LIVING IN THE LOVE AND GRACE OF OUR SAVIOR
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“I am the Resurrection and the Life.” – John 11:25
Jesus speaks these revelatory words before His miraculous raising of Lazarus from the dead in the town of Bethany. He is here revealing His prophetic role as Savior of all humanity. He is affirming His divinity as the eternal I Am. He is declaring His resurrection power and authority over life and death.
“I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” – Revelation 1:18
The resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. It offers hope to all who place their trust in Christ, the unchanging One… whose existence is from eternity past to eternity future. He reigns over all the physical and spiritual world. Because He has conquered death, believers are assured of everlasting life in His blessed presence.
“For My Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” – John 6:40
At salvation, Jesus transforms us by His power into new creations. We are born anew… made alive in Christ. He purifies our sinful life and past. He imparts to us His perfect righteousness, His holiness. We are raised to new life spiritually in this world… and promised an eternal, glorified life in the world to come.
“Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” – 1 John 5:12
Jesus is the central focus of our faith. In Him alone we find true life. Just as He has risen from the dead, so we have risen from the death our sins brought upon us. Our sins are forever forgiven, covered by His sacrificial blood. Because of the victory Jesus won for us over sin and death, we walk in newness of life. Our resurrection life is in Him, by Him and through Him.
“Before long, the world will not see Me anymore, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live.” – John 14:19
Jesus here promises His followers that, even though He will soon be leaving them, He will always be near to those with eyes of faith. His Spirit comes to abide in all who believe. Jesus never ceases to be our Redeemer, Mediator and Friend. He lives for us, with us and in us. Our lives, ever hidden in Him, can never be lost.
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” – Galatians 2:20
Is our resurrected life for eternity only… or can it be lived today?
The new, resurrected life in Christ is not just a distant hope but a present reality. For our eternal life begins at salvation… the milestone in our lives when we make that momentous decision of faith. Many think the risen life is only a future reward… and are missing out on promised spiritual blessings in their daily walk. Yet all believers can live this resurrected life in Christ today.
What are the blessings of this present resurrection life?
† Living in fellowship with the risen Christ
Could there be a better blessing? To abide with the Holy One Himself. To commune with Him. To find joy in His presence. To live in His love and peace. For we have been newly made by His transformative power. His grace and holiness are manifested in our lives. All that we have and all that we are can be traced to Him. He becomes our everything.
† Living in trust, courage and boldness
Ours is a life of faith… faith in the Omnipotent One who commands the universe. Our Savior has walked this world before us and emerged victorious. Because He lives, and we are united with Him, we live. We live the risen life. The enemy has no ultimate power over us. Jesus safeguards us from evil… and delivers us from trials and temptations.
The power of Christ’s Spirit lives in us. Thus, we can face life bravely, with strength and fortitude, even in the face of adversity. We can step out boldly with His confidence to share the blessed hope within us… to spread the fragrance of Christ to a lost world.
† Living in light of eternity
Life is lived in the confidence of a promised hope. Our faith rests in the One who conquered death… who holds the keys to death and Hades. Death no longer holds power or fear over us. For the end of this present life is not the end. It is just the beginning of a future with Christ forevermore. We can live the resurrected life of grace now… holding in our hearts the hope of everlasting joy in the perfect life to come.
