The Resurrection of the Body
Originally preached May 20, 1955
Scripture
Sermon Description
The soul will live forever, but what about the body? Is there Scriptural evidence upholding a physical raising of the body? In this sermon titled “The Resurrection of the Body,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones expounds on a difficult topic by surveying the teaching of the Old and New Testament on the subject. As he demonstrates, the New Testament is clearer in its teaching regarding the resurrection. Nonetheless, the doctrine is present in the Old Testament as well. Some modern-day Christians are skeptical regarding the literal physical raising of bodies, but Dr. Lloyd-Jones draws attention to the hope that the writers of Scripture portrayed through their writings regarding the resurrection. While human bodies were sown in sin and weakness, he says, Christians will be raised in glory and power on the last day as they partake in the glories of Jesus. Indeed, the resurrection and redemption of the body is a part of salvation. This marks a distinction between Christianity and other religions; Christianity says the body will not be obliterated, but will be redeemed into glorious, incorruptible bodies that follow the nature of the resurrected Christ. And with these incorruptible bodies, they will glorify God as they worship Him without the marks of sin, disease, and death.
Sermon Breakdown
- The doctrine of the resurrection refers to the literal resurrection of the body, not just the spirit.
- There are references to the resurrection in the Old Testament, including Job 19:25-27, Psalm 16:9-10, Psalm 17:15, and Daniel 12:1-3.
- Jesus taught about the resurrection, including in Matthew 22:23-32, Luke 14:14, and John 5:28-29.
- The resurrection of Jesus proves the resurrection of believers. His resurrection abolished death and brought life and immortality to light.
- The book of Acts shows that the early church preached Jesus and the resurrection. They taught that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.
- 1 Corinthians 15 provides a lengthy argument for the resurrection of the body.
- Philippians 3:21 and 1 Thessalonians 4 also discuss the resurrection of the body.
- The resurrection of the body is necessary for complete salvation. The body must be redeemed from the effects of sin.
- The resurrection body will retain our identity and have an organic connection to our current body, though the particles themselves may change. The body is the particular organization of particles, not the particles themselves.
- The resurrection bodies of unbelievers are not described in Scripture. The resurrection bodies of believers will be:
- Incorruptible: imperishable, immune to disease, age, and death
- Glorious: like Christ's resurrection body
- Powerful: no weakness or frailty
- Spiritual: suited to the spiritual realm of heaven, no sex or procreation
- Heavenly: like Christ's resurrection body, for life in heaven
Great Biblical Doctrines
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.