"INALIENABLE RIGHTS!"

 

Today, July 4, 2023 is the 247^th commemoration of America’s independence from Great Britain. The Declaration of Independence framed by the founders contains the following statement: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. This language acknowledges that these inalienable rights are from God. An ‘inalienable’ right is one that cannot be taken away, denied, or transferred to another. All of humanity is endowed with these truths. The Bible declares that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were what God purposed for man from eternity. God was the source of all life (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16). Let us consider:

HOW DID LIFE BEGIN? God ‘spoke’ life into existence. “Then God said…” is a repeated phrase in Genesis 1. We read, “By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host...he spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.” (Psalm 33:6, 9). Life not only began according to God’s word, but life also continues according to God’s word (cf. Psalm 147:15).

WHEN DID LIFE BEGIN?

·         Job 10:11 – You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews.

·         Psalm 119:73a – Your hands made me and fashioned me.

·         Psalm 139:13 – You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb.

·         Ecclesiastes 11:5 – Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things.

·         Isaiah 44:24 – Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb.

The inalienable aspect of life, liberty, and happiness does not mean that man is free of any obligation to God. God gave man understanding for one reason; that he might, “…learn Your commandments.” (Psalm 119:73b). The passages above make it clear that life exists both in and out of the womb. Man should thus value life as God defined life.  

These inalienable rights are visible through things that God has established. For example, God’s love for us has a visible manifestation: His Son given as a sacrifice for our sins (John 3:16). Our inalienable rights exist through three God-ordained institutions: the government, the home (marriage), and the church.

GOVERNMENT: The purpose for Government (i.e., rule) is to uphold justice (cf. Romans 13:1; Titus 3:1; and 1 Peter 2:13). Earthly rulers were purposed to be a blessing (cf. Exodus 18:21; 23:8, Deuteronomy 16:9, 2 Chronicles 19:5-10,  and Acts 6:3). Government represents authority, and all humanity has the inalienable right to be governed by honest and righteous leaders. Their selection (or election) is by choice, but again, each choice for earthly authority will be in line with individual attitudes toward God’s authority. God condemns perversion of justice (cf. 1 Samuel 8:1-3; Isaiah 10:2; Amos 5:12). The only person God declared fit for leadership and rule was one who would uphold justice equally.

MARRIAGE/HOME: “…from the beginning of the creation, male and female made he them” (Mark 10:6). God ordained the marriage relationship for man’s benefit and God alone has the right to legislate it. (cf. Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:22-31; Hebrews 13:4). Neither individuals nor governments are at liberty to disregard, redefine, or restrict any human from this blessed right. It is an inalienable right from the Creator. That governments, families, and the church suffer from a failure to honor God’s will on marriage is evident. Life, liberty, and happiness are dependent upon obedience to God (Genesis 2:16-17).

CHURCH: Authority over all things pertaining to the church (its work, worship, and oversight) belongs to Jesus (Ephesians 1:20-23; Colossians 1:18-20). Authority can be delegated only as God hath decreed. Jesus was given all authority after His resurrection (John 17:2). Jesus then delegated authority to the apostles (John 17:6-8). All that they ‘bound on earth’ had already been bound from heaven (Matthew 16:19). When any man or government makes declarations regarding human rights, those declarations must be in accordance with God’s will. (1 Peter 4:16).

SALVATION TERMS: Because God “…foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself…” (Ephesians 1:5); His will should be received, not challenged (John 1:12). God has been very clear how to respond to His offer of salvation (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:17-18; Galatians 3:26-27; 1 Peter 3:20-21).

WORSHIP: God alone is worthy of being worshiped (cf. Psalm 148). He has the right to accept or refuse worship (Deuteronomy 12:29-32; Malachi 1:6-8; John 4:24; Colossians 2:18, 20-23).

JUDGMENT: God “hath given all judgment unto the Son; that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father that sent him.” (John 5:22-23). God has the authority to deal justly with disobedience (Romans 12:19). Our judgments must honor and respect His judgments (John 7:24).

It is only in the acceptance of God’s oracles that we have freedom from sin as an inalienable right (John 8:36). Christ gave us freedom from sin, not liberty to sin (1 John 1:5-10). Let us, “Live as free men, yet without using your freedoms as a pretext for evil; but live as servants of God.” (1 Peter 2:16).

Lesson from James 1:21

“Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” (James 1:21)

“RECEIVE WITH MEEKNESS”...the implanted word...

The word of God is to be “implanted” in the sense that the change in one's life reflects that a new master rules. Sin no longer reigns because of repentance. What caused this change? The Word? Well, notice that the Word had to be “RECEIVED”...WITH MEEKNESS.

Who was to do the receiving? Would it not be the ‘hearer’ of the Word? Simple to understand isn't it? This shows that salvation involves two parties...God (the provider/source of the Word) and man (the one in need of being salvation). God, because of His grace, offers man salvation thru His Son. Man has a choice; either to accept or refuse this offer. There are terms and conditions laid out by God in His gracious offer, one of which is to repent. Man, in “receiving with meekness” this Word of salvation, must comply with God's command to repent, for God has commanded all to repent (Acts 17:30).

Repentance is but one condition that God has, in His grace, called upon man to do. It is certainly not a work of merit, but simple obedience...or as James words it, the way to “receive with meekness” God's Word. Repentance never occurs without a reason. That reason for choosing to change how you are living, is belief in God’s promise of eternal life thru His Son.

In order for your belief to save, you must “receive with meekness” what God has commanded; you will repent, and live for Christ. Saving faith obeys...this is what the phrase in the Bible “obedience of faith” means (cf. Romans 1:5; 16:26; James 2:17-22).

The “works” of James 2 that “perfects” faith, is obedience. Abraham's offering of Isaac was called a “work”; not a work of merit, but an act of obedience...obedience to a command of God. Abraham believed God, and did as God commanded. In doing so, his faith was made perfect. This “receiving with meekness” is an on-going process. Faith and obedience are to continue. Paul expressed his thanks for the continued obedience of those in the church at Rome (cf. Romans 16:19). Their obedience was “known by all”. Their obedient faith was an encouragement to other disciples.

So will it be with you and me. Do we have saving faith? How can we be certain? Examine your own obedience for the assurance. Obedience is your expression of love for God's word. It ensures your continued fellowship with the Father and with the Son. As the apostle John stated, “He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” (2 John 1:9).

“A NAIL FROM GOD”

 

“And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.” (Ezra 9:8).

Strange wording? On the surface, yes, but with study, a beautiful description of thankfulness from a suffering, repentant people. To understand the words of Ezra, one would need to read this entire chapter, however verses 13 and 15 really help in explaining verse 8. “After all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and our great guilt, since You our God have requited us less than our iniquities deserve, and have given us an escaped remnant as this...” (v. 13); “...for we have been left an escaped remnant, as it is this day...” (v. 15).

Ezra acknowledged to Jehovah the transgressions of His people, yet Jehovah had punished them ‘less than they deserved’. The Babylonian captivity had ended and a small remnant had returned to the ‘promised land’. Yet it is discovered that one of the same behaviors that had CAUSED the captivity, had been repeated – intermarriage with non-Israelites. Jehovah had forbidden this in Moses’ day (Deuteronomy 7:3). Jehovah had destroyed them as a nation, yet not totally. A remnant had been spared and returned to the land of Abraham’s sojournings.

The prophet Isaiah was one of many prophets who described this less-than-deserved punishment. He wrote in Isaiah 1:9, “Unless the Lord of hosts had left us a few survivors, we would be like Sodom, we would be like Gomorrah.” Jehovah showed grace to the nation, in the midst of punishing them for their sins. Isaiah would again state in Isaiah 10:2, “For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness.” Although they were no longer intact as a nation, would the past be repeated?

The ‘grace’ was seen in that Jehovah did not punish His people, Israel in the manner that He punished Sodom and Gomorrah. A remnant of the nation was spared. This was in keeping with His eternal purpose to redeem all His people through Jesus. In fact, the creation of the nation of Israel was a bestowal of grace…not because of what Israel had or hadn’t done, for it was a gracious choice Jehovah made PRIOR to the nation’s existence (Exodus 33:19).

The apostle Paul quoted this in Romans 9:15, in explaining that God’s grace toward the Gentile peoples was according to God’s choice just as it was to the Jews. His people Israel had been shown grace ‘first’, but for the purpose that all would later be shown His grace for the same purpose: redemption for their sins. Jehovah would hold the nation of Israel accountable just as He did all nations, punishing and blessing without respect of persons. But Jehovah always acted in accordance with His eternal purpose: to provide salvation to all nations through His Son. The remnant was not spared without respect to their ways. The spiritual blessing of forgiveness will be in accordance with Jehovah’s word – blessings for any who fear Him and keep His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13); punishment for any who fail to treat Him with reverence (Leviticus 10:3).

Isaiah called this act of punishing the disobedient, while at the same time extending grace to the obedient a, “…destruction…overflowing with righteousness” (Isaiah 10:22). Jehovah was not only gracious TO His people, but gracious AMONG His people. God is righteous in all His ways. Even in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, God did not destroy any righteous in those cities while punishing the wicked (Genesis 18:23). So Ezra would say that, “grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape...to give…‘a nail in his holy place’.” (Ezra 9:8). A “NAIL” has reference to a stable abode (Isaiah 22:23); a ‘secure hold’ in His holy place. As a nail, a peg, or a stake would secure that which is attached to it; a ‘nail’ in His holy place refers to the security provided for those who are enlightened by the knowledge from Jehovah’s word. As Jehovah promised Eliakim, He would “...drive him, like a peg, into a firm place. He will be a throne of honor for his father’s house.” It is a figurative way of describing spiritual blessing. Isaiah worded it this way, “...the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness” (Isaiah 10:2).

Let us give thanks to God for similar grace for the same reason: to be made secure in Christ, being punished LESS than we deserved.

“CHOOSING OUR COMPANIONS”

 

All that we are in life, we learned. Our characteristics are largely due to the environment in which we were reared. The cliché, ‘The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree’ is indicative of the influence parents have on their children. Being a ‘chip off the old block’ could be either positive or negative. As we grow to maturity, various situations and events surround us. Our likes and dislikes are formed. We learn to love certain things while we hate other things.

When God created man He gave him laws to live by. The first written law, given by God to the Hebrew nation, indicated that the statutes commanded by Jehovah were given “for our good always” (Deuteronomy 6:24). It was in order to preserve Israel alive, that God gave laws to govern them. When Jehovah brought the Hebrews out of Egypt He told Moses, “Assemble me the people, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children” (Deuteronomy 4:10). Jehovah was concerned about the influence the nations round about Israel would have on them. Jehovah cautioned Israel, “When thou art come into the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations…for whosoever doeth these things is an abomination unto Jehovah and because of these abominations Jehovah thy God doth drive them out from before thee” (Deuteronomy 18:9, 12).

Christians are given a similar warning: “Evil companionships corrupt good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33). The truth of this manifested itself even in the life of the wisest of men, Solomon, To him God said, “I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there hath been none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee” (1 Kings 3:12). However, Solomon “loved many foreign women… concerning which Jehovah said…ye shall not go among them neither shall they come among you; for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love” and “it came to pass when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods” (1 Kings 11:1-2, 4). As it happened to Solomon, Israel had earlier suffered from evil companionships.

Hundreds of years after the time of Solomon, the Jews returned from the Babylonian captivity and “married women of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab” (Nehemiah 13:23), the same nations of whom Jehovah warned them not to form covenants with. As a result of these unions, their “children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews’ language, but according to the language of each people” (Nehemiah 13:23). In response to this, Nehemiah said, “Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things…nevertheless even him did foreign women cause to sin” (Nehemiah 13:26). Marriage is not to be entered into without consideration of existing differences in religious convictions. The companionships we choose in life will either lead us to, or away from God.

There are areas other than marriage in which we should choose our companions wisely. The proverbs of Solomon set forth this fact. Solomon advised, “Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger; and with a wrathful man thou shalt not go: lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul” (Proverbs 22:24-25). We need to be cautious, even of a brother in Christ! (Exodus 23:2; Psalm 1:1; 1 Corinthians 5:11).

Continued companionship with those who are given to amoral behaviors, who lack self-discipline, or who scoff at rebuke, will have the same effect as it had on the children of Israel and Solomon. The potency of “a little (evil) leaven” on a lump is clear. How much more so when we subject ourselves to a constant bombardment of evil influences? We need to recognize the nature of our own hunger for, of a truth hunger drives us (Proverbs 16:26). With what do we surround ourselves? What do we allow to enter our minds? Do we desire things carnal or things spiritual? The Lord tells us that as we measure attention unto Him and things spiritual, He will measure back to us knowledge. If we give our time and attention to the physical, then we will perish. Parents want the best for their children, and Jehovah wants the best for His children, as well. Jehovah would have us to be free from sin that devastates so many lives (Romans 6:11). Acknowledge the truth stated in Romans 6:16-17.

Just as we learn to do evil, we can learn to do good. Wise companionships are a source of strength (Proverbs 27:17). Pursue the companionship of the Psalmist who stated, “With my whole heart have I sought thee: Oh let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalms 119:10-11).

“BECAUSE HE LIVES, I CAN FACE TOMORROW”

 

Josiah was one of the greater kings of Judah who initiated reform and called the people back to God. Sadly, his reforms did not last for the people reverted back to evil after his death. While Josiah himself would not live to see Judah taken into captivity, his children, who did not follow the Lord as he did, would see the devastation. Jeremiah prophesied during the final days of Judah. One of Josiah’s sons, Jehoiakim, was so wicked that he cut up and burned the scroll on which God’s word was written (Jeremiah 36). Here is what was read from Jeremiah in a prophecy against him: “Therefore thus says the LORD concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: They shall not lament for him, saying, ‘Ah, my brother!’ or ‘Ah, sister!’ They shall not lament for him, saying, ‘Ah, lord!’ or ‘Ah, his majesty!’ With the burial of a donkey he shall be buried, dragged and dumped beyond the gates of Jerusalem” (Jeremiah 22:18-19). 

This language meant that Jehoiakim would be buried without any mourning or second thought. That’s the tragic end of a wicked king. Yet that is basically the end of all people if there is no God. People may mourn for a time, but a few years down the road no one will know or care. Life is gone and no one will know the difference. Solomon declared that if there is no God, the fate of man is as the animals. He wrote, “For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 3:19). 

However, let’s contrast this with another death and burial. Jesus died by crucifixion, which was a particularly cruel and ugly death. To be crucified was to be cursed, a criminal, and a bane of society. A crucified man would be mocked and looked upon with horror, and Jesus was even dishonored by those who hung next to him. It was ugly, vicious, and humiliating. The cross was scandalous, being worse than the death of a beast. No wonder Jesus despised the shame (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus’ death was worse than the most wicked of the kings. If that were the end of the story, we would all be most pitiable. 

Jesus’ burial, however, was different. Jesus suffered the worst of deaths, but was then treated with respect and honor by those who buried Him. The women who followed Jesus cared for His body while Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy man, offered his tomb (Matthew 27:55-61). This fulfilled the prophecy: “And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death…” (Isaiah 53:9).  But even this was not the end, for the mourning was followed by great joy. As one writer notes, “In shame, ignominy, and powerlessness he died in suffering and agony and rose in power to become the risen temple of God, the living meeting place between God and his people” (D. A. Carson, Scandalous, 25).

While Jesus’ death was the worst shame imaginable and His burial treated with honor, what happened next is the reason any are, or can become Christians. His death alone does not suffice, nor does His burial provide the hope. “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:14). There had to be more, and the preaching of the gospel entails the full message: “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures…” (1 Corinthians15:1-4). 

Jesus’ resurrection is the basis for our hope, knowing that the end of life on earth is not the end of life altogether. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4).

We have reason to live because He still lives. His death was indeed necessary for His blood to remit our sins, but His resurrection is the capstone of all that He came to accomplish, and through this we have our assurance for the eternal life He promised. As Paul explained, “and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised” (2 Corinthians 5:15). Truly, because He lives, we can face tomorrow!

“WHEN THERE WAS BUT ONE…”

 Edward T. Hiscox, in his book, Standard Manual For Baptist Churches, says on page 22, under the heading of “Church Membership”:

“It is most likely that in the Apostolic age when there was but ‘one Lord, one faith, and one baptism’ AND NO DIFFERING DENOMINATIONS EXISTED, the baptism of a convert by that very act constituted him a member of the church, and at once endowed him with all the rights and privileges of full membership. In that sense, ‘baptism was the door into the church’.”

Just let that sink in...

Have you ever asked yourself, or considered WHY there is no longer JUST ONE CHURCH? HOW and WHY have, “differing denominations” come to exist?

The answer is found in the many “differing messages” being preached. The apostle Paul saw and condemned this in writing to the churches of Galatia (Galatians 1:1-2). He spoke of ‘ANOTHER GOSPEL’ that was being preached. “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:6-9).

WHY was ‘another gospel’ preached by some? The apostle Paul said it was because of the desire to please men, rather than please God. “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10). In Galatians 6:12, we also find that those who preach ‘another gospel’ are afraid to suffer persecution for preaching “THE” gospel. So, they pervert Jesus’ message.

This is WHY there are now ‘DIFFERING’ DENOMINATIONS. ‘Differing’ denominations will continue as long as ‘DIFFERING’ gospels are preached. They will continue in existence as long as ‘THE’ gospel is perverted. The “churches of Galatia” in Galatians 1:2...were not ‘differing’ denominations of the church that Jesus built (Matthew 16:18). They were all local congregations of THE SAME KIND. They were ‘of Christ’, because the SAME GOSPEL was preached in all of them. The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 4:17, “For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, AS I TEACH EVERY WHERE IN EVERY CHURCH.” What Paul taught in the churches of Galatia, he taught to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).

