As Easter Sunday approaches, Christians all over the world gather and celebrate Christ’s resurrection form the dead. Christ was crucified and after 3 days rose from the dead. That act shook the world and is still being discussed and debated today almost 2000 years later. This good news, also called the Gospel, of faith in Christ’s death, burial and resurrection imparting spiritual life into man is still ongoing. You can initially follow the spread of the Gospel as recorded in Acts. The main focus of many of Peter’s 1st messages stressed Christ’s resurrection and significance of it. Peter stressed that by faith in Christ’s death, burial and resurrection, man’s sins are forgiven; man is indwelt with the Holy Spirit and now spiritually alive. This is awesome because man has now been made alive in Christ.
Ephesians 2:5 (NASB) 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
I am so thankful that I am spiritually alive. When Easter Sunday rolls around every year, I reminisce on how I came to Christ. I am thankful for the Pastor who explained the Gospel to me, and led me to Christ 26 years ago. In more recent years, Easter has taken on a brand new meaning to me. I am thankful for more than my sins being forgiven, I am thankful that I can live in the power of Christ’s resurrection. This is because I have discovered that not only was Christ raised from the dead, but I also was raised from the dead. My old man (old Adam nature) was crucified, when Christ was crucified, because I am in Christ. I have been raised with Christ, because I am in Christ. This hit home for me when I understood the truths of Roman’s 6. This is my favorite chapter in the Bible. There is so much there in Roman’s 6, but I want to look at one particular verse,
Romans 6:5 (NASB) 5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,
I was united with Christ in His Death (because I am In Christ), and I am also united with Christ in His resurrection (because I am In Christ). Being united with Christ means I am joined to Him. Being united is the opposite of separation. I was separated before receiving spiritual life. After becoming spiritually alive, I am now united with Christ.
Wow, that sounds great. I am united with Christ, and not only me, all believers are united with Christ. This truth escaped me for many years. Now Easter takes on a new meaning for me. Easter now reminds me of several spiritual truths, my sins are forgiven, I am spiritually alive, I am united with Christ and I can now experience Christ’s Resurrection Life.
Paul made the goal of his ministry and life to know and experience the power of the resurrection. To live and experience the resurrection life. Paul in the book of Philippians right after explaining the law is rubbish in obtaining spiritual life says in Phil 3:9:
Philippians 3:9 (NASB) 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,
Paul being done with the law says he has a new goal. To know and experience the power of the resurrection. This is a great goal for all believers.
Philippians 3:10 A (NASB) 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection
All believers can experience the power of Christ’s resurrection in their lives. We have the power in us, because we are united with Christ. This power is unleashed when we get to know Christ intimately. Easter is a reminder that all believers have the ability to live the resurrection life. Isn’t that good news!
If you would like to learn more about the resurrection life and the truths described here, come join us at Grace Christian Church, currently meeting at the Freehold VFW, every Sunday at 9:30am.
In Him,
Rob Parlante
Elder / Grace Christian Church
