Tabatha

Immersion is the usual form of baptism-- that is , a new Christian is completely " buried " in water. This form of baptism symbolizes the death and burial of the old way of life, Coming up out of the water symbolizes resurrection to a new life with Christ. If we think of our old, sinful life as dead and buried, we have a powerful motive to resist sin. W can consciously choose to treat the desires and temptations of the old nature as if they are dead. Baptism parallels the death,burial, and resurrection of Christ. Not wanting the desires of our past to come back. We have been given the power to live as New Born Christians. Through faith in Christ we stand acquitted, or not guilty. In Baptism when we go under the water and come up we die to the old man we become a new creature in Christ. We have become one with Christ and His Spirit has been emparted in us, through this we have power to over come the acts of the flesh. We are alive to God in Christ seated in heavenly realms in Christ.

The resurrection of Christ is the center of the Christian faith. Because Christ rose from the dead as He promised. We know that what He said is true----He is the Son of God. Because He rose, We have certainty that our sins are forgiven. Because He rose, He lives and represents us to God. Because He rose and defeated death, we know we will also be raised. Even more important, however, is the fact that if Christ had not been resurrected from death, Christians could not be forgiven for their sins and would have no hope of eternal life. Christ is the forerunner for us, the proof of our eventual resurrection to eternal life. Christ defeated sin and death on the cross, and in the final days, He will defeat Satan and all evil How could we have doubts about our salvation if we believe what the bible says and trust in Jesus being the Son of God. That is a question that has never come up with me. I know the truth is in me and I just don't go there with those thoughts. It is an interesting question though. A person would almost have to question if they were a Christian and if the bible was true. So as I have said I don't even go there.

In Psalm ( 40-8 ) " I desire to do thy will O My God, " Jesus Portrayed this attitude of obeying and serving God. ( John 4: 34, 5 : 30 ) He came as the prophets foretold, proclaiming the Good News of God's righteousness and forgiveness of sins. In ( Hebrews 10: 5- 10 ), verses 6-8 are applied to Jesus. In the beginning when God looked upon the earth and saw mankind in their sinful ways, He had a plan of redemption. That plan was to send His Son to earth to be the final sacrifice for all mankind. When God asked Jesus to do this His reply was "I delight to do thy will O my God." ( KJV) Even knowing that what He had to go through to accomplish this. The pain, humilation, He also knew in doing so there was more to it than just dying on the cross. He would be raised from the dead which would be proof He is the Son of God, The messiah, Lord and Christ, Prince, Savior. All of these proving what the prophets of old had prophesied were true. In ( Psalm 40: 8 ) When Jesus replied to The Father " I delight to do thy will O my God," The resurrection from the dead was God's seal of approval for His Son's obedience in going through all the shame, abuse, beatings, and hanging on the cross for all mankinds salvation.

The stone rolled away from the grave, His clothes laying empty with no body, His live appearence to the women, then to the desciples, How they changed when they truly saw h\Him alive after the resurrection. The Spread of Christianity throughout The Roman world By the early fourth century Christianity had become the dominant religion--- Proclaimimg the resurrection from the dead of Jesus Christ I would tell that friend I know with out a shadow of a doubt that Jesus was raised from the dead because He is alive in my heart and He has changed my life as well as thousands of others. I would then get my bible and read them ( Acts 4:10, Act 4: 33 , Acts 2: 41, Act:4 4, Acts 6: 7 ) I would give these scriptures as proof and also my own changed life from how I was raised from the dead spiritually and now live a whole new life in Christ. Praise God.

In the beginning after the crucifixion they were hiding, discouraged, and disheartened, because at first they didn't believe He had arose from the grave and was alive. But after Jesus appeared to them they then believed and their whole attitudes changed. They became powerful believers. Their whole psychyological state of mind was one of positiveness. These men became bold and went throughout the known world at that time preaching the things Jesus taught them and how He was the Son of God, That He was the true Messiah, and that He had resurrected from the grave. They even martyred their lives for Him and their beliefs.

The disciples had no motive to steal the body because they stayed hidden behind locked doors in Jerusalem afraid of the religious leaders. The disciples wouldn't have died for a faith they knew not to be true. The Roman Soldiers were given a large sum of money of money from the chief priests to steal the body they did has they were instructed. This story was widely circulated among the Jews. The Jews had no motive they wanted Jesus well buried. Joseph had no motive

Liberal Christians generally believe that the authors and redactors of the Bible were not directly inspired by God and that they wrote material that contains errors. They based their writings on their own life experiences. Their writings reflect their personal. 1. Knowledge of ancient stories, legends, and myths, These would have been of questionable accuracy Some would have been passed down and/or adsorbed from other cultures. 2. Knowledge about events in their past, which would have been inaccuracies. 3Customs based on ancient Hebrew and Jewish culture which may or may not reflect the will of God---either then or today. 4. Beliefs about the nature, expectations, locations, attributes, etc. of God, and His will for humanity. These beliefs would differ among the various authors. 5. Some would describe events that never happened or which happened differently 6 The Mosiac Law would have reflected only the beliefs of the writers of the Pentateuch. They were not laws delivered to humanity by God. 7. One would expect that the moral. ethical, spiritual, and religious teachings found in Bible passages would show differences of opinion and a gradual evolution of belief over the ten centuries during which the books of the Bible were written could be expected to violate the will of God. Most liberal Christians find that their interpretation of biblical passages demonstrates all of these expectations. Liberal and conservative Christians have different sets of fundamental theological beliefs and thus develop different sets of moral truths regarding such topics as the resurrection of Jesus. Each group base their conclusions on the bible. Since these positions are opposed, the Bible must have led at least one group to hold false beliefs. Some religious liberals believe that Jesus was executed, and His body thrown into a pit, along with other crucified victims. They do not believe in Jesus bodily resurrection. Many suspect that His reappearances to His followers after His death were a form of mass hallucination.

Jesus resurrection refers to His victory over death. His ascension to the right hand of the Father refers specifically to His exaltation by His Father to the Highest Place. Jesus' ascension is the final aspect of His resurrection from the dead: His ascension to His original and rightful place in God's presence This same Jesus who lived with the disciples, who died and was buried, who rose from the dead, loves us and promises to be with us always, We can get to know Him better through studying the scriptures, praying, and allowing the Holy Spirit to make us more like HIm. That was His purpose here on earth. AMEN

Jesus had the ability to move around in the physical world as we do. The amazing thing was He was not limited as we are. He could appear and disappear as He pleased. He passed through the grave clothes as though they weren't even there. Nothing could hold Him, He could be seen by others, but He could also become invisible. One minute He could be on the road to Emaus and the next minute He could be visible in another place. He could go through locked doors. He is not dead, He is not in a grave, He is on the right hand of the Father and one day He will return for us. Praise God.

Simon Peter saw the strips of linen lying there as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus'head. The cloth was folded seperate from the linen. the other disciple went inside, He saw and believed. The grave cloths were left as if Jesus had passed right through them The headpeace was stilled rolled up in the shape of a head, and it was at about the right distance from the wrappings that had been around the body of Jesus and left the linens as if they were still shaped around it A grave robber couldn't possibly have stolen the body and left the linens as if they were still shaped around it.

In each story the women went to the tomb on the first day of the week. The stone was rolled away There was the appearance an Angel that told them He was not there He had arisen as promised. They were told to go and tell His desciples There were strips of linen lying the cloth was folded as if some one had taken much care, If Jesus had been stolen the clothes would have been on Him. In seeing the linen lying there neatly folded they saw and believed. He then appeared to them and said " Peace be with you. Praise God we have a risen Lord. that can not be defeated.

As I was reading the scriptures what I saw was each personality saw things in their concept just as when a person will preach or prophesy the ones hearing it will hear it different just as each person in the gospels approached the tomb they saw how Jesus wanted them to see it. Also in Matthew and Mark there was only one Angel In Luke and John there were two. In Matthew the women go to just check out the tomb In Mark and Luke they brought anointing oil. In Matthew and Mark Jesus is wrapped in a large linen shroud In John and Luke Jesus is wrapped instrips of linen. In Matthew and Mark the resurrection appearances are in Galilee, in Luke the records are in the vicinity of Jersalem In John Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene also in Mark after she reports to the disciples the women tell no one. I I saw in the over all scope of thing they were telling the same but each on had a litle bit more that they saw they enhanced what was happening. When we get excited sometimes we tell a story and leave a little out some one else comes along and expresses more to the event that they saw Through out the gospels the whole account was given just by different ones.

