This weekend was a wonderful time of celebration for Lakewood Anglican. On Saturday Mark Hottel was ordained into the Sacred Order of Deacons. Deacon Mark will be a great addition. Also of great importance was the confirmation and reception of 17 of our number. These additions to the a laity is what drives the mission of the Church.
Bishop Jackson’s sermon on First Corinthians 15:35-16:1 reminded us that the Church is not just those alive on this earth but those who have died and will be made alive again.
So it is with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. (1 Corinthians 15:42)
Heavenly bodies are mysterious. It is difficult for us to perceive what they will be like, but we are give some foundational things in Scripture. Bishop Ron shows that the Old Testament speaks of the Resurrection as does the New Testament
Job 19:25
Daniel 12:2
Isaiah 26:19
John 5:28
Romans 8:11
It is strange to think of our body as the “seed” but that’s what Saint Paul tells us. We can also say that this life is the seed of the one to come. How strange for us to think of this life as passing away, and yet that is what Scripture says. It ought to give us perspective.
Who we are won’t change, but our bodies will be different. Our life will be changed. Our hope will be reality.
How does thinking about our personhood and humanity being eternal change the way we act today?
How does seeing this life as only the beginning of life change the way we spend it?
Jesus’ life is our life. Jesus’ victory is our victory!
To hear the sermon again you can listen to it on Soundcloud
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