Defending the Faith

In a video, Hank Hanegraff speaks against the “Jehovah’s Witnesses” and their view of the resurrection. While we are not associated with the “Jehovah’s Witnesses”, Mr. Hanegraff associates Charles Taze Russell with the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and thus the implications of his words also affect Bible Students who believe similarly to the “Jehovah’s Witnesses” concerning the resurrection.

Mr. Hanegraff declares what we believe to be a denial of the resurrection, since we would declare that Jesus is n0 longer a human being, the plane of being that the Bible describes as a little lower than the angels. (Hebrews 2:9) Of course, we do not deny the resurrection of Jesus, and to state this is misleading. We do deny that Jesus was raised with a terrestrial, fleshly, physical body, which would actually mean that Jesus is still a human being, a little lower than the angels. (1 Corinthians 15:40; Hebrews  2:9) It would further deny the very purpose for which Jesus came in the flesh, that is, to offer that flesh as a ransom sacrifice for the life of the world. (John 6:51; 1 Corinthians 15:26,27; Romans 5:1-19; 1 Timothy 2:5,6; 1 John 2:2; 4:2,3) In short, if Jesus was raised back into the body that he sacrificed, then he took back that which he offered in sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 10:10), and our sins have not been paid for, and no one has been delivered from the the sin and death in Adam.

While Mr. Hanegroff denigrates the belief that Jesus was raised with a spiritual body rather than a physical body as being a denial of the resurrection, he goes on to speak of those who believe such as believe as believing in a heavenly and spiritual resurrection, evidently without any thought that he is contradicting himself.  That there are two classes in the resurrection, Paul shows in 1 Corinthians 15:15-54. However, unlike the JWs, we do not in this present evil age try to divide the church into two classes, such as they do, regarding many as being of an “earthly” class, and a few as of the “heavenly” class. We do not believe that we have been given authority to judge others in this regard.

Yes, if Christ has not been raised, then there is no resurrection, and there is no hope at all for any future life. Nothing Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15 says that Christ was raised with a terrestrial, physical, fleshly body, but rather just the opposite. Jesus is now the “second Adam” from heaven since he is now the life-giving spirit; that is, Jesus is the second father to human race because he is the one from heaven, now possessing, not the physical, earthy, terrestrial body, but rather a spiritual, celestial body. — 1 Corinthians 15:45,47; 1 Peter 3:18.

For further study, see:

With What Body Will We Be Raised?
http://studies.reslight.net/?p=1

The Manner of the Resurrection
http://hereafter.reslight.net/?p=1

Jesus’ Appearances in the Locked Room
http://godandson.reslight.net/?p=215

Did Jesus Raise Himself from the Dead?
http://godandson.reslight.net/?p=218

Jesus Died a Human Being – Raised a Spirit Being
http://atonement.reslight.net/?p=1