There were some that believed in the Resurrection ( Pharisees ) But they believed it would happen on the last days. There also had been resurrections in the old testament. Such as Elijah, Elisha, the son of the widow in Luke (Nain ) , Lazarus. They were treated as harbingers of Jesus coming resurrection. Some of His enemies believed out of fear their would be something that would happen, others believed the body would be stolen and made to believe there had been a resurrection. They were so deceived.. These enemies of Jesus did not want Him to disappear one way or the other for fear His would have even a greater following. They were so deceived in their religion just as many are today. ( Matthew 27: 62-64 ) " The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priest and the Pharisees went to Pilate. " Sir,' They said. ' We remember that while He was still alive that deceiver said " after three days I will rise again." So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, His disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that He has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse that the first". His followers were still not understanding what He meant by the resurrection. Even when the two were on the road to Emaus. They did not recognize Him when He approached them. Thomas did not believe until he saw the wounds in Jesus hands. It is so sad, even today so many do not believe in the return of Jesus. The enemy has many walking in deception believing in other religions in our christian churches today people are looking to false teachers, and following after the tickling of ears not realizing that God is looking for pure hearts and committment sold out 100% The enemy is robbing them of the truth. Pastor Ralph your question is " Do we have a strong expectation and hope of being resurrected from the dead Spiritually and Physically." Oh how I long for that day to come while Jesus is cleansing and purifying my heart. I want to be ready but I know there is a cross I must go to, to die daily to be resurrected spiritually. My hope is in Jesus and I know I will see Him face to face one day. PRAISE GOD for the sacrifice of His son who has made that possible.

In (John 5:25 ) " I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live." In saying that the dead will hear His voice, Jesus was talking about the spiritually dead who hear, understand and accepted Him. Those who accept Jesus, The Word, will have eternal life. Jesus was also talking about the physically dead. He raised several dead people while He was on earth, and at His second coming all the "dead in Christ" will rise to meet Him. ( 1 Thessalonians 4:16 ). God is the source and Creator of life, for there is no life apart from God, here or hereafter. The life in us is a gift from Him ( Psalm 36:9 ). Because Jesus is eternally existent with God, the Creator, He too is "the life" through whom we may live eternally. All power and authority are given to Him as the Son of God. ( 1 John 5 : 11 )And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Who ever believes in God's Son has eternal life, He is all you need. You don't need to wait for eternal life, because it begins the moment you believe. You don't need to work for it, because it is already yours. You don't need to worry about it, because you have been given eternal life by God Himself-- and it is guaranteed. Praise God for His Son Jesus who through Him is life eternal.

Shoel was as Hades or hell a place of eternal darkness a place of nothingness. a place where one can no longer enjoy life, where there was no presence of God. ( Psalm 6:5 ) " No one remembers you when he is dead. Who praises you from the grave. ( sheol ) ( Psalm 88:10-12 ) D0 you show your wonders to the dead? Do those who are dead rise up and praise you? Is your love decleared in the grave? Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in teh land of oblivion. What a horrible place to be in. ( Job 19: 25-27 ) " I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth and after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see Him with my own eyes--- I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!" Job I believe had a vision of of heaven and He then knew there was life after death. I believe he knew his life was not for nothing but after death there was more. I believe hope rose up in him and it took him through the hell he was going through on earth. I believe at that time he was give a promise that his life was in something far greater than what he had on this earth I believe he saw his redeemer and knew someday he would be with him in another life.

When the book of Job was written, Israel did not have a well-developed doctrine of the resurrection. Although Job struggled with the idea that God was presently against him, he firmly believed that in the end God would be on his side.This was so strong that Job became one of the first to talk about the resurrection of the body. ( see also Psalm 16:10, Isaiah 26: Daniel 12:2,13 ) Job said: " in my flesh I will see God." In Job's situation; it seemed unlikely to him that he would, in his flesh, see God, and that's just the point of Job's faith! He was confident that God's justice would triumph, even if it would take a miracle like resurrection to accomplish this. Gradually, slowly, God begins to reveal to his prophets that there is something more than darkness beyond death. Theologians call this revealing of more truth as time goes on, "progressive revelation." Job wonders: " If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait for my renewal to come." ( Job 14:14 )

Hello I am in the ministery as an evanglist, missionary. I have been to Peru, Mexico and Canada. Now I am semi- retired getting refired. I love the word and studying. I have been widowed for 30 years and been in the ministery for 25 years. I acceped Jesus in 1975 and have never wanted to look back I always remember a verse in a song that says the cross is before me no turning back. I am looking forward to the bible study on ressurection becasue it is so close to Resurrection Sunday. I have always believed no matter how much you learn you can never learn enough of the word. It is always an honor to sit at the feet of excellant teachers. I live in Grass Valley Ca. and have a daughter in Auburn also a grandson in Iraq. Ilove jesus with all my heart That is about it God Bless all in Jesus name Thank you Pastor Ralph for your God given wisdom