Resurrection and Judgment – Part 1

Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation…of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Heb 6:1, 2

In our text above, the doctrines concerning the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment are considered to be “elementary principles,” principles that are foundational to our faith.  If they are foundational, then we must have a solid understanding of them.  If we don’t, any knowledge we gain that is built upon a faulty view of these doctrines will also be faulty.  In the previous chapter, the author of Hebrews is rebuking his audience for their lack of maturity, stating that “by this time you ought to be teachers…[instead of needing] someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God.” (Heb 5:12) So, do we have a firm, biblical grasp on this doctrines?

It seems that increasingly within the church there are varying opinions of these basic principles.  Consider the implications of such a fact!  If we’re differing in opinion, then somebody’s wrong!  Remember, these aren’t deep theological questions.  These things are basic Christian truths that even a babe in Christ should know!  If a child never learns to add, how can he possibly grasp multiplication or far more advanced mathematical concepts?  If the foundational principles, the building blocks if you will, are erroneous, what hope do we have of getting anything else right?  So, how can we faithfully declare the gospel of Jesus Christ in an effectual manner, if we’ve stumbled at the foundations of that gospel?  I want to address three simple questions in this post, but I want to wait until after the Bible study this week to answer those questions.  Here they are for your consideration now, and I hope you can join us tomorrow as we explore what the Scripture reveals concerning them:

1) What is the state of the physically dead right now?

2) What happens at the resurrection?

3) Will the wicked suffer eternally?

Stay tuned for more…

Jamie

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