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reward (11: 26). They even accepted torture--that they might obtain a better
resurrection (11: 35).
If God's Word assures us that one resurrection can be better than another, it surely
behooves us all to search our own hearts whether we are qualifying for the inestimable
privilege of attaining to the out-resurrection, out from among the dead (Phil. 3: 11). But
whether it is as an introduction to our hope or our prize, resurrection is our Scriptural key
that unlocks life after death. To miss this is to throw away or lose God's key, and there is
nothing that can be a substitute for it. We can definitely state as a Scriptural axiom that
there is no way out of the grave for a believer or unbeliever except by resurrection. We
challenge anyone to find one Scripture that, when taken in its context, proves otherwise.
Let us hold fast to the truth and have a hope that is based on the revelation of the Word of
God, not on human opinion or tradition, lest we deceive ourselves and be ashamed before
Him in that day when we shall see Him face to face.
No.5.
pp. 233 - 236
(7) Resurrection and Service.--In considering the way in which the basic truth of
resurrection enters into the plan and purpose of God, we should fail if we omitted to
consider how it is woven into the present walk and witness of the believer. `Saved to
serve' is a good motto and one that expresses truth. The Church of this present
dispensation is designated the Body of Christ and, just as in the human body there are no
useless members, each one playing its necessary part in the health and activity of the
body, so it should be in that redeemed company of which the Lord Jesus is the Head.
The apostle Paul in Col. 1: 9 prays that all such should be `filled with a knowledge of
His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding'. This means that there is a practical
outworking of Truth in divinely appointed service for every member of the Body.
Merely to accumulate Scriptural knowledge is dangerous and unprofitable if it does not
eventuate in a daily life and Christian witness in harmony with our high calling. We
should never forget that the reception of light and truth brings a corresponding
responsibility in the sight of the Lord to pass on to others what we have learned. This is
the way the Body is going to grow and exhibit that wonderful unity that Eph. 4: 15,16
describes:
"But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the
Head, even Christ, from Whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by
that which every joint supplieth (or literally every joint of the supply) maketh increase of
the body . . . . ."
The joints themselves, the individual members, supply nothing. That supply comes
from the Head alone and the joints are merely channels to convey something of His
fullness and truth to other members. Every time we receive light on the word, the sense
of responsibility should never be absent, but should drive us to our knees to seek the
Lord's guidance into practical avenues of `working out' what He has graciously `worked