Live the Resurrection

Your faith in Jesus Christ is worthless. This is what the apostle Paul wrote to the Christians at Corinth, unless it is true that Jesus has been raised from the dead (1 Cor 15:17). Therefore, the resurrection is a fundamental doctrine for the Christian faith. You must believe in Jesus, who God raised from the dead.

Jesus’ personal claim, “I am the resurrection and the life,” remains the only hope for Christians. Even if we die, we know through faith that we shall also be raised from the dead. Paul wrote to the Roman church stating that if they were baptized into Christ’s death, which is symbolic for spiritual union with Him, they should be raised into newness of life (Rom 6:4). This applies to believers, today.

A new life in Christ is evident by the present working of the Holy Spirit in the believer. The foretaste of resurrection life is ours in the Spirit. Christ in us is the hope of glory, already attained by Jesus, the first fruits from the dead (1 Cor 15:20). God made us alive together with Christ, when He raised Jesus from the dead, and when the Spirit regenerated us with resurrection power. Here is the immeasurable greatness of His power working in those of us who believe.

The resurrection power to live the Christian life is the victory in Christ to overcome the dominion of sin. It also energizes the ministry of saints to bear witness of Christ in everything. Resurrection power regenerates the unregenerate to the new birth as it brings justification.

Jesus’ work on the cross was justified by God the Father’s judgment of its acceptability. The Messiah’s death on the cross, burial, and resurrection from the dead proved this way of salvation was from God and acceptable to God. Sins were judged with perfect justice. God’s mercy was now justified in saving sinners. The elect were now justified by Christ’s blood and through faith in His person and work.

To live the resurrection means Christians must not yield to sin’s dominance any longer. We have the power to not sin, but this requires submission to the Holy Spirit’s personal guidance in everything. This suggests that our resurrection lives are continually in prayer to the Father. To live the resurrection means we must focus on eternity as we labor in the temporal realm. Jesus said it best, “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal (Mt 6:20).

To live the resurrection means we live abundant lives, laboring as unto the Lord, and abounding in His grace. Today, let us seek the things that are above where our lives are hid with the resurrected Christ in God. The power of God is found in the Spirit who dwells in you to grant you victory over sin.

In the fear of God let us no longer fear death but look to our own resurrection from the dead on that day when His promise to us will be fulfilled, “Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power (1 Cor 6:14).” You have new life in Christ, and eternal life to come in resurrected bodies then glorified. So, how then should we live? Live in the light, knowledge, and power of the resurrection. Paul echoed this when he proclaimed, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Resurrection. Live it.

David Norczyk

Lakewood, California

July 8, 2021