Resurrection of the Church

 When Christians die, they are resurrected. Resurrection is the ultimate revival. It is going from one state to another, or from death to life - from non-existence to existence. You might say that there is existence in death but in spiritual death, there is no existence.

Spiritual death is forever dying. The place of death is eternal hell. Hell is suffering death continually because there is no life in Hell. Muslims believe that in Hell, the flesh is burned off, replenished, then burned again.- time after time, and forever. Sacred writings and the Bible indicate that in Heaven there will be incorruptible flesh:

1 Cor 15:51 ...we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

Everyone will rise at some point in time. We do know at Christ's appearance in the sky, the dead in Christ shall rise. For some, this is Christ's second coming. For others, his second coming is Jesus's return for the judgment day (Mat 25:36-41).

It would seem, that if the dead in Christ put on new flesh for a new environment, that the wicked would need new flesh for their punishment.  The righteous would put on incorruptible flesh which would be pure and eternal, while the wicked would put on flesh which would only be eternal. This "flesh of death" will not ever enjoy sin but suffer as punishment for sin. People minimize eternal punishment; it's not drugs, booze, and licentiousness as they party with Satan but eternal isolation, deprivation, and agony.

"Works" are the key to the doors of life and death. However, works are attitudes, not actions. There is one type of work of two kinds: agape-type love for God and fellow members of the human race. What is agape-type love? "... that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). God loves mankind that way, and we should love others with that same type of love. However, without the love for God, loving others has no efficacy for salvation. The two kinds of love must be harmonious. 

Love is demonstrated by obedience:

1 Peter 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Unfeigned love is purification of the soul. We are to "love one another fervently" and with a pure heart. That purity comes from being truly born-again. Purification is the willingness to obey the truth. Those born-again set aside their own will, and do God's will.

The will of God is characterized by loving God with all your strength, heart, mind, and soul (Luke 10:27).  That is "work" because it includes "strength". It is hard work! God doesn't love for us; we must do that ourselves! We all love ourselves; we don't want to perish. We must love others with the same fervency and to that same degree. (Luke 10:27 again).

Love is operationalized by the Ten Commandments. They are the metrics of love. Those are the things written on stone to be everlasting which we are to do, and not to do, to demonstrate love for God (1-4), and love for our fellow man (5-10). If we are not willing to please God by doing those things, there is no demonstration for love. We will fail! It's the willingness to obey that is efficacious, even sacramental because those born-again have hatred removed from their hearts.

Just as our works can kill us -called apostasy, the Church can apostatize as well. That is leaving our first love:

Rev 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Our "first love" is not chronological but hierarchical. Loving God must be paramount - superior to all others - especially ourselves!

The church at Sardis had lost their first love to their death. Ephesus had but were redeemed. Sardis had to have the same redemption:

Rev 3:1 ...I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent.

This is the key verse for this commentary. Ephesus needed revival. Sardis needed a sort of resurrection because the former was merely sick but the latter spiritually dead.

Unlike the Church, people cannot be saved once dead. It seems that the church at Sardis  had not flat-lined but needed a good defibrillation! Only the Holy Spirit has the Power to use shock therapy on hardened hearts. The church is to remember the days of it's youth, and repent so that they could be alive again.

We know churches that are on their last heartbeat today. Some of the progressives denominations are on life support, as is the Roman Catholic Church. I'm not questioning their faith but their obedience. Some of those churches show great love for their fellow man through social justice. However, their love for God is questionable. One without the other is feigned love. If a church truly loves God, it will do His will!

Is tolerance of homosexuality God's will? Is same-sex marriage God's will. Is co-habitation without the sanctity of marriage God's will? Is abortion and euthanasia God's will? Obviously any of these types of sins are not the will of God!

Some progressive churches just don't believe God's Word. They don't even believe the Word is God's. They deny the divine inspiration for scripture. Some fail to believe in Hell even while conveniently believing in Heaven! Some deny that there is divine justice. Some believe the Gate is crooked entering the broad Way to Heaven. They believe that all should, and will, go into the Gate and there is room on the Way for everyone.

One lady said, "I believe everyone will go to Heaven." That is Univeralism. Everyone would include Stalin and Hitler. Say hello to them for me because I won't be where they are! Some believe that all gods are JHVH. That is Unitarianism.

Within these churches are a few who remain faithful but are misled. It is up to them to be revived for the church. We think of revival as turning hearts back to God. That is a part of it, but traditionally, revival is bringing new blood into the church. Although, I don't accept the doctrine of "once saved, always saved", I do "once all the way dead, always dead".

Hebrews 6:6  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

There were some at Sardis who were the frail heartbeat of the Church. The death of the church was eminent but like Sodom and Gomorrah; they could be spared if just a few righteous were found. Once the church entirely dies - falls entirely away - there remains nothing left to renew them. The church at Sardis was nearly there, and progressive churches today are tempting death by defying the Word. Their works are horrific and more than a little impure. The progressive church is sick to nearly death! Repentance is the only way back. Loving the Lord by doing His will is the antidote.