Death is brutal. We hate it. We don’t understand it even when we know it will happen. Not understanding how to deal with death will hurt us.
My experience with my father’s death and subsequent fear of death. Christ helped me. I am not afraid to die. Additionally, I know how to live.
In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul is explaining to the Corinthians Christians about the death of those who have died (sleep: NT for a Christian death. 1 Cor 15:18; 1 Thess 4:13; Jn 11:11). He is saying that death is not the end. There is a resurrection of the dead.
He answers their question about what happens when a person dies before the return of Christ. [1Co 15:18 NASB95]
Note: the resurrection of the dead is not the same as raising someone from the dead. Raising someone from the dead is about this life. The resurrection of the dead is about life after death in the next life.
Note: Not dealing with [1Co 15:29 NASB95]
Paul did not confirm or condemn it. Makes no other mention of it.
A huge amount of theories. Two make sense to me: 1. People were baptized with the hope of seeing a dead loved one. 2. The “dead” is Christ, with Paul’s argument that some say Christ is not risen, but they are baptized for (or because of) Him. So they would then be baptized for Someone (Jesus) who is dead if they do not believe in the resurrection.
This is foundational to the Christian faith. There is life after this life. Death is an enemy; however, for the Christian, it is the door to the life God has for you.
What do we need to understand about the resurrection of the dead that will help us to live?
Here are three points about the resurrection of the dead that will help you to live.
The resurrection of the dead is based upon the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Jesus’ resurrection is proof of the resurrection of the dead.
[1Co 15:3-19 NASB95]
Ask the Holy Spirit to make the resurrection of Jesus real to you. Not just information you agree with but a revelation that will affect you.
The resurrection of the dead looks forward to the rapture of Jesus Christ.
[1Co 15:23 NASB95]
[1Th 4:16 NASB95]
[Jhn 14:1-3 NASB95]
The resurrection of the dead affects our life in Jesus Christ.
Here are five ways the resurrection of the dead affects our lives.
We do not have to fear death.
Death must happen. [1Co 15:42-54 NASB95]
Death is not a defeat. [1Co 15:54-57 NASB95]
Death is an open door to the fulfillment of all God’s promises. [1Co 15:26-28 NASB95]
We can properly grieve for loved ones. [1Th 4:13-15 NASB95]
We learn to live soberly.
Our faith in Christ is not just for this world. [1Co 15:19 NASB95]
[1Co 15:33-34 NASB95]
Live with eternity in our hearts. Right perspectives. Right priorities.
We avoid sin.
[1Co 15:34 NASB95]
Understanding that what is done in this life affects the next one is a proper deterrent to sin.
We give ourselves fully to the call of God.
[1Co 15:9-11, 30-32 NASB95]
[1Co 15:58 NASB95]
God wants us to have a proper perspective about life after death so we can live in peace and victory as we pursue the call of God on our lives free of sin and grief.
Mark Hankins recently said that this is a fundamental ministry that is a missing ingredient in the church today, and it is hindering the Holy Spirit from moving.
The ministry of the laying on of hands has several Biblical reasons: the act of ordination, healing and/or blessing, and impartation.
God told me to have Norvel Hayes lay his hands on me.
What instructions do we need to know about the ministry of laying on of hands?
Here are three reasons and implications for the ministry of laying on of hands.
The Act of Ordination
[Deu 34:9 NASB95]
[1Ti 4:14 NASB95]
[1Ti 5:22 NASB95]
[Act 6:6 NASB95]
[Act 13:1-3 NASB95]
This is an important aspect of ministry. (Ordination service at CGIA.)
Healing and/or Blessing
[Mat 19:13-15 NASB95]
[Mar 10:16 NASB95]
[Mar 5:23 NASB95]
[Mar 6:5 NASB95]
[Mar 8:23-25 NASB95]
[Luk 4:40 NASB95]
[Luk 13:13-14 NASB95]
[Mar 16:18 NASB95]
[Act 28:8-9 NASB95]
[Act 9:17-19 NASB95]
[Act 4:29-31 NASB95]
Impartation
[Act 8:14-17 NASB95]
[Act 19:6 NASB95]
[Rom 1:11-12 NASB95]
[2Ti 1:6 NASB95]
Implications of laying on of hands.
You need to be connected to the church for that ministry to happen. If you are not around the men and women of God, hands will not be laid upon you. You are missing this FOUNDATIONAL ministry in your life.
