A Daring Faith in a Cowardly WorldSample

A Better Resurrection

One of the most misunderstood concepts in the Bible is that of eternal life. We cannot know God unless we understand the Bible, including the Old Testament. The Bible, in its entirety, lets us know who God is in His entirety.

God has been judging all people for all time. His death and resurrection paved the way for Him to judge with something other than condemnation. For those who place their faith in Him, He can now judge their works because their sin has been wiped away. To them, He promises eternal life. If your idea of eternal life is that you will live forever in the presence of Jesus, you’re half right.

Eternal life as a promise in the present is the result of salvation. Eternal life in the future is something to be “taken hold of,” as 1 Timothy 6:12 states. It is a choice, it is action, and it is something to be earned. We’re talking about two different things.

Consider Galatians 6:8: “Because the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.” This verse says we must sow to the Spirit to reap eternal life. Does the eternal life of salvation require works such as sowing to the Spirit? No. Do we reap (earn) eternal life? No. Therefore, Paul is talking about something else. Something earned, something gained by works.

Jesus says if we leave behind the things we love for Him, we’ll be generously rewarded and receive eternal life. “And everyone who has left houses, brothers or sisters, father or mother, children, or fields because of My name will receive 100 times more and will inherit eternal life” (Matthew 19:29). If He was speaking about salvation, His promise of eternal life is disingenuous, because it’s free. He’s talking about something else.

Another verse from Jesus: “The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (John 12:25).

Most compellingly: “He will repay each one according to his works: eternal life to those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality; but wrath and indignation to those who are self-seeking and disobey the truth” (Romans 2:6–8).

This last verse from Romans is clear that Paul is not talking about salvation. We don’t need works for salvation, nor do unbelievers only get wrath and indignation. Their place is in the lake of fire. Indignation and wrath are for believers who have wasted their lives. Indignation is the disappointment of a Father whose child has not lived up to expectations. Wrath is from the King judging a soldier who lets others fight his battles, a worker who lets others cover his duties, and an athlete who did not compete to win (all biblical analogies for believers).

We’re told that the person who places their faith in Christ has unconditional acceptance by the Father. This is true; we have unconditional acceptance but don’t have unconditional approval. When I asked my sons to help with yard work one day, one came out to help, and one didn’t. When we finished, I took the son who helped to dinner, and the other stayed home. Were they both my sons, and did they both retain unconditional acceptance as my sons? Yes, but only one had approval at that moment, and he was rewarded.

It takes faith alone to receive eternal life but obedience to inherit it. What does this mean? If receiving eternal life is grace but inheriting is earned, what do we earn? Hebrews 11:35 starts to put us on the right path. After the Holy Spirit has pointed us to the Hall of Faith throughout chapter 11, making it clear that the followers He’s looking for are people of action and faith, not politeness and rule-keeping, He says: “Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection” (NASB).

There’s a better resurrection? He’s not talking about the difference between salvation and condemnation because the Holy Spirit points to people willingly enduring torture and refusing release as a condition of attaining it. Therefore, He is not talking about the resurrection to heaven because many people who don’t meet these criteria will be in heaven. Many do all they can to avoid any discomfort at all. If you’ve known many Christians, you realize that many—almost all—are certainly not in this camp. They haven’t sacrificed, they haven’t died to themselves daily, yet they are believers and will be in heaven. So the people of Hebrews 11 willingly accept pain and refuse release for something “better.” What’s better than getting to heaven?

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:41–42, “There is a splendor of the sun, another of the moon, and another of the stars; for one star differs from another star in splendor. So it is with the resurrection of the dead.” Resurrection from the dead will differ in splendor for each believer. A “better resurrection” is one of great splendor. It is one where we know we’re heading to the judgment seat of Christ as victors—as those who have fought the good fight, run the race to win, have accomplished the good works which were prepared ahead of time that we should walk in them.

Respond

What have you sacrificed to serve Jesus?

Write a brief letter to Jesus thanking Him for a “better resurrection.”

Prayer

Precious Redeemer, show me daily how I must live to experience your “better resurrection”!