The Power of the Resurrection (Part 1)

[rjones]

"...and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 1:4).

The resurrection is an inseparable part of the work of the Cross. When Jesus was raised back to life, the Gospel was shown to be complete. The resurrection proved that sin had been dealt with once and for all, and that a new life has been opened to every believer.

"He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification" (Rom. 4:25).

The first Christians went everywhere declaring the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. So dynamic was their message that they "turned the world upside down" in their day (Acts 17:6). Understanding what the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ means for you will dynamically affect your life too.

"With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all" (Acts 4:33).

Power of the Resurrection

"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation...I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know...his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms..." (Eph.1:17-21).

Something happened at the resurrection of Christ which changed your life forever. The Bible calls the power of the resurrection "incomparably great." That means there is no other power on earth, or even in the universe that can compare with the power God released in the resurrection of Jesus. When we have a revelation of the power of the resurrection, every problem and every difficulty takes on a new perspective.

"His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters...His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance" (Rev. 1:14-16).

John had known Jesus before the Cross (1 Jn. 1:1-3), but now he saw Him in His full glory (Jn. 17:24). This was the full glory of the risen Christ and it knocked John to the ground.

"When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: 'Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades'" (Rev.1:17-18).

When Jesus died, the Bible says He went into the depths of the earth (Eph. 4:8-9) to a place called Hades - the place of the unbelieving dead. Satan thought He had destroyed the Son of God, but three days later, God raised Jesus back to life. The full glory of the risen Christ - the same glory that knocked John over - exploded in the depths of the earth. And Jesus walked up to Satan and took from him the keys of death and Hades - which represented the authority Satan had over your life. Paul prays that we will understand that this same all-conquering power is available to us each and every day!

"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world" (1 Jn. 4:4).

 

[rjones]

The Power of the Resurrection (part 2)

Firstborn of the Resurrection

"...he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy" (Col. 1:18).

Jesus is called "the firstborn from the dead" because His resurrection opened the way for our physical resurrection! This is the wonderful future that every believer has. One day Jesus Christ will return to the earth. At that time all believers who have died will be raised to life (1 Thes. 4:13-18). Our bodies will be transformed (1 Cor. 15:51-54). We will have an immortal resurrection body just like the Lord Jesus (1 Jn. 3:2).

"...because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence" (2 Cor. 4:14).

The resurrection of Jesus is not only the foundation for our salvation now. It is also God's personal guarantee for our future. The Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead is now living in us. He is the "down-payment" for the full effect of the resurrection in our lives.

"Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come" (2 Cor. 1:21).

Resurrection Life

"Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die...'" (Jn. 11:25-26).

The resurrection of Christ is not just for the future, but for our lives now. The power that is available to us each day is exactly the same power that brought Jesus back from the dead! The Spirit of the Resurrection, who lives in us, empowers us to live for God.

"And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you" (Rom. 8:11).

Raised With Christ

"...having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead" (Col. 2:12).

When Jesus died, God counted His death as your death. You died in Him. But that was not all. You were also raised in Christ. His resurrection gave you five things:

A new life

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3).

A new focus

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory" (Col. 3:1-4).

A new confidence

"In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence" (Eph. 3:12).

A new position of authority

"And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus" (Eph.2:6).

A new hope for the future

"but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel" (2 Tim. 1:10).