The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-14
Meaning of the Resurrection

80 - -
removed from the door of the sepul-
chloe, before the spirit could appear
to Martha and Mary: Would this
spirit be bound hand and foot with
grave clothes? Jesus commanded
them to loose him and let him GO"
the real. tangible, material Lazarus.
Christ never did an unnecessary thing.
nor spoke ii useless word; therefore,
he commanded that stone to be rolled
away. which would have been no
hindrance. IL 1t vas only the spirit
of Lazarus that appeared. This Is the
doctrine of sp~iritualisrn pure and SIM
pie, but 1t Is not the doctrine of
Christ. nor the gospel that Paul
preached. and the Rev. Mr.. Bowser
would do well to consider Paui's
words concerning those who preach
any other gospel" Gal. /: s, 9.
John tells us. in twelfth chapter,
that Lazarus WAS n who sat at
meal at the supper that was given
to Jesus. More spiritual eyes must
have been opened. and others must
have had visions of the soul" be-
side Martha and Mary. And how
sadly deceived the people were. since
they surely believed that 1t was the
Lazarus that had died, that was with
them. hi view of the story makes
Christ a deceiver again.
In speaking or the almost uni
versal belief OF the church that the
resurrection Is a coming back to this
bodily life. a rising out OF the grave
at the last day" Mr.. Bowser says:
This is in direct opposition To the
plain teachings of Christ, that there
Is no death to those who have faith
in God"
Let us hear Christ's own words:
And this is the Fathers Will which
hath sent me-. that OF all which he
hath given me. l should lose nothing
but should raise il up again at the
last day"
And this is the will Of Him that
sent me that every one which seeth
the son and helieyeth on him. may
have everlasting life. and ! will raiss
him up at the last day" And again:
no man can come to me. except the
Father. which hath sent me, draw
him. "a m / will raise him up at the
last day These are Christ's own
words.
Reader. which Is right, Christ or
this Rev. 90 Bowser?
Again: The Greek word" says
Mr., Bowaer, which In translated
resurrection. means ascent. going
up not n coming back" SO then
IA t&e - . - Hh& kAht hSt1
one when he rose up from the tomb.
the second when he went up at his
ascension.
1t is a pity MIR. Brewer had no hcen
one OF the translators. for It seems
they understood the word to mean "a
coming back OF life" as they gave It
the word resurrection which liz de-
rived from the Latin re surgere."
which means ITO use again
'Surrere." to rise. and ire" again.
"Surgere" IL also used to mean to
lift up. to raise up" and the pre-
fix re" gives it the meaning. ITO
life up or raise up again. Paul
understood this when he speaks OF
him who ascended a. being .the
same that descended first into n
lower parts Of the earth Eph. 1: 3.
The doctrine of the resurrection OF
the dead (not OF living ~~niritsi was.
one Of the principles OF the gospel OF
Christ. Heb. 6: IL.
When Paul preached the doctrine or
the resurrection of the dead. some
Knocked. and other said we will hear
the again Of this matter" There are
Knockers still, bur W. hone there are
aiso some VINO wifi be willing TO 4fear
again OF this matter.
Alas that many who claim 10
preach the gospel of Christ. so wrese
the Scriptures. that they blind tne
spiritual eyes OF their hearer2 to the
truth ms II Is In Jes's.
Such are not abiding In the COO
trine OF Christ. and John says: Who
soeyer transcresseth n aoioeth nor
IN the doctrine II Christ. hath not
God. He that abideth In the doctrine
Of christ hath both b Father and
the SON"
Reader. which vii you believe.
Christ and the Word of God as SPOKEN
by his own inspired apostle. or the
word OF this Mr.. Browser. Who Its
that the moro he reads OF the story Of
Lazarus. the less he believes 1t.
In the interest OF gospel truth.
a. r. G.
Richmond. Va.