Catechism 38

Preacher: Rev Gavino Fioretti

Reading:
1 Corinthians 15: 42 – 58; Matthew 25: 31 – 46; Zephaniah 3: 9 – 20

Text: 1 Thessalonians 4: 13 – 18

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord,[a] that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

(ESV)

Question 38

What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection?
Atthe resurrection, believers, being raised up to glory, shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment, and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoying of God to all eternity.

Introduction:

The resurrection day:

Biblical: The resurrection is not a New Testament novelty. Although not as clearly the saints in the Old had the same hope. We sung Psalm 16. In Job 19:25-27 we read: For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another.

Jesus argues from the Old Testament with the Sadduces when he says: …as for the resurrecyion of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God: I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

Similar: Jesus is called the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. Our resurrection will follow the pattern of Jesus. So John writes in his first letter (3:2): what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him.

Physical: If Jesus is the patter for our resurrected bodies they will be like his (food and drink).

Immortal: 1 Corinthians 15-51- 57

Glorious: Philippians 3:20-21reads: But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

The judgment day:

Acknowledge: Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter the joy of your master.

Aquitted: There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

The blessed day:

The kingdom of God:

The presence of God:

The provision of God:

The eternal day: