Living Resurrected
We just celebrated our King Jesus this past weekend, but I pray that the power of His resurrection isn’t just celebrated on a calendar date. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a daily reality as believers to live resurrected with Him.
To live resurrected is to live transformed, radically reshaped by the mercy and power of God through Jesus Christ. His resurrection is the very foundation of our new identity, and our purpose orchestrated by the Almighty God before the foundations of the world. It means we are no longer bound by death, sin, or temporary things of this world. We now live with a living hope, anchored in heaven, and empowered by faith in the One true Savior of the world.
1 Peter 1:3-8:
“ 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
What does it look like to live resurrected?
Living resurrected means…
We are born again into a Living Hope (3).
We have eternal life through a Savior who has conquered death! But the key is being born again. Have you been made new in Christ?
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
Through Jesus’ death—the full payment for our sins—and His resurrection—the defeat of death—we are reconciled to the Father. When He died, our old selves died with Him.
“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4
This living hope is imperishable. As Charles Spurgeon wrote, “The only imperishable hope is that which climbs upon the stars and fixes itself upon the throne of God and the person of Jesus Christ.”
Come, friend. Walk in the newness of life through the only Living Hope of Jesus Christ.
2. We have an Eternally Secured Inheritance (4-5).
Our inheritance—God Himself—is a gift that begins now and lasts forever. It is sealed by Christ’s finished work on the cross, as He exclaimed, “Tetelestai, It is Finished!”
We don’t receive this inheritance unless we are born again. And when we speak to those who don’t know Jesus, we must not only speak of the agonies of hell—but the glories of heaven.
For believers, this promise is certain. Faith activates the preserving power of God in the life of the Christian, reminding us that nothing can separate us from the love of God.
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39
3. We suffer for the sake of Christ until Glory (6-7).
We especially rejoice in God’s keeping power when we are grieved by various trials. God has a purpose not only for the trials but also for the heavy grief we feel in the trial. This testing is to display the enduring quality of our faith – or the lack thereof. When we are tested, may God find our faith enduring and beautiful!
If gold is to be tested and purified by fire, then how much more should our faith, which is more precious than gold, be tested? It is the honor of the believer in Christ Jesus to be tested and suffer. One day, this world will perish, but our faith will not! The “end of your faith” is the return of Jesus and the ultimate salvation of our souls. As we await our Lord Jesus to return, may we suffer joyfully for His name and glory.
“For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,“ Philippians 1:29
4. We live in Abundance of Joy (8-9).
Joy inexpressible. A joy so profound, it is beyond the power of words to express.
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11
Though we have not seen Jesus, we love Him, because our souls long for the day we reunite with our Father God. This is what we were made for!
Let’s not leave the resurrection behind with the calendar weekend. Let’s live resurrected—every day—with living hope, eternal security, expectant purification, and inexpressible joy. He is risen, and so are we.
A prayer to take with you this week to live resurrected with Jesus:
To my Heavenly Father,
I remember your great love and sacrifice on the cross for me. For me, for my heart, for my soul, for my flaws, for my everything. I remember how you endured the cross to give me this living hope, imperishable, and more precious than gold. I sit looking at the cross, knowing you brought me to life with you, through your death. What a love that is greater than death itself! Thank you for your love, your self-sacrificing, cross-carrying love – that brings me this living hope, sincere faith, and joy inexpressible! And how inexpressible it is, my Lord. For all of my days, may I sit at your feet, praising you! For you are worthy! You knew you were going to the cross and you bore the full wrath of God for me. For me! How undeserving I am and what great mercy you have. I love you Lord – though I have never seen you, I love you, for you are the realest love I have ever known. My Lord, my God, my Savior, my friend. I just want to thank you. For all of my days, until my lungs give out. You are my God. Forever and ever!
Amen
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