The Power of His Resurrection

 

The Power of His Resurrection

    Hello, this blog post comes from the video that I recently made on my YouTube Channel. Click here to view the video; God bless. 

    I hope that you are aware of the holiday/event that is coming up or that already passed (depends on when you are reading this). This event took place at Golgotha. A place to be remembered of. A place that cannot be forgotten, especially for those who have been there (symbolically speaking). When I was re-reading a chapter in Philippians, something stood out to me which then caused me to make this video; to write this blog post. The passage that brought me to this topic is Philippians 3:7-11 ESV

    "But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead."

    One of Paul's famous words recorded is in this chapter; "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (verse 21). But, when Paul got to the "bottom" of what he is doing and why he is doing it, he explains his reason. He writes that his goal is to know Him (Jesus Christ) and to know "the power of His resurrection." Maybe in a different blog post and video I will get to the first part, but today I want to look at the second part: to know the power of His resurrection.

    From this passage, we can see that Paul understood something more meaningful in life. Something more precious than the pleasures of this world. If you recall Hebrews chapter 11, when it talks about the women and men of faith, you will find that Moses is mentioned in it. The author records Moses' secret as to why he "left" from being a child of Pharoah. The author states that Moses actually understood something deeper. He looked further. He understood that being afflicted with God's people is much more "fulfilling" and "God-honoring" than to enjoy the temporary pleasures of this world; which were also sinful. Looking here at Paul, we see a similar "mindset." This similar mindset or faith, is what led him to write the things above.

    So, I want to look at two questions in this blog post:

    1) What if Jesus did not rise from the dead?     2) What is the result of this powerful resurrection of Jesus Christ?

What if Jesus did not rise from the dead?

       Let's start with a passage. 1 Corinthians 15. This whole chapter is dedicated to this challenging issue of the resurrection of Christ and the resurrection of the saints. I recommend that you read the whole chapter on your own to gain some context. We will read from verses 14 to 19. 

    "And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied."

    The first thing I want to look at if Jesus did not rise from the dead is the fact that our preaching would be in vain. This is because we would be misrepresenting Christ and our faith would be futile; incapable of producing any useful result; pointless. If our faith is pointless and futile, then our preaching also becomes pointless and futile. It actually becomes powerless. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, no sermon would be able to change anybody's life because it would have no power. We would preach Christ and Christ crucified, but the one who did not rise from the dead. This then causes us to misrepresent Christ. We would be liars. We would be huge hypocrites. 

    Also, if Jesus did not rise from the dead, we are still in our sins because Hebrews 10:3-4/11 states the following;  

    “But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.”

    In other words, we are not able to be freed from sin; ever. This is because the sacrifices that were brought daily and yearly forgave the person, but never was able to clear the conscience; never free them. It didn't have the power to do so. We also need to understand one simple fact: that forgiveness comes only through the shedding of blood as it says in Hebrews 9:22-28 (read it for yourself). Thus, no shedding = no freedom. 

    If Jesus did not rise from the dead, His blood has no power. We would still be bringing sacrifices to God. Just a side note, if Jesus did not rise from the dead, He would have died like any other sacrifice. No animal resurrected after it was sacrificed. Well, I don't recall reading about a sacrifice rising from the dead and walking once again... 

    There would be no hope for any sinner at all because it says that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). In other words, we are all under God's wrath and we have no hope on the day of judgment. In other words, there is no point in life... In other words, live as you want because there is still no hope anyways...

    Oh, and one more thing; if Jesus did not rise from the dead, then those that fell asleep, are gone forever. If they are not raised, then Jesus did not rise from the dead. Why? Because the dead have to rise if Jesus rose. For the dead to rise, Jesus had to rise first. Otherwise, what "power" would cause them to rise? 

Last one on this list I promise; if Jesus did not rise from the dead, that means death, which is God’s enemy, is stronger than God. It means the devil is actually the true ruler. It means that God miserably failed. In other words, the devil is the "winner" of this "challenge." This then leads to every Christian is the most pitied of all people. Think about it, if there is literally no hope and assurance, why even "try" living for God? Why go to church? Why read your bible and pray? Why should you try to abstain from this world if Christ did not rise from the dead? Just go, and live your life that you have dreamed of. No one is stopping you...

    BUT...

    We read in 1 Corinthians 15:20 

    "But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep."

