An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism by Joseph Stump
page 157 of 222 (70%)
page 157 of 222 (70%)
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HE WILL RAISE UP ME AND ALL THE DEAD AT THE LAST DAY. The bodies of all men shall be raised from the dead and re-united with the souls from which they were parted at death. [John 5:28, 29+, Acts 24:15+] These bodies will be essentially the same which we had on earth, but they will be immortal and incorruptible. [I Cor. 15:42] The bodies of the believers will be endowed with new and glorious properties, like the body of Christ after His resurrection. [I Cor. 15:42-44, Phil. 3:21+] They will be fit tabernacles for the glorified souls to inhabit through all eternity. They will be spiritual bodies, freed from all the imperfections and limitations to which they were subject on earth. The bodies of those believers who are still alive at Christ's second coming shall undergo the same change in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump. [I Cor. 15:51-53] AND WILL GRANT EVERLASTING LIFE TO ME TO ALL WHO BELIEVE IN CHRIST. [John 3:16] The believers shall then enter upon the full and perfect enjoyment of eternal salvation. [Matt. 25:34] Here we have the forgiveness of sins, but there we shall have life everlasting. The believers shall obtain an eternal inheritance in heaven, [I Pet. 1:4+] and enter upon the enjoyment of a bliss so exalted that we cannot form any adequate conception of it here on earth. There will be differences of glory proportioned to the strength of faith and the zeal in labor manifested on earth. [I Cor 15:41, 42, Luke 19:17-19] But all shall be perfectly happy. They shall be free from sin and from every evil, [Rev. 21:4+] and dwell in the light of God's presence forever. [I Thess. 4:17, John 17:24, Rev. 7:15] _Eternal Death_. The impenitent and unbelieving shall be cast into eternal torment, [Matt. 25:41] and shall suffer indescribable pain and |
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