| Many may have heard of the first | | | | Christ) was delivered over to death for our |
| resurrection, but do you really understand | | | | sins and was raised to life for our |
| what it means. Do you realize that it is an | | | | justification. Look at Romans 8:15 it says |
| honor to be apart of the first resurrection. | | | | For you did not receive a spirit that makes |
| Understand that the act of coming back to | | | | you a slave again to fear, but you received |
| life after being dead is an resurrection. | | | | the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry |
| Lets see what the Bible says about the first | | | | Abba, Father. The Spirit himself testifies |
| resurrection. Look at the book of Daniel | | | | with our spirit that we are God's children. |
| 12:2 it says Multitudes who sleep in the dust | | | | Now if we are children, then we are |
| of the earth will awake some to everlasting | | | | heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, |
| life, others to shame and everlasting | | | | if indeed we share in his suffering in order |
| contempt. Those who are wise will shine like | | | | that we may also share in his glory. I |
| the brightness of the heavens, and stars for | | | | consider that our present sufferings are not |
| ever and ever. But you, Daniel, close up and | | | | worth comparing with the glory that will be |
| seal the words of the scroll until the time | | | | revealed in us. The creation waits in eager |
| of the end. Many will go here and there to | | | | expectation for the sons of God to be |
| increase knowledge. | | | | revealed. For the creation was subjected to |
| | | | frustration, not by its own choice, but by |
| Now look at John 1:1 it says In the beginning | | | | the will of the one who subjected it, in hope |
| was the Word, and the Word was with God, and | | | | that the creation itself will be liberated |
| the Word was God. He was with God in the | | | | from its bondage to decay and brought into |
| beginning. Through him all things were made | | | | the glorious freedom of the children of God. |
| without him nothing was made that has been | | | | |
| made. In him was life, and that life was the | | | | Now look at Philippians 3:10 it says I want |
| light of men. The light shines in the | | | | to know Christ and the power of his |
| darkness, but the darkness has not understood | | | | resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in |
| it. | | | | his sufferings, becoming like him in his |
| | | | death, and so, somehow, to attain to the |
| Look at John 5:24 it says I tell you the | | | | resurrection from the dead. (What a blessing, |
| truth, whoever hears my word and believes him | | | | to be able to strive for this). |
| who sent me has eternal life and will not be | | | | |
| condemned he has crossed over from death to | | | | Look at 1 Corinthians 6:2 it says Do you not |
| life. I tell you the truth, a time is coming | | | | know that the saint will judge the world? And |
| and has now come when the dead will hear the | | | | if you are to judge the world, are you not |
| voice of the Son of God and those who hear | | | | competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not |
| will live. For as the Father has life in | | | | know that we will judge angels? How much more |
| himself, so he has granted the Son to have | | | | the things of this life! Therefore, if you |
| life in himself. And he has given him | | | | have disputes about such matters, appoint as |
| authority to judge because he is the Son of | | | | judges even men of little account in the |
| Man. Now look at John 8:12 it says When Jesus | | | | church! I say this to shame you. Is it |
| spoke again to he people, he said, I am the | | | | possible that there is nobody among you wise |
| light of the world. Whoever follows me will | | | | enough to judge a dispute between believers? |
| never walk in darkness, but will have the | | | | But instead, one brother goes to law against |
| light of life. Look at John 11:25 it says | | | | another-and this in front of unbelievers! The |
| Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and | | | | very fact that you have lawsuits among you |
| the life. He who believes in me will live, | | | | means that you have been completely defeated |
| even though he dies and whoever lives and | | | | already. |
| believes in me will never die. Do you believe | | | | |
| this? | | | | In closing look at Revelation 20:4 it says I |
| | | | saw thrones on which were seated those who |
| Look at Romans 1:1 it says Paul, a servant | | | | had been given authority to judge. And I saw |
| of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and | | | | the souls of those who had been beheaded |
| set apart for the gospel of God-the gospel he | | | | because of their testimony for Jesus and |
| promised beforehand through his prophets in | | | | because of the word of God. They had not |
| the Holy Scriptures regarding his son, David, | | | | worshiped the beast or his image and had not |
| and who through the Spirit of holiness was | | | | received his mark on their foreheads or their |
| declared with power to be the Son of God by | | | | hands. They came to life and reigned with |
| his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ | | | | Christ a thousand years.(The rest of the dead |
| our Lord. Through him and for his name's | | | | did not come to life until the thousand years |
| sake, we received grace and apostleship to | | | | were ended.) This is the first resurrection. |
| call people from among all the 'Gentiles to | | | | Blessed and holy are those who have part in |
| the obedience that comes from faith. And you | | | | the first resurrection. The second death has |
| also are among those who are called to belong | | | | no power over them, but they will be priests |
| to Jesus Christ. | | | | of God and of Christ and will reign with him |
| | | | for a thousand years. |
| Now look at Romans 4:25 it says He (Jesus | | | | |