In the Resurrection, We Will Be In Jesus’ Image

1. Read: 1 John 3:2 “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”

2. About the Text:

1) God has shown His love toward us through sending His Son Jesus.

2) Through Jesus, we can have brotherhood.

3) This means that we are the sons of God.

4) There are certain blessings in being the sons of God.

5) One of those blessings is that we know that we will be like Him.

6) Therefore, we purify ourselves because of our hope.

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. In order to have a resurrected life, there must first be a death.

i. We must die to sin. Romans 6:11-16

ii. We must die to the ways of this world. Col.3:5-9

iii. We must continue to conform to the death of Christ: Phil.3:10, 11 “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.”

2. In order to have a resurrected life, we must be resurrected. We do this through baptism.

i. The only way to be resurrected in this life is to be resurrected in his likeness. Romans 6:3, 4

ii. Baptism shows our faith in God’s power to be resurrected. Col.2:11-13.

iii. The power in baptism is that of the resurrection. 1 Peter 3:21

3. In order to have a resurrected life, we must abide in the resurrection.

i. We have been resurrected to walk in a new life. Romans 6:3-11

ii. We have been resurrected to seek the things which are above. Col.3:1-4

iii. We must transformed by the renewing of our minds. Romans 12:1, 2.

1. Again, to have a resurrected body, there must first be a death.

i. This is the death of our body. 1 Corinthians 15:36 “. . . that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die.”

ii. Paul continues on to say that the first body is corruptible (42), dishonorable (43), weak (43), natural (44). So it must die.

iii. It is a blessed death. Revelation 14:13 “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.”

2. However, the death of the natural body is not in vain for the Christian.

i. While it is sown natural, it is raised spiritual. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44

ii. While some have no hope, we HAVE hope. 1 Thess.4:13-18

3. The resurrected body is IN HIS IMAGE!

i. It is the image of POWER. 1 Corinthians 15:45-49

ii. It is the image of VICTORY. 1 Corinthians 15:50-57

iii. It is the image of ABUNDANCE. 1 Corinthians 15:58

1. His image is an image of righteousness, holiness, and purity; and only these will live in heaven.

i. Matthew 25:34-46

ii. Hebrews 12:14 “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:”

iii. Revelation 21:27 “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

2. His is an image of glory and honor and only those who glorify and honor Him will live in heaven.

i. His is an image of glory. Revelation 5:11-13 “And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.”

ii. By conforming to His image, we work glory for ourselves as well. 2 Cor.4:16-18 “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

3. His is an image of light and life and only those who have that light and life in their lives will enter heaven.

i. 2 Timothy 1:8-10 “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”

ii. Revelation 21:23-25 “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.”

1. We have looked at what it means to be in the resurrection!

i. We must have a resurrected life!

ii. We will have a resurrected body!

iii. We will live forever in heaven!

2. Invitation

i. Have you conformed your life to HIS IMAGE today?

ii. We want everyone to remember the words of Paul in Phil.3:10, 11 “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.”

iii. Invitation.