Today, we (believers) are citizens of Heaven (see Philippians 3:20) because of the love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, “who was delivered up for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.” (Romans 4:25 KJV). We (believers) are righteous because of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is my prayer that all of humanity will strive to know Jesus and the power of His resurrection. Knowing Jesus and the power of His resurrection was the apostle Paul’s life goal also. In his epistle to the Philippians, he wrote: “Finally, my brethren, REJOICE IN THE LORD. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. Beware of DOGS, beware of EVIL WORKERS, beware of THE MUTILATION! For WE ARE THE CIRCUMCISION, who WORSHIP GOD IN THE SPIRIT, REJOICE IