1. Chain the Catechism: A topical study through the Lutheran confessions Apostle’s Creed: 3rdArticle- The Resurrection of the Body and The Life Everlasting Memorization Verses: Job 19:25-27 I know that my Redeemer lives… John 3:16 God so loved… 1 Cor. 15:51-52 Listen, I tell you… Rom. 8:18 I consider that… Rom. 8:28-30 We know that in all things… Eph. 1:3-6 Praise be to the God…

2. Heaven is… Spend a few minutes writing / doodling you ideas of the next life, brother. Share with the group. John 6:54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

3. Sing it! I serve a risen Savior, he's in the world today;I know that he is living whatever men may say;I see his hand of mercy; I hear his voice of cheer,And just the time I need him, he's always near. He lives, he lives, Christ Jesus lives today!He walks with me and talks with meAlong life's narrow way.He lives, he lives, salvation to impart!You ask my how I know he lives?He lives within my heart. Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian,Lift up your voice and sing.Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the king!The hope of all who seek him,The help of all who find,None other is so loving, so good and kind

4. Sing it! Here the bells ringing They're singing that you can be born again Here the bells ringing They're singing christ is risen from the dead The angel up on the tombstone Said he has risen, just as he said Quickly now, go tell his disciples That jesuschrist is no longer dead Joy to the word, he has risen, hallelujah He's risen, hallelujah He's risen, hallelujah Hear the bells ringing They're singing that you can be healed right now Hear the bells ringing, they're singing Christ, he will reveal it now The angels, they all surround us And they are ministering jesus' power Quickly now, reach out and receive it For this could be your glorious hour Joy to the world, he has risen, hallelujah He's risen, hallelujah He's risen, hallelujah, hallelujah

5. Sing it! 1. We're going to a mansion on the Happy Day Express;The letters on the engine are J-E-S-U-S;The guard calls, "All for Heaven?“We gladly answer, "Yes!“We're going to a mansion on the Happy Day Express. 2. You're welcome, all ye people, on the Happy Day Express;The way to go is put your trust in J-E-S-U-S;Get ready now for heaven,Be steady, don't digress!We're going to a mansion on the Happy Day Express.

6. Sing it! Somewhere in outer spaceGod has prepared a placeFor those who trust Him and obeyJesus will come againAnd though we don't know whenThe countdown's getting lower every day. CHORUS: 10 and 9, 8 and 7, 6 and 5 and 4,Call upon the Savior while you may,3 and 2, coming through the clouds in bright arrayThe countdown's getting lower every day. Jesus was crucified, suffered and bled he died,But on the cross He did not stayHe made this promise true, I will come back for you,The countdown's getting lower every day. CHORUS Soon will the trumpet sound, and we’ll rise off the groundWith Christ forever will we beChildren where will you be, throughout eternity?The countdown’s getting lower everyday!CHORUS 10987654321BLAST OFF! "And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also." John 14:3

7. PRAYERGrant, dear Lord God, that the blessed Day of Your holy advent may come soon, so that we may be redeemed from this bad, wicked world, the devil’s dominion, and be freed from the terrible plague which we must suffer from without and within, from wicked people and our own conscience. Dispatch this old maggot sack that we may finally get a different body, which is not full of sin, inclined to unchasteness and to everything evil, as the present one is, but one that is redeemed from all the bodily and spiritual misery and made like Your glorious body, dear Lord Jesus Christ, that we may at last come to our glorious redemption. Amen. (Luther)Oh Holy Spirit…•Resurrection and Rebirth•Day of Resurrection•Life Everlasting•Christ Forever•Eternal ElectionP raiseRepentanceAppreciationYouEveryoneResolve

8. LSB#534 hymnary.org/hymn/CCEH/121 DD|G-A-BB|B-A-BB|D-CBAA|B---DD| 1 Lord, enthroned in heav'nly splendor, First-begotten from the dead, You alone, our strong defender, Lifting up Your people’s head. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Jesus, true and living bread! / Jesus… 2 Though the lowliest form now veil You As of old in Bethlehem, Here as there Your angels hail You, Branch and flow'r of Jesse's stem. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! We in worship join with them; / We in… 3 Paschal Lamb, Your off'ring, finished Once for all when You were slain, In its fullness undiminished Shall forevermore remain. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Cleansing souls from ev'ry stain; / Cleansing… 4 Life imparting heav'nly manna, Stricken rock with streaming side, Heav'n and earth with loud hosanna Worship You, the Lamb who died. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Ris'n, ascended, glorified! / Ris'n…

9. Discussion

10. A child said What is the grass? fetching it to me with full hands;How could I answer the child? I do not know what it is any more than he.I guess it must be the flag of my disposition, out of hopeful greenstuff woven.Or I guess it is the handkerchief of the Lord,A scented gift and remembrancer designedly dropt,Bearing the owner's name someway in the corners, that we may seeand remark, and say Whose?Or I guess the grass is itself a child, the produced babe of the vegetation.Or I guess it is a uniform hieroglyphic,And it means, Sprouting alike in broad zones and narrow zones,Growing among black folks as among white,And now it seems to me the beautiful uncut hair of graves.Tenderly will I use you curling grass,It may be you transpire from the breasts of young men,It may be if I had known them I would have loved them,It may be you are from old people, or from offspring taken soon outof their mothers' laps,And here you are the mothers' laps. I wish I could translate the hints about the dead young men and women,And the hints about old men and mothers, and the offspring takensoon out of their laps. What do you think has become of the young and old men?And what do you think has become of the women and children?They are alive and well somewhere,The smallest sprout shows there is really no death,And if ever there was it led forward life, and does not wait at theend to arrest it,And ceas'd the moment life appear'd.All goes onward and outward, nothing collapses,And to die is different from what any one supposed, and luckier. The spotted hawk swoops by and accuses me, he complains of my gaband my loitering.I too am not a bit tamed, I too am untranslatable,I sound my barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world.I bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love,If you want me again look for me under your boot-soles.You will hardly know who I am or what I mean,But I shall be good health to you nevertheless,And filter and fibre your blood.Failing to fetch me at first keep encouraged,Missing me one place search another,I stop somewhere waiting for you. 3rd Art. AC. Resurrection: Leaves of Grass?

11. www.wlsessays.net/files/BrugResurrection.pdfhttp://www.wlsessays.net/files/BrugResurrection.pdfwww.wlsessays.net/files/VogelImmortality.pdfhttp://www.wlsessays.net/files/VogelImmortality.pdfwww.wlsessays.net/files/BrugSpiritual.pdfhttp://www.wlsessays.net/files/BrugSpiritual.pdfwww.wlsessays.net/files/ScheweSoul.pdfhttp://www.wlsessays.net/files/ScheweSoul.pdfwww.wlsessays.net/files/KundeCreed.pdfhttp://www.wlsessays.net/files/KundeCreed.pdfwww.wlsessays.net/files/NoltePeter.pdfhttp://www.wlsessays.net/files/NoltePeter.pdfwww.wlsessays.net/files/SimonsThessalonians.pdfhttp://www.wlsessays.net/files/SimonsThessalonians.pdfwww.wlsessays.net/files/NoltePeter.pdfhttp://www.wlsessays.net/files/NoltePeter.pdfwww.wlsessays.net/files/SchuetzeElection.pdfhttp://www.wlsessays.net/files/SchuetzeElection.pdfwww.wlsessays.net/files/HabeckElection.pdfhttp://www.wlsessays.net/files/HabeckElection.pdfwww.wlsessays.net/files/ViethsChoice.pdfhttp://www.wlsessays.net/files/ViethsChoice.pdfwww.wlsessays.net/files/PrangeElection.pdfhttp://www.wlsessays.net/files/PrangeElection.pdfwww.wlsessays.net/files/VogtElection.pdfhttp://www.wlsessays.net/files/VogtElection.pdfwww.wlsessays.net/files/NoltingPredestination.pdfhttp://www.wlsessays.net/files/NoltingPredestination.pdfwww.wlsessays.net/files/RardinElection.pdfhttp://www.wlsessays.net/files/RardinElection.pdfwww.wlsessays.net/files/UnknownFormula.pdfhttp://www.wlsessays.net/files/UnknownFormula.pdfwww.wlsessays.net/files/CortrightLuther.pdfhttp://www.wlsessays.net/files/CortrightLuther.pdfwww.wlsessays.net/files/KomReformed.pdfhttp://www.wlsessays.net/files/KomReformed.pdfwww.wlsessays.net/files/FredrichCommunion.pdfhttp://www.wlsessays.net/files/FredrichCommunion.pdfwww.wlsessays.net/files/HoffmannCommunion.pdfhttp://www.wlsessays.net/files/HoffmannCommunion.pdfApostles' Creed - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostles'_CreedSarx - Greek Lexiconhttp://www.studylight.org/lex/grk/view.cgi?number=4561 3rd Art. AC. Resurrection:

12. 3rd Art. AC. Resurrection: Where are we Going? Where we are going: The unique relationship of the human body and the human soul. The rejection of false teaching with respect to the Resurrection. The Redemption of Christ as a redemption of body and soul for Us. How/When we will abide with Christ. Election and predestination as FOUNDATIONAL to God’s plan.

13. 3rd Article of the Apostle’s Creed:The Church and Communion of Saints What do the scriptures teach about the resurrection of the body? Are people reborn in bodies or forms? What difference will there be between believers and unbelievers in the resurrection? To whom does God give eternal life? Are you sure that you have eternal life? Why do you close this article with the words “This is most certainly true?” ______________________________ SS: Resurrection and Rebirth M: Day of Resurrection: Believer v. Unbeliever T: Life Everlasting W: With Christ Forever Th: Eternal Election

14. What does the creed say about Resurrection? Remissionempeccatorum, carnisresurrectionem, vitamaeternam. Carnis (sa/rc) referring to specific, temporal flesh which is permeated with blood. The very symbol of blood as life giving will continue into vitamaeternam (life everlasting) The AC is even stronger than the Nicene Creed which only speaks of the resurrection of the dead. The term “resurrection of the flesh” is of note, since the Scriptures so often use “flesh” as a term for our sinful nature. Our sinful nature is often called “flesh” because it is often the appetites of our fleshly body that lead us to sin, and we have served sin with the members of our body. 3rd Art. AC. Resurrection: Exegesis of Creed

15. 3rd Art. AC. Resurrection: Bodily Importance kai o kuriov tw swmati: This body finds its purpose and true possession and functioning in the one who possesses it, the Messaiah. eÍgeiðrw: To awaken as from sleep, akin to agora, to assemble one’s senses or faculties. umwn melh Xristou: Being one flesh with Christ through the joining through marriage. swma umwn naov tou en uminagiopneumatov: The edifice that is Jerusalem’s holy of holies is reconstructed as the dwelling place of THE HOLY SPIRIT. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, whom you have from God. You are not your own. You were bought with a price. Therefore honor God with your body. I Cor. 6 13-20 The Triune God will restore His purpose in creating you through Christ The beauty of the body, in all its complexity, is made with eternity in mind. The body is naturally designed in a way that requires subsistence. Blood, food, water, breath are a continually required and cyclical aspect of our being. Reiterates our complete dependence on God. Just as Christ is raised bodily, so we also have this promise.

16. 3rd Art. AC. Resurrection: Exegesis En arxh hn o logov, kai o logov hn provton qeon, kai qeov hn o logov:Christ is diety equally with the Father, and is God as the Father is God. Christ is also the creative force of the logos (direct refutation/clarification of Greek philosophy). en autw zwh hn: In Him is the definition of life (and subsequent newness thereof) kai xwriv autou egeneto oude eno gegonen: Just as with creation, so also with re-creation, Christ is the one who resurrects apart from us (who live in prior darkness) Kai o logov sarc egeneto kai eskhnwsen enhmin: How does he recreate us? Who lives amongst us, taking on flesh to tabernacle with his people, not just in the third person, but in us also by REDEEMING THE FLESH. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1: 1-16

17. 3rd Art. AC. Resurrection: Spiritual Body? Our body will be a spiritual body. (1 Cor 15:44) It is plain from Scripture that we will have a material body. Though we will have a spiritual body, we will not be spirits. The term “spiritual” does not refer to the substance of the resurrection body, but to its qualities What qualities of the body allow it to be spiritual? The natural (psuchikos) body is the body which is not controlled by the Spirit, just as the natural man (psuchikos) does not receive the things of God (I Cor 2:12-14) and the (psuchikos) are those who do not have the Spirit. (Jude 19) The spiritual body is the body which is completely obedient to the guidance of the Spirit. Though the Spirit is already at work in our bodies, only in the resurrection will His control become complete. The soma psuchikon is a body filled and controlled by the psuche , the sensory and earthly life. The soma pneumatikon is a body filled by and controlled by the Pneuma. In the resurrection the whole man, body and soul, will walk at thedirection of the Spirit.

18. SS: Resurrection and Rebirth What do the Scriptures teach about the resurrection of the body? They teach that on the Last Day Christ "will raise me and all the dead." The same bodies that have died shall be made alive. Job 19:25-27 1 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. John 5:28-29 A time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice and come out. 1 Thess. 4:16 The Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Are people reborn in bodies or forms?Reincarnation, the belief that when people die they are reborn in other bodies or in a series of other bodies, is contrary to Scripture. Heb. 9:27-28 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him. See 1 Corinthians 15. Pray: Almighty God, through the death of Your Son You have destroyed sin and death and through His resurrection restored innocence and eternal life so that we, being delivered form the power of the devil, may live in Your kingdom. Grant that we may believe this with our whole heart and, steadfast in this faith, ever praise and thank You, through the same Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. (Luther) •

19. 3rd Art. AC. Resurrection: Objections Gnosticism: Denial of Body as a Temple of the Spirit, but a Prison. The body is more than an accident, a garment, a temporary prison house of the soul. From the creation it is clear that God intended man to be a creature with body and soul united. Man was not to live in the realm of spirit like the angels. He was not to live on the plane of purely physical life like the animals. Man was a unique creature, standing between, partaking both of the spiritual and moral responsibilities of the angels and the dependence on the physical world of the animals. God created the body and soul to go together. Both are precious parts of his creation. Saducees: Hymeneus and Philetus and the Sadduces to the present. Some false teacher have denied the possibility of any life after death. Others have denied some portion of the resurrection, such as the resurrection of the ungodly. Others believe in life after death, but not the resurrection of the body. “Spiritual” resurrection Some Lutheran theologians, like Soodergernsay“This spiritual body inhabits our material body in this life, is conterminous with it, but also independent of it, leaving it at death and continuing to serve as the habitation and medium of the immortal self. Early writers called it the ‘astral body’. “It is I myself. Handle me and see, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have.” (Lk 24:39). Jehovah Witnesses and Anhilationism Purgatory and Divination So what is the problem? Denial of clear scriptural teachings to harmonize with finite reason. Harmonizing with our finite sense of justice/emotional necessity.

20. 3rd Art. AC. Resurrection: Believer v. Unbeliever There is one resurrection of the body for both believers and unbelievers. This one resurrection of the flesh will occur on the day of Christ’s return to judge the earth. “The hour is coming in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth. They that have done good, unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation.” (John 5:28-29). Scripture offers no basis for the notion that there will be two bodily resurrections separated by 1000 years. There is one resurrection of the soul, the new life that becomes ours through faith in Christ and which continues through all eternity. There is one resurrection of the body, for all on the Last Day (John 6:40 and John 12:48).

21. M Day of Resurrection: Believer v. Unbeliever What difference will there be between believers and unbelievers in the resurrection? A. The believers will rise with glorified bodies and enter everlasting life in heaven with God. Dan. 12:2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. John 5:28-29 All who are in their graves will hear His voice and come out-those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. 1 Cor. 15:42-43 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. Phil. 3:21 [Christ] will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body. B.The unbelievers will rise to eternal death, that is, to shame and torment in hell forever. Is. 66:24 Their worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind. Matt. 10:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Matt. 25:41 He will say to those on His left, "Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.“ Rev. 1:7 Look, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen. Bible narrative: The story of the rich man and Lazarus illustrates that there are only two places (Luke 16:19-31). • Pray: Dear Lord, You promise to separate Your believed children from the violence and deceit of the wicked—not because You take pleasure in the death of sinners but because You treasure the life of the righteous. Grant us the comfort of Your grace and the confidence to proclaim Your life-saving Gospel to all people through Jesus Christ, Our Savior. Amen.

22. 3rd Art. AC. Resurrection: Cause? Christ! In the Scriptures the resurrection is attributed especially to Christ. The dead are called forth by the voice of Christ. (Jn 5:28) . This is especially appropriate because He is the judge appointed by divine decree. It is fitting that the appointed Judge of all summons all to appeal before Him. (Jn 5: 21-22, Ac 17: 31, He 9: 22) Christ has destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light. He is the first fruits of the resurrection. It is appropriate, therefore, that He calls forth His own to everlasting life. (I Cor 15: 20-22) Christ is the effective cause of the resurrection through His power as Judge. He is the meritorious cause of the resurrection of believers through His work as Redeemer. Since Christ and the Father are one, it should not trouble us that, as an opus ad extra, the resurrection is also ascribed to God the Father. (Jn 5:21, I Cor 6:14, Ro 4:17, II Cor 1:9)

23. T Life Everlasting To whom does God give eternal life? God gives eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. A. Eternal life is a present possession. John 17:3 This is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. John 3:16 God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. Rom. 10:9 If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him. B. At the time of death, the soul of a believer is immediately with Christ in heaven. Eccl. 12:7 The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. Luke 23:43 I tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in paradise. John 17:24 Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, and to see My glory, the glory You have given Me because You loved Me before the creation of the world. Phil. 1:23-24 I desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Rev. 14:13 I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them." • Pray: Eternal ever blessed gracious God, allow me, the least of saints, to keep a door in paradise. Even the smallest, darkest, coldest door, least used, stiffest..be but in Your house…that I can see Your glory even afar, hear Your voice, and know I’m with You, O God. Amen. (Columba of Iona, c. 521-597)

24. 3rd Art. AC. Resurrection: Abiding with Christ The most important characteristic of eternal life is that we will be with God, we will see Him as He is, and He will be all in all to us. (Re 21:3; I Jn 3:1; I Cor 15:28) The greatest joy of eternal life is the enjoyment of God Himself. What does it mean that we will see God as He is? Will we see Him with our minds or with our eyes? Will we see God the Father or only Christ who is the express image of the Father? Will the all invisible God reveal Himself to us through some special theophany? Follow peace with all mean and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. (Heb.12:14) When He shall appear... we shall see Him as He is. (I Jn 3:2) I will behold Thy face in righteousness I shall be satisfied when I awake with Thy likeness. (Ps 17:15) Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Mt 5:8) Now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then shall I know even as I am known. (I Cor 13:12) The throne of God .. and of the Lamb will be in the city. His servants will see His face. (Re 22: 3-4)

25. W With Christ Forever C. At the Last Day the believers, in both body and soul, will begin the full enjoyment of being with Christ forever. 1 Cor. 15:51-52 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. Matt. 25:34 Then the King [Jesus] will say to those on His right, "Come, you who are blessed by My Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world." Ps. 16:11 You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand. Rom. 8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 1 John 3:2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him , for we shall see Him as He is. • Pray: Grant us, O Father, that we may also be Your heavenly children. Teach us to think only of our souls and of our heavenly inheritance that our temporal fatherland and earthly lot may not deceive, hold, and hinder us or turn us altogether into children of this world, that we may say with a good and real reason, “Our heavenly Father,” and may truly be Your heavenly children. Amen. (Luther)

26. 3rd Art. AC. Resurrection: Eternal Election The SC places Election within the section regarding the resurrection of the body because it answers the who?, how?, and why? questions regarding Resurrection. Three steps to understanding Election: Bondage of the Will Do you not know that you are slaves to the one whom you obey, whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?” (Rom. 6:16-17) God’s sovereign choice “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17 For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”[g] 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. (Romans 9:15-18) God’s exaltation through mercy “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,” (Eph. 1:5)

27. ThEternal Election Are you sure that you have eternal life? Even as I now believe in Christ my Savior, I also know that I have been chosen to eternal life out of pure grace in Christ without any merit of my own and that no one can pluck me out of His hand (eternal election of grace or predestination). John 10:27-28 My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand. Rom. 8:28-30 We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified. Eph. 1:3-6 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ ' who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will-to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. Why do you close this article with the words "This is most certainly true“? Because all that I confess in this article is plainly taught in the Bible and therefore I firmly believe it. • Pray: Merciful God, who am I that through faith in Christ You have made ma a member of Your people which You will save? It is not because I desired it, but because it was Your gracious will that I should be Your own. It is due, not to my choosing, but to Your choosing, Fount of Grace! Continue to give me Your grace; complete Your work within me; keep me in the noble order of those who are Your own, and take me to the mansion of eternal bliss! Amen! (Zorn)

28. 3rd Art. AC. Resurrection: Luther ”I do believe that everything — water, trees, and grass — will become much more beautiful, and that there will be an entirely new earth as St. Peter says, so that it will be a joy to look at it. But God Himself will sustain soul and body, as He alone who is to be all in all.”

29. Sing it! Swing low, sweet chariotComing for to carry me home,Swing low, sweet chariot,Coming for to carry me home. I looked over Jordan, and what did I seeComing for to carry me home?A band of angels coming after me,Coming for to carry me home. Sometimes I'm up, and sometimes I'm down,(Coming for to carry me home)But still my soul feels heavenly bound.(Coming for to carry me home) The brightest day that I can say,(Coming for to carry me home)When Jesus washed my sins away.(Coming for to carry me home) If I get there before you do,(Coming for to carry me home)I'll cut a hole and pull you through.(Coming for to carry me home) If you get there before I do,(Coming for to carry me home)Tell all my friends I'm coming too.(Coming for to carry me home)

30. Pray: O my dear Lord Jesus, illumine me today and evermore, that I may shape the course of my Christian life and direct it toward the eternal Jerusalem, my eternal home. And as You yearn for me, may I also have all my delight and thirst in You, seek You early, yearn for You, and make of You—the bread of life—the companion of all my ways. Keep me, O unchangeable, everlasting God, from the inconstancy of the children of this world. May I not fall into hypocrisy as they do, but today and always, in all my calling, prove myself constant in godliness, so that my life may decrease in vice and increase in virtue. Lord, may I always faithfully serve You, disdain the worldly, be exalted in You, experience Your grace and protection, and eternally thank You, for Christ’s sake. Amen. O God, the Light of every heart that see You, the Life of every soul that loves You, the Strength of every mind that seeks You, grant me ever to continue steadfast in Your holy love. Be the joy of my heart; take it all to Yourself, and therein abide. The house of my soul is, I confess, too narrow for You. Enlarge it, that You may enter in; it is ruinous, but repair it. It has that within which must offend Your eyes. I confess and know it. But whose help shall I implore in cleansing it, but Your help alone? To You, therefore, I cry urgently, begging that You will cleanse me from my secret faults, and keep Your servant from arrogant sins, that they never get dominion over me. Amen. (Augustine of Hippo, 354-430).

31. Sing it! I've got a home in glory land that out-shines the sun…Way beyond the blue.Chorus: Do Lord, O, Do Lord, O do remember me…Way beyond the blue.I took Jesus as my Savior, You take Him too…Way beyond the blue.Chorus

32. Conclusion They teach that on the Last Day Christ "will raise me and all the dead." The same bodies that have died shall be made alive. Reincarnation, the belief that when people die they are reborn in other bodies or in a series of other bodies, is contrary to Scripture. The believers will rise with glorified bodies and enter everlasting life in heaven with God. The unbelievers will rise to eternal death, that is, to shame and torment in hell forever. •God gives eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. A. Eternal life is a present possession. B. At the time of death, the soul of a believer is immediately with Christ in heaven. C. At the Last Day the believers, in both body and soul, will begin the full enjoyment of being with Christ forever. Even as I now believe in Christ my Savior, I also know that I have been chosen to eternal life out of pure grace in Christ without any merit of my own and that no one can pluck me out of His hand (eternal election of grace or predestination).

33. The Lord’s Prayer: Prayer Basics Next Time…(8/12)