We believe in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.

The Apostles’ Creed — foundational to our Apostolic Christian faith

Today we conclude the Apostles’ creed considering time and eternity and Scriptural references pointing to life and death.

For an overview and more instructive view of the outline of our SERIES, take a look at the Roman Creed below:

Structure of Christian CREEDS

Here’s a brief outline found originally in The Roman Creed:

1. I BELIEVE IN God almighty (or the Father almighty)
2. And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord
3. Who was born of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
4. Who was crucified under Pontius Pilate and was buried
5. And on the third day rose from the dead
6. Who ascended into heaven
7. Siteth at the right hand of the Father
   • Whence He cometh to judge the living and the dead
8. (I or WE believe in:) The Holy Ghost
9. The Holy Church
10. The remission of Sins
11. The resurrection of the flesh

• (and life everlasting).

source: apostles-creed.org

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The early church taught what is basically in the Apostles creed…

It was not till heresies and divisions in the church that any creeds were established.

source:

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I believe in

The resurrection of the body

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We began our look at resurrection in a previous post affirming that Jesus rose from the dead. 

The Apostles Creed 5 We Believe He Rose from the Dead

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The end of The Apostles’ Creed addresses resurrection of the believer and follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.

ὁ πιστεύων – He who believes

NOT every soul and NOT every body of flesh buried with the dead! ONLY those who believe in Christ Jesus.

The Lord’s definitive answer about death and resurrection is specifically exclusive (which sinners reject and deny possibly to their last breath).

εἶπεν αὐτῇ ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ἀνάστασις καὶ ἡ ζωή ὁ πιστεύων εἰς ἐμὲ κἂν ἀποθάνῃ ζήσεται

Jesus said to her,

“I am the resurrection and the life;

he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.

Do you believe this?”

Gospel of John 11:25-26 RSV

The Son of God Who rose from the dead after being sacrificed on a cross for those who believe until His coming again, authoritively ANSWERED the timeless questions of mortal men, women and curious children of WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DIE? 

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Many men have pondered this relative relationship between the timeless Creator of all things with mortal men made in his image.

Before Christ

Job 3:

of the grave

“There the wicked cease from raging, 
And there the weary of strength are at rest.
“The prisoners are at ease together;
They do not hear the voice of the taskmaster.
“The small and the great are there,
And the slave is free from his master.

“Why is light given to him who is troubled,
And life to the bitter of soul,
Who long for death, but there is none,
And dig for it more than for hidden treasures,
Who are glad with joy,
And rejoice when they find the grave?

Job 3:17-22 LSB

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Who recalls Korah’s rebellion against Moses, Aaron and the LORD?

For my soul has been saturated with calamities,

And my life has reached Sheol.

I am counted among those who go down to the pit;

I am like a man without strength,

Released among the dead,

Like the slain who lie in the grave,

Whom You remember no more,

And they are cut off from Your hand.

You have put me in the pit far below,

In dark places, in the depths.

Your wrath lies upon me,

And You afflict me with all Your breaking waves.

Selah.

Will You do wonders for the dead?

Will the departed spirits rise and praise You?

Selah.

Psalm 88:4-7,10 LSB

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KING SOLOMON from Eccliastes

The words of Kohelet, the son of David, king in Yerushalayim: "Vanity of vanities," says Kohelet; "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." 

For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born, And a time to die... 

Eccliastes 1:1-2, 3:1-2a Hebrew Names Version

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth,

Before the evil days come, and the years draw near,

When you will say, “I have no pleasure in them;”

Before the silver cord is severed,

Or the golden bowl is broken,

Or the pitcher is broken at the spring,

Or the wheel broken at the cistern,

And the dust returns to the eretz [earth] as it was,

And the spirit returns to God who gave it.

This is the end of the matter. All has been heard.

Fear God, and keep his mitzvot [Commandments]; for this is the whole duty of man.

For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.

Ecclesiastes12 excerpts HNV

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a NEW TESTAMENT look at Resurrection

“But regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read that which was spoken to you by God, saying, ‘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.”
(Matt 22:31-32 NAS)

“And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.” (Heb 9:27-28 NAS)

source: Apostles-Creed.org more about the Resurrection

The body dies — returns to the dust from which God created mankind. And the soul — not just the breath of life,brain or your lifeless heart where blood flows no more — your soul and mine will return to its place in the light of THE LORD or judged — separated from Christ and God — to the place of darkness and punishment.

The Apostle Paul, whose Scriptures anchor the Apostles’ Creed, explains resurrection more thoroughly in his first epistle to the Saints in Corinth:

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith… If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

The Apostle addresses issues of unbelief in the Church, as well as growing heresies about Jesus Christ, His body and His Spirit.

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep…

For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive...

The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

1 Corinthians 15: excerpts NIV

So will it be with the resurrection of the dead.

The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable;

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…

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

Then quoting and answering the Prophets Isaiah and Hosea, Paul writes:

“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

“Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?”

1 Corinthians 15 excerpts continued

But thanks be to God!
He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:57 NIV

Further study of the Resurrection of Christ from 1 Corinthians 15: 

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And life everlasting.

WHAT DOES THE ONE SON OF GOD ACTUALLY SAY ABOUT LIFE AND DEATH?

“For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.

Gospel of John 5:21 LSB

ζῳοποιέω – Life –

• to produce alive, begat or bear living young
• to cause to live, make alive, give life
• metaph., of seeds quickened into life

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You will see not only a resurrection of your soul returning to God — WE will ALL see the resurrection of the flesh!

John preached repentance citing the Prophet Isaiah:

the word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness.

“..’AND ALL FLESH WILL SEE THE SALVATION OF GOD.’”

Gospel of Luke 3:2b,6 LSB

A Savior will come to all flesh [mankind].

“He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day…
He who eats this bread will live forever.”

Gospel of John 6:54,58b LSB

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A FINAL Word on our pending DEATH and possible Eternal Life:

For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23

From the Revelation of Jesus Christ to the Apostle John 20:

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand…

Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them.

And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their witness of Jesus and because of the word of God..

And they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection. Over these the second death has no authority, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

.. And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Then I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened…

Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.

And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

“Truly, truly, I say to you,
he who believes has eternal life. “I am the bread of life.

John 6:47-48

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The Apostles’ Creed

Amen.

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