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It is strange that in a passage where the Apostle so strongly sets aside desire to be
"unclothed", so many see a desire nevertheless for an intermediate state (that Scripture
teaches must wait for the resurrection and the body of glory). II Cor. 5: is an inspired
expansion of I Cor. 15:, and both agree together.
The testimony of Hebrews.
What is the teaching of the epistle to the Hebrews as to resurrection? The actual word
"resurrection" occurs but twice, namely in Heb. 6: 2 and 11: 35. Anistemi `to raise' is
found in 7: 11, 15. Egeiro `to raise' occurs in 11: 19. It would be, however,
misleading to assume that the resurrection either of Christ Himself or of His redeemed
people is not looked upon as vital and fundamental in this epistle, just because the actual
words were not scattered all over its pages. Let us open the Book and commence reading
at chapter 1: 1. We do not go further than verse 3 before the resurrection, though not
stated, is assumed.
"When He had by Himself purged our sins . . . . . sat down on the right hand of the
Majesty on high" (Heb. . 3).
How could the Saviour `sit down' at the right hand of God after He had purged our
sins, unless He had been raised from the dead? In chapter 2:, Christ not only came to
"destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil", but to deliver them who
through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage (Heb. 2: 14, 15). How
could He accomplish this, unless He, and they who were to be delivered, were raised
from the dead?
Chapter 3: calls upon us to consider Him, the Apostle and High Priest of our
profession. The Apostle "came from God", the High Priest "went to God", and the
Melchisedec Priesthood of Christ is placed in vivid contrast with the Aaronic order, in
this one particular, they died; He ever lives.
"And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by
reason of death: But this Man, because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable (or an
intransmissible) priesthood, and `He ever liveth' to make intercession for His people"
(7: 23-25).
It is useless to exhort us to look unto Jesus Who endured the cross and despised the
shame, unless we can add "And is set down at the right hand of the throne of God"
(Hebrews 12: 2). And finally, the closing commendation of Heb. 13: 20 demands His
resurrection:
"Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great
Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make your perfect
in every good work . . . . ."
The fact of the resurrection of Christ is everywhere assumed and taught in this epistle,
and we need not labour our proofs further. There are other references to resurrection that
demand our careful attention, and two immediately come to mind: