EASTER: THE SAME POWER
Terry R. Baughman
“If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11).
The resurrection of Jesus is more than a story of history, a wonderful miracle of one who lived long ago; it is a relevant promise in the present and the vibrant hope of the future. The fact of Jesus rising from the dead to never face death again is the greatest achievement of all time. If the resurrection wasn’t miracle enough, consider the fact that He still lives!
Paul spoke much of the resurrection. He declared Jesus to be, “The Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4). This message is what makes our faith valid and our Gospel powerful. To the Corinthians Paul wrote, “If Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty” (1 Corinthians 15:14).
Because of the importance of our faith in the resurrection Paul devotes an entire chapter to the subject to offer assurances and provide a list of the multitude of witnesses who saw Jesus after He had arisen from the dead. He declared, “Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). Not only has Christ triumphed over death, hell, and the grave, He has provided us the opportunity to live again for all eternity. Inasmuch as sin came into the world from Adam’s transgression we now have hope of everlasting life through Christ Jesus, “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22).
The Gospel has relevance in that we are personally identified with His death through repentance of sins, His burial through our baptism in water calling on the name of Jesus, and His resurrection through the baptism of the Holy Spirit and power. Paul made this connection when he said, “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).
Not only do we experience the resurrection in the New Life Jesus gives us, but we are also given the hope of a resurrection into life eternal if we have received His Spirit. Paul said, “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 because of his Spirit who lives in you” Romans 8:11 NIV).
Resurrection power is hear and it is available to everyone who believes. The Same Power that raised Jesus from the dead will also bring life to be united with Him in a glorious new life. He lives!
“Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him” (Romans 6:8-9). His life is evidence that we may also live. Death has no more power over the child of God. Embrace the power. Accept His promise. Receive all that God has for you this Easter!
Scripture:
“You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” (Acts 1:8).
Terry R. Baughman
“If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11).
The resurrection of Jesus is more than a story of history, a wonderful miracle of one who lived long ago; it is a relevant promise in the present and the vibrant hope of the future. The fact of Jesus rising from the dead to never face death again is the greatest achievement of all time. If the resurrection wasn’t miracle enough, consider the fact that He still lives!
Paul spoke much of the resurrection. He declared Jesus to be, “The Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4). This message is what makes our faith valid and our Gospel powerful. To the Corinthians Paul wrote, “If Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty” (1 Corinthians 15:14).
Because of the importance of our faith in the resurrection Paul devotes an entire chapter to the subject to offer assurances and provide a list of the multitude of witnesses who saw Jesus after He had arisen from the dead. He declared, “Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). Not only has Christ triumphed over death, hell, and the grave, He has provided us the opportunity to live again for all eternity. Inasmuch as sin came into the world from Adam’s transgression we now have hope of everlasting life through Christ Jesus, “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22).
The Gospel has relevance in that we are personally identified with His death through repentance of sins, His burial through our baptism in water calling on the name of Jesus, and His resurrection through the baptism of the Holy Spirit and power. Paul made this connection when he said, “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).
Not only do we experience the resurrection in the New Life Jesus gives us, but we are also given the hope of a resurrection into life eternal if we have received His Spirit. Paul said, “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 because of his Spirit who lives in you” Romans 8:11 NIV).
Resurrection power is hear and it is available to everyone who believes. The Same Power that raised Jesus from the dead will also bring life to be united with Him in a glorious new life. He lives!
“Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him” (Romans 6:8-9). His life is evidence that we may also live. Death has no more power over the child of God. Embrace the power. Accept His promise. Receive all that God has for you this Easter!
Scripture:
“You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” (Acts 1:8).
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