Risen
with Christ
“Death stung itself to death, when it stung Christ”
–– Romaine.
The greatest event that has ever occurred in history is the
resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The work of Christ divides itself into what Christ accomplished as our Sinbearer, and
what He did as our Life-giver. He not only bore our sins on the cross,
but He gives us eternal life.
As believers we look back upon our old nature, the old man, the
penalty for sin and its punishment, and forward at the “all things that have become
new” in Christ.
The apostle Paul declared, “if Christ be not raised, your faith
is in vain, you are yet in your sins” (1 Cor. 15:17). Christ was so identified with
our sins as our representative that God had to condemn Him to death. “For the wages
of sin is death.” “The soul that sins will surely die.” “God made Him
sin who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf . . .”
If Jesus Christ still lies in a cold, dark grave in Jerusalem then
you are still in your sins and you must pay your own death penalty as a sinner. The wages
of sin must be paid in full. You will pay it or your divine Substitute will pay it for
you. “If Christ be not raised your faith is in vain . . . ,” and you are still
dead in your transgressions and sins.
Since Christ has risen from the dead and we are risen with Him, we
are not in our sins. We “shall never perish.” Jesus said, “My Father, who has given them to Me,
is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s
hand” (John 10:29).
The apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore, if you have been raised up
with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of
God” (Col. 3:1). We have been quickened together with Christ, raised up together with
Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:4-6).
We have been made alive with Christ, and have become permanently
united with Christ in the likeness of His resurrection. “When you were dead in your
transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him,
having forgiven us all our transgressions,” (Col. 2:13).
Our resurrection in Christ Jesus lifts us to a new life in Christ.
“In Christ crucified we put off the old man; in Christ risen we put on the new
man.”
The cross was for the destruction of the body of
sin; the resurrection was for the imparting to us the principle of
divine life. That is not to say our sinful nature was eradicated. It
does say there is a new life principle at work in us. We now have a
choice as to what power we will yield to.
The resurrected Christ gives life to the dead, unregenerate soul in
this life, and He will give life to the body when He comes again. These bodies of
corruption will be transformed when Christ returns. Because Christ lives we have “a
lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Pet. 1:30).
Believers are already risen with Him, through the faith of the
operation of God. Because we have become united with Christ in His resurrection,
divine life has been imparted to us.
We have the power to overcome sin in our daily lives.
Moreover, we have received the adoption of sons because Christ was
“declared to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead.”
Because He lives we, too, live. He is the Life-giver. We enjoy
eternal life because He has risen from the dead. The only way to live the Christian life
is to abide in the risen Christ and to draw our spiritual life from Him.
Because Christ lives we enjoy His dwelling in us by His Spirit. For
if Christ had not risen from the dead we would not have the Holy Spirit as our guarantee
and down payment of the fullness to come.
We are so identified with Christ that whatever has happened to Him
has happened to us. When He died, we died. When He arose, we arose in Him, and we are now
seated with Him in the heavenly places. We have been raised from the dead and now walk in
the power of His resurrection. We walk in “newness of life” because we share in
His life.
“Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God
in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 6:11).
Since we have been crucified with Christ, and were dead in Him we
must also be one with Him in His resurrection.
“If you be risen with Christ.” Are you alive in Him? Has He
quickened you and given you new life? He has if you are “in Him.” If you have
been saved by grace alone He has raised you up and has seated you together with Him in
heavenly places. Have you come to “know Him and the power of His resurrection”?
Jesus said, “Because I live, you shall live also.” We are in Christ, and He is
in us. Dead with Christ, risen with Christ!
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
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