    

    The fact that He DID rise from the dead means that his suffering and death HAVE power. His blood in fact has the power to cleanse us. It was confirmed or “marked” by His resurrection. Death was not able to hold Him. It then cannot hold those that put their trust in God. Which we can read about in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 also; verses 54-57:

    "When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

So, let us now move on unto the second question: 

    What is the result of this powerful resurrection of Jesus Christ?

    The very first important thing above all is the fact that the relationship between God and us people is restored through His blood and resurrection. We are now reconciled with our Father. How amazing?! Why is this amazing? It's is amazing because if we read the first several chapters in Genesis, we will quickly realize the sinful nature of people. We understand and see how before the fall, God had free fellowship with His creation with no boundaries and walls. After the fall, sin became the wall or boundary between us and God. So, from the very beginning, we see the gospel unfolding. Person after person, event after event, prophecy after prophecy, and book after book, we see the gospel unwrapping. So, Jesus coming down here and dying for us, then rising from the dead, goes all the way back to Genesis. We read in the Bible how in the first Adam all were brought to death, thus in the "new" Adam, everyone who believes will be brought to life. 

    Another very important thing that I cannot miss, is that we are set free from the bondage of sin; slavery. 

    In Galatians 5:1, we read: 

    "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery."

    

    Who has set us free? Christ. How? Through His death AND resurrection. So, when we repent and turn from our wicked ways and turn to Jesus, we are able to be set free from the bondage of sin. What cleanses us? His precious blood; His powerful blood!

    Also, in Colossians 2:13-15, Paul writes, 

    "And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him."

    What amazes me every time I read this passage or any other passage that talk about God's forgiveness, is His love. Just think about how many sins you have committed. Try to imagine how big your (mine) debt was? It was so huge that it caused Christ to leave His heavenly realm and come down to a earthly sinful earth filled with sinners; like me and you. Why did "Jesus" have to come down here? Because like we looked at already, no animal would be able to set us free. No sacrifice of an animal would be able to reconcile us with the Father. Because our debt was so big, the only way out would be to have Jesus come down here and shed His precious, holy blood for us. 

    Just pause for a second or two and try grasping that. Just think and thank God for what He's done.

    Yes, the result/s of His resurrection are not finished here. I want to look at 2 more (there are many more, go and read the full chapters of Isaiah 52-54). We read in Romans 8:1-4, 

    "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. The power of Jesus’ resurrection takes away our condemnation. There is true freedom from the law and sin."

    The fact that we are forgiven is great in all, but it does not stop there! To those of us who are in Christ, there is now NO condemnation. Towards the end of this chapter, Paul writes about how if God is for us, who can really be against us? If God justifies, who can bring any charge against us? No matter what the devil tells us if we are in Christ, there is no condemnation. No matter what others may tell you, there is NO condemnation!!! But wait... you may say that you have sinned "too many times." You missed the mark.. We all did! The great news is Jesus!!! We are able to come to Him and receive forgiveness, freedom, and assurance. There is just so much that I can't write it all in this blog post or even in general. I urge you to seek it out yourself. Study the Bible and you will receive such a blessing! 

    Finally, if death, or the consequence of sin, was not able to hold Jesus down, how much more does it not have power over us those who are in Christ Jesus? He rose so then He would never die again. His resurrection gives us hope and makes our faith valid. Our faith is not in vain. Our hope is not in vain. This then goes back to what I mentioned earlier; that if Jesus did not risd from the dead, our preaching is in vain and has no power. Thus, the fact that Jesus DID rise from the dead, our preaching HAS power. Not because of who we are or because we "studied" or "prayed" enough. But, it has power because the message of the gospel itself has power. Jesus Himself has power. When we preach Christ and Christ crucified, the power of God is displayed. When we preach and are filled with the Holy Spirit, the people receive the message into their ears and then the same Holy Spirit takes the same message to their hearts which creates a change. And we know for sure that in Titus 1:1-3

        

     “Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began 3 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;” 

    Yes, notice the part where Paul says “God never lies.” What He promised He will do. We are able to put our hope in the Lord and be assured that His word is true. 

    In conclusion, Jesus did rise from the dead. There is so much power and value in it that we don’t know yet. I don’t know if we will ever comprehend and experience God’s power in full. But, I know one thing; we can experience it more and more if we seek Him more and more. We are able to reflect his power and light unto others. So, what are you waiting for, go let someone know about this great powerful event in history! Go let someone know that there is true freedom, forgiveness, love. That there is someone who cares. Go and tell because He died such a terrifying death for me and you!

    God bless you all!