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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!
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