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Sons of the Resurrection
Bible study on Christians.

Last week we talked about a descriptive phrase regarding Christians that's not used often today, children of promise.

In this article, I want to talk about another phrase I don't hear very often, sons of the resurrection.

Jesus Answers the Sadducees
The Sadducees didn't believe in the resurrection, and posed a hypothetical question they thought proved their doctrine.

"'Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife, and he is childless, his brother should marry the wife and raise up children to his brother. Now there were seven brothers; and the first took a wife and died childless; and the second and the third married her; and in the same way all seven died, leaving no children. Finally the woman died also. In the resurrection therefore, which one's wife will she be? For all seven had married her'" (Lk. 20:28-33).

The Sadducees thought this hypothetical scenario (which was possible but highly unlikely) proved there wasn't a resurrection, since a woman couldn't be simultaneously married to seven men.

But, Jesus corrected them, saying, "'You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God'" (Matt. 22:29). "'The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; for they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection'" (Lk. 20:34-36).

Then Jesus gave two Scriptures to further prove there is a resurrection.

  • Moses referred to the Lord as the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob at the burning bush.
  • David referred to Jesus as Lord, hundreds of years before His incarnation.

Warning: False Doctrine
As a side lesson, let me point out that the Sadducees used a hypothetical story to reach a doctrinal conclusion, rather than Scripture.

Yes, the story was indirectly related to the Mosaic Law concerning widows. But, the Sadducees twisted the Scripture to create a false doctrine.

Today, people are doing the same thing. They present a hypothetical story and twist the Scriptures to concoct a false doctrine (2 Pet. 3:16).

It's like the hypothetical story of a man in an airplane that's about to crash. He suddenly believes and prays, asking God to forgive him. Since he can't be baptized in the plane before it crashes, and since God wouldn't condemn a person who believes, he didn't have to be baptized to be saved; therefore, no one has to be baptized to be saved. Of course, this doctrine contradicts several Scriptures and is false (1 Pet. 3:21).

And it's like Oprah Winfrey who told viewers you can get to heaven without believing in Jesus, since God wouldn't condemn people for not believing in Jesus who had never heard about Him. So, she said there is more than one way to be saved and go to heaven -- you don't have to believe in Jesus. This doctrine also contradicts the Scriptures, and is false (Jn. 14:6).

As we learn from Jesus' response to the Sadducees, we can't believe doctrines built on stories, hypothetical or not. We must believe the doctrine of Christ, which is only revealed to man in the Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Jn. 1:9; Col. 3:17; 1 Cor. 4:6).

Sons of the Resurrection
In response to the Sadducees, Jesus used the phrase "sons of the resurrection." Or as it's translated in the King James, "children of the resurrection."

  • "Jesus said to them, 'The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; for they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection'" (Lk. 20:36).

From Jesus' words, we glean interesting information regarding the resurrection.

Sons of the Resurrection are Sons of God
Everyone who is a son of God will resurrect to life, and will thus become a son of the resurrection.

We become sons of God when we're baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27). Thus from the moment of our baptism, we have the promise of God that we'll resurrect to life, and be sons of the resurrection (Rom. 6:3-5).

Sons of the Resurrection Cannot Die Anymore
Jesus tells us that once we resurrect, as sons of the resurrection, we cannot die anymore (cf. Rev. 20:5-6).

This is not the case with everyone else. They'll resurrect to be judged, then be cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death (Rev. 20:14-15).

Sons of the Resurrection are like Angels
Jesus also tells us that when we resurrect to life, as sons of the resurrection, we'll be like the angels.

In other words, we'll have a spiritual body rather than a physical body, which Paul says will be in the image of our Savior Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:35-49).

Conclusion
Jesus says, "'I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die'" (Jn. 11:25).

Like all men, we'll put off this earthly body one day. But as sons of the resurrection, God will give us a spiritual body in the image of Jesus Christ, and we'll live with Him forever.

Thanks be to God who has blessed us so much, and given us the hope of eternal life as sons of the resurrection!