Paul told Timothy to make sure that “no other doctrine” was taught (1 Timothy 1:3). Teach “NO DOCTRINE” OTHER THAN WHAT? In 1 Timothy 6:3, Paul said it was other than what, “...does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness...”.

When the message was changed, ‘differing’ churches arose. If the same message that was preached by the Lord's apostles will be preached, ‘differing’ churches will begin to cease, for people will be encouraged to become “ONE”. This is exactly what the Lord wanted and prayed for in John 17:20-21. Let us all pray for, and labor to return the religious climate to what Mr. Hiscox acknowledged once existed: “THERE WAS BUT ONE CHURCH...”.

5/19/23

“OUR GOD, HE IS ALIVE”

“Now I make known unto you brethren, the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye received, wherein also ye stand, by which also ye are saved, if ye hold fast the word which I preached unto you, except ye believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which also I received: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried; and that he hath been raised on the third day according to the scriptures…” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the foundation of salvation. Paul wrote, “… if Christ hath not been raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also that are fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable.” (1 Corinthians 15:17-19). Our hope is hope-less without a risen Christ. Truly, “Our God, He is alive!”

The resurrection was purposed in eternity. Peter affirmed thru inspiration of the Holy Spirit that it was impossible for Jesus to be held in death’s power (Acts 2:24). The ‘impossibility’ was due to the fact that God purposed it from eternity and God does not lie (Hebrews 6:17-18). Paul likewise preached that God, “…saved us, and called us with a holy calling…according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before times eternal…” (2 Timothy 1:9-10).

The many eye-witnesses who witnessed Jesus’ resurrection also testified that the resurrection was God’s own doing in accordance with the promise of eternal life from eternity (Titus 1:1-2; cf. Acts 3:15; 4:10; 5:20; 10:40). The ‘holy and sure blessings of David’ foreordained by God thru Christ exist because of the resurrection (Acts 13:34). Reconciliation and salvation were purposed from God thru Christ (Romans 5:10).  Jesus had to die in order for us to be reconciled to God. Yet, if God did not raise Him, there would be no victory over Satan. God had purposed for Satan’s head to be bruised (Genesis 3:15). In Christ’s resurrection Satan’s power over death was destroyed (Hebrews 2:14-15).

It is clear that Jesus’ resurrection was as necessary for our salvation as His death was. The apostle Paul: “…but he whom God raised up saw no corruption. Be it known unto you therefore, brethren, that through this man is proclaimed unto you remission of sins: and by him every one that believeth is justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” (Acts 13:37-39). “For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.” (Romans 14:9). Christians remind one another of the spiritual blessings of Jesus’ death and resurrection in singing: “I serve a risen Savior”; “because He lives, I can face tomorrow”; “up from the grave He arose…and He lives forever, death He overcame…”. 

But what about Jesus’ burial? It also has significance. Remember Paul wrote, AND THAT HE WAS BURIED…” (1 Corinthians 15:4a). Paul explains later in this chapter: “that which thou thyself sowest is not quickened except it die: and that which thou sowest, thou sowest NOT THE BODY THAT SHALL BE...” (1 Corinthians 15:36-37a). From nature we learn that something doesn’t grow unless it dies; we don’t bury what is alive, only what is dead. Paul used this physical illustration to explain the resurrection: “It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: it is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.” (1 Corinthians 15:42-44a). The body that will be raised, is not the body that was sown.

There is significance in the burial of Jesus. He was buried out of necessity. The manner of Jesus’ burial helps us to understand the process of conversion. This is seen from Romans 6:2-6. In conversion, we must cease continuing in sin; i.e., we must die to it. Jesus died FOR our sins; we are to die TO our sins (1 Peter 2:24). This dying to our sins is in repentance. The old man of sin is crucified in repentance. Having died for sin, Jesus was buried. In our conversion, having died to sin, we are to be buried in the likeness of Jesus’ death. This is the purpose for immersion in water. The old man is then buried, not the new man (see 1 Corinthians15:36-37a above). 

Jesus taught, “Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it abideth by itself alone; but if it die, it beareth much fruit.” (John 12:24). Seed must ‘fall into the earth’; i.e., buried in order to bear fruit. This is why Jesus’ burial was necessary.

Our God, He is alive! Because He lives we have a new reason to live. Paul stated it this way: “He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” (2 Corinthians 5:15).