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QUESTION 9:
I have been told that Jesus did not bodily rise from the dead, but only arose in spirit form. 1 Peter 3:18 is a verse I have been given. Is this true?

ANSWER:
Many are the errors of teaching about our Lord Jesus Christ. I am sure volumes could be written about them. The error in view is not new. It seemed to be taught at Corinth, as we read much about it in 1 Corinthians 15. First to explain 1 Peter 3:18 which says, "... being put to death in the flesh, but quickened (made alive) by the Spirit. This is not speaking about the form in which He was raised, but the power. It is here said that He was raised BY the Holy Spirit. This agrees with Romans 8:11 in saying "But if the Spirit (Holy) of Him that raised up Christ from the dead..." We are told in Acts 2:24 that God raised Him from the dead. This He did by the Holy Spirit.

To Show you that Jesus was raised Bodily from the dead we read in John 2:19-21, Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it up in three days." The "temple" He explains in John 2:21 as His "body." When He did arise He explained to bewildered disciples who thought Him to be a spirit, that it is I Myself handle Me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, Luke 24:39 Peter says of Him "That His soul was not left in hell neither did His flesh see corruption" Acts 2:31. There are many verses that stated that He arose again from the dead. Matthew 28:6, Acts 4:10, Acts 5:30, Acts 10:40.

The resurrection of Christ from the dead in bodily form is clearly taught in the scriptures and is vital to the truth of God's salvation. If Christ is not risen then our faith is in vain, our preaching is false we are still in our sins and are without hope, see 1 Corinthians 15:14-19. The gospel is: "How Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures," 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. The devil would seek to destroy the truth of the gospel of God's salvation by denying the bodily resurrection of Christ.

All comments and questions to: Harold Smith

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Updated July 2009, by Shelly Allen