Any old resurrection will not do

That is a fundamental of the Christian life. Without Jesus' bodily resurrection – yes, bodily – there is no eternal life in Christ. Secondly,

(b) Jesus' resurrection guarantees what happens after death

People will be raised from death in the future at Jesus' second coming. How are the dead raised and what kind of body will they have? Paul said 'these are stupid questions' because when we plant something like wheat, it has to die in the ground before it comes alive and grows (1 Cor 15:35-38).

The new plant does not have the same 'body' it had before. The seed of wheat, as with a stalk of sugar cane, becomes something else. So with the resurrected body, 'God gives it the body that he has planned for it, and he gives each kind of seed its own body' (1 Cor 15:38).

There will be a future resurrection of both the saved and the lost; believers to the resurrection of eternal life and non-believers to the resurrection of eternal punishment (1 Co 15:51-57).

Much is stated in the Bible about the bodies of Christians after death but I've found nothing about the resurrected bodies of unbelievers. We know there will be a resurrection and judgment (Heb 9:27), but Scripture does not address the nature of the bodies of the resurrection of the ungodly.

5. Conclusion

Paul was charged before governor Felix of being a troublemaker. He told Felix: 'I believe that both the godly and the ungodly will rise from the dead' (Acts 24:15).

As hot cross buns remind us of Easter approaching, what are we to make of Christ's resurrection? Like any other document, from Centrelink forms to scholarly tomes, On Line Opinion articles and the Bible, all writings must be read literally to obtain accurate meaning. A literal interpretation includes the use of figures of speech.

In spite of others who reinvent, deconstruct or fictionalise the biblical events, the interpretation of Jesus' post-resurrection appearances revealed he was a real human being but with a transphysical or transformed dimension of supernatural abilities.

The NT documents are reliable historically and the bodily resurrection is important because: (1) Salvation and resurrection are a compulsory combination, and (2) The future resurrection of both believers and unbelievers depends on the nature of Jesus' resurrection.

Dr Albert Mohler Jr summarised the essential need for Jesus' resurrection:

'The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead separates Christianity from all mere religion – whatever its form. Christianity without the literal, physical resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is merely one religion among many. "And if Christ is not risen," said the Apostle Paul, "then our preaching is empty and your faith is in vain" [1 Corinthians 15:14]. Furthermore, "You are still in your sins!" [v. 17b]. Paul could not have chosen stronger language. "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable" [v. 19]'.