of our sin. But, Jesus is going to change this body of humiliation into the likeness of the body of His glory. Isn’t that exciting? This body is going to change. We’ll look a little later at some of the details of the change.

But let me just point out one very relevant fact. In 1 John chapter 3 John says this in verses 2–3:

“Beloved, now we are children of God and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be . . . In other words, we haven’t yet seen the kind of body we’re going to have.”

. . . but we know that when He is revealed we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is. When He is revealed and we see Him, our bodies will be changed into the likeness of His body. But I want you to notice the next verse because it’s very important.

“And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself just as He is pure.”

Now you may tell me that you’re hoping for the resurrection and it’s not my business to argue with you. But if you are really hoping there’s something you’re doing, you’re purifying yourself. What is the standard of purity? Jesus. Just as He is pure. And if you tell me that you’re looking forward to the resurrection but I see no evidence that you’re purifying yourself, that you’re seeking to make yourself more pure and more holy, I say you’re probably self-deceived. You aren’t really looking forward, you’re just using religious language. Because this is the mark of everyone who is truly looking forward to this exchange from the body of humiliation to the body of glory. Let me read those words again.

“Everyone who has this hope in Him [Jesus] purifies himself just as He is pure.”

Do you have that mark? Is that evidence in your life that you’re really expecting the return of Jesus?

Announcer:

In tomorrow’s message Derek Prince will continue his theme ‘Resurrection of the Dead,’ by sharing with us five specific changes which will occur in our resurrection bodies.

This message is available on audiocassette No. RC4168 and also on video. Our special offer this week is the book Chords From David’s Harp. One hundred one inspirational meditations based on the Psalms of David in which Derek shares insights that are practical, personal and enriching. To receive your copy of ‘Resurrection of the Dead’ write today and include a contribution of $5.00 or more for audiocassette RC4168 or $14.95 for the video teaching. Include a gift of $5.00 or more for the book Chords From David’s Harp.

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