A BETTER RESURRECTION

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                              A BETTER RESURRECTION
             There  are  many scriptures which point out the  fact  of  a 
        distinction  being  made among Christians.  It  would  seem  that 
        there are stages of development, or maturity within the community 
        of believers.
             Without giving biblical references for them, let me give you 
        a few examples.  
             There are:  The Brethren of the Lord, and the  Congregation.  
        There  are:  Mount Zion, and Jerusalem.  There are: the  Beloved, 
        and the Little Sister.  There are: The Overcomers, and those  who 
        do  not overcome.  There are more examploes of  the  distinction, 
        but these are enough for you to know where I am coming from.
             Now  let's look at Hebrews 11:35 Women received  their  dead 
        raised  to  life again: and others were tortured,  not  accepting 
        deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
             1  Cor 15, the resurrection chapter, tells us  plainly  that 
        there will be degrees of glory in the resurrection.  It seems  to 
        be closely connected to the degree of maturity which we arrive at 
        in our journey through life.  (Overcoming, if you please.)
             We have been told many times that God is more interested  in 
        what  we ARE than in WHAT WE ARE DOING.  I,  personally,  believe 
        this to be so.  I have a suspicion that there is more than  meets 
        the  eye in the scripture that tells us we are to  judge  Angels.  
        Who  knows  what else we will be doing  after  the  resurrection?  
        Very  possibly  more than singing praises.  But "singing"  is  an 
        entirely different topic, not to be dealt with here.
             Another scripture I want to consider is Philippians 3:11  If 
        by  any means I might attain unto the resurrection of  the  dead.  
        In it, Paul seems to be saying that he will have to keep his  toe 
        in the carburetor to make it.  He is indicating that he will have 
        to  put a great deal of effort into attaining to it.   Listen  to 
        him in the next few verses:  Philippians 3:12 Not as though I had 
        already  attained,  either  were already perfect:  but  I  follow 
        after,  if that I may apprehend that for which also I  am  appre-
        hended  of  Christ Jesus.  Brethren, I count not myself  to  have 
        apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things 
        which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which  are 
        before,  I press toward the mark for THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH  CALL-
        ING of God in Christ Jesus.
             BUT  HE  IS NOT TALKING ABOUT THE SAME THING  AS  THE  OTHER 
        SCRIPTURES MEAN when the resurrection is mentioned.
               Let  me  explain.  The Greek word used by the  Holy  Ghost 
        here  is NOT ADEQUATELY TRANSLATED.  It is a word used ONLY  ONCE 
        IN THE WHOLE BIBLE - right here.  It is  EXANASTASIS, which means 
        a   STANDING OUT FROM THE DEAD.  A SPECIAL RESURRECTION,  if  you 
        will.
             I  also want to call attention to the phrase, "Prize of  the 
        high  calling".  He is still writing about the  Exanastasis,  the 
        standing  out  from among the dead.  It is a goal  worth  working 
        toward.
             As Paul is indicating here, it will require a high degree of 
        spiritual  refinement to attain to it.   "Run-of-the-mill  Chris-
        tians will know nothing of it.  Not that they will not be  saved, 
        and finally, some sweet day, make Heaven their home.  That is not 
        the point here.  Salvation is a gift of God, and is not  affected 
        by  our  lack of growth in the Christian walk.  We need  to  quit 
        judging the actions of other believers, and pay attention to  our 
        own progress.
             Paul said, "THIS ONE THING I DO."