The Case for the Resurrection - Pt. 5

Today, we will complete our thoughts about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We receive many benefits that Christ accomplished in the Resurrection. Muse over these thoughts today:

The Resurrection gives us eternal life. The mission of Jesus was to provide salvation and eternal life (John 3:16). Jesu told us that "I am the resurrection and the life, he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." (John 11:25). Paul tells us in Romans 6:23 - "The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

The Resurrection imparts power to the believer. The Christian has the power to overcome the devil, the world, and the flesh. This ability comes through the Resurrection. When we understand the power that CHrist has provided, it changes our lives as we serve Him. We can have the victory by reckoning ourselves alive (Romans 6:11), yielding (Romans 6:13), and obeying (Romans 6:17).

The Resurrection provides for our future resurrection. His resurrection is a pattern and prediction of our future resurrection. The fact that Jesus rose from the dead guarantees our future resurrection. (1 Corinthians 15:12, 20; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

There is a difference between our standing and state. Because of Christ's resurrection, when we accept by faith the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8-9) our standing immediately changes. It that moment we exchange our righteousness for the righteousness of Jesus and we are perfect - in Heaven. However, our state at the present moment is that we still live in our physical bodies and still sin. We live in the tension of the "already and not yet." This is the difference between justification and sanctification. Justification is a once and for all transaction that God has declared that because of Christ all claims against the sinner has been satisfied (standing). Sanctification is the on-going daily process of making us more like Christ because we still sin (state). 

These are just three of the many benefits as believers we receive because of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Again, I challenge you to muse over these thoughts today - this should lift you up and cause you joy unspeakable.