You do not need to be OVERLY afraid of “negative” transference. Every leader who is going to lay hands on you is a human. You do need to determine if they have a demonic spirit but understand the blessing on you is stronger than the curse.
Control your spirit.
Guard your tongue.
Carefully select your spiritual authorities.
Guard your senses (hearing, seeing, feeling).
You need to release faith in God for what happens when hands are laid upon you. According to Mark Hankins, Hagin would have people say, “When he lays his hands on me, I will receive.”
You need to take every opportunity to have hands laid upon you.
God uses the ministry of laying on of hands to ordain us into the ministry, to bless/heal us and to impart a gift to us.
It is hard to get away from our bias. “Washings” was possibly a biased translation. Greek (baptismon plural of baptismos) or baptisms. What baptisms?
Wesley Adams LITSNTC, “. . . water and Spirit baptisms under the new covenant.”
A deep mystery between symbols and reality. The true believer will seek both. Maybe it is not causal, but it is definitely symptomatic of salvation.
Paul explains water baptism. [Rom 6:4 NASB95]
Jesus teaches Spirit baptism.
[Luk 24:49 NASB95]
[Act 1:5, 8 NASB95]
What are some important instructions we need to know about WB and SB?
Here are 4 important instructions we need to know about WB and SB.
The importance of WB and SB.
WB
Repentance [Act 2:38 NASB95]
Public confession. Identification with Jesus.
Obedience. [Mat 28:19 NASB95]
SB
Empowerment [Act 1:8 NASB95]
Necessity [Luk 24:49 NASB95]
Initial evidence (tongues – 3 of the 5 specifically say tongues; the other 2 refer to something Paul and Simon) and ongoing evidence (Spiritual gifts/Christlikeness).
The disagreements of WB and SB.
WB
Sprinkle vs immersion.
In Jesus Name vs Father, Son & Holy Spirit. We see both in the Bible.
SB
Continuous vs Cessation. Only one verse speaks of cessation, clearly when Christ returns.
[1Co 1:7-8 NASB95]
[1Co 13:8-12 NASB95]
Initial Evidence vs No Tongues.
Water baptism: immersion is clearly taught, while the methodology is interchangeable.
Spirit baptism: continuous with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues.
The connection of WB and SB.
In Acts, when SB is presented, so is WB.
Acts:
2:38 – WB then SB. [Act 2:38 NASB95]
8:13 WB then 8:15 SB. [Act 8:13, 15-16 NASB95]
9:17 SB then 9:18 WB. [Act 9:17-18 NASB95]
10:44-46 SB then 10:47-48 WB. [Act 10:44-48 NASB95]
19:5 WB then 19:6 SB. [Act 19:5-6 NASB95]
There is no set order. Both are needed and prioritized.
The agreement of WB and SB.
Both refer to the work of the Holy Spirit.
[Isa 44:3 NASB95]
[Eze 36:24-27 NASB95]
[Tit 3:5 NASB95]
Both WB and SB refer to the work of the Holy Spirit for
Regeneration (WB – conversion.)
Renewal (SB – empowerment.)
Holy Spirit, convert us and empower us!
WB and SB are important works of the Holy Spirit in our lives that are needed for today so we can become all that God has called us to become.
[Heb 11:6 NASB95] 6 And without faith it is impossible to please [Him,] for he who comes to God must believe that He is and [that] He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
A pastor questioned Kenneth Hagin, “Why do you preach on faith so much?” His answer is, “You can’t get saved without faith. You can’t please God without faith. You can’t get healed without faith. Anything that is not done in faith is sin.”
The faith message is not a generational message. It is a Gospel message. Learning how to use your faith will keep you protected and prospering in every environment.
What does Hebrews 11:6 teach about faith in God?
Here are four teachings about faith from Hebrews 11:6.
Faith is necessary to please God.
It’s a command. Jesus said we are to have faith in God. [Mar 11:22 NASB95]
It’s a lifestyle. The just (born-again believers) shall live by faith. [Heb 10:36-38 NASB95]
Its absence is a sin. Anything not of faith is a sin. [Rom 14:23 NASB95]
Faith has actions. [Jas 2:18 NASB95]
Faith is developed by the Word of God. [Rom 10:17 NASB95]
Faith is more than just worshipping Him.
Many times, the disciples did not have faith even though they were around Him. [Jhn 3:36 NASB95]
Demons believe in God. [Jas 2:19 NASB95]
We need to make a decision to have faith in God.
Faith is in His existence.
[Psa 19:1-2 NASB95]
[Rom 1:19-20 NASB95]
Nature proclaims the existence of God. Note: Eclipse (April 2024) – “Even though the Sun is about 400 times bigger than the Moon, it is also about 400 times farther away. This makes the Sun and the Moon appear almost exactly the same size in our sky.” (https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/geometry)
Stay focused on the existence of God.
Faith is in His nature to reward seekers.
Faith in God will produce powerful results. [Mar 11:22-24 NASB95]
Diligently seek Him:
Prayer life – [Mat 6:6 NASB95]
Bible reading – “When you engage in reading, various brain functions are activated, encompassing visual processing, comprehension, auditory perception, and more. However, when you read your Bible, these functions align with other regions of your brain as God intended, triggering the release of chemicals such as dopamine. This results in a profound emotional response to the content you are absorbing.” (https://www.therapyforchristians.com/blog/benefits-of-reading-the-bible) [Psa 1:2-3 NASB95]
Faithfulness to the church – [Psa 92:12-14 NASB95]
Fasting – [Mat 6:18 NASB95]
Giving – [Mat 6:4 NASB95]
God wants to reward you. It does not please God to not expect His reward.
God wants us to know that He rewards a genuine faith toward Him as we seek Him.
Change is change. Some are sorry they got caught. Some are ready to make a change.
Christianity is not an accessory. It is an abandonment. Change in values. Change in goals. Everything. Not adding to our lives. We burn everything to live for Him.
The nominalism in today’s church is partly due to the lack of understanding of what “repentance from dead works” involves.
Definition: Repentance from dead works is REAL CHANGE.
Repentance means to turn FROM sin/self/Satan TO Jesus/Gospel/Kingdom. FROM and TO. Very important.
Dead works means sin. Dead in sins, transgressions, trespasses. (Eph. 2:1,5 & Col. 2:13)
Christians are just ignorant of it OR have deluded themselves into thinking is not necessary OR (a deeper situation) they do not understand the difference between positional righteousness and personal righteousness.
There are many voices in the church who teach this differently. Armenian vs Calvinism. John Bevere vs Jonathan Shuttlesworth. Let’s let the Word of God settle the issue.
If you do not have a functional understanding of repentance from dead works, you will fall. That is what the writer of Hebrews is saying in the passage.
What does a functional understanding of repentance from dead works involve?
Here are five points of understanding of repentance from dead works (real change.)
Repentance from dead works involves a decision.
Notice the preaching of John the Baptist, Jesus, and Peter.
[Mat 3:2 NASB95]
[Mat 4:17 NASB95]
[Act 2:38 NASB95]
In each case, the preacher is calling on the people to make the decision to respond. The response: repent. Jesus preached repentance (present, active, imperative) as an ongoing action.
It is a change in mind and action from something (sin/self/Satan) to another (Jesus).
Repentance from dead works is a work of God.
V. 3 – if God permits.
[2Ti 2:24-26 NASB95]
Repentance requires a dependency upon the Holy Spirit. Human will is not powerful enough to fully produce genuine repentance.
Repentance from dead works will be accompanied by deeds or actions.
Jesus said it like this. [Mat 5:29-30 NASB95]
Paul preached “performing deeds appropriate to repentance, as did John the Baptist (Luke 3:8). [Act 26:20 NASB95]
Sorrow only is dead. Sorrow that leads to change is salvation. They changed what they were doing. [2Co 7:9-10 NASB95]
From sin. Make whatever changes are necessary. If it causes you to stumble, aggressively deal with it.
To Jesus. Prayer life. Bible reading. Faithful participation in church. Fasting.
Not just from sin, but to God. Not 90 degrees, but 180 degrees.
Repentance from dead works is a regular process.
This is not a one-time occurrence.
Jesus – Lord’s Prayer. [Mat 6:12 NASB95]
John, the Apostle – [1Jo 1:8-9 NASB95]
Paul – [Rom 8:13 NASB95]
Live a life that regularly processes repentance through faith and prayer.
Repentance from dead works is a response to the goodness and severity of God.
The motivation is the goodness and severity of God.
[Rom 2:4 NASB95]
[Rom 11:22 NASB95]
The more we consider how much God loves us, the more we want to serve Him.
Jesus is calling us to live a life of repentance of dead works from a decision empowered by the Holy Spirit, accompanied by action that is part of a regular process motivated by the goodness and severity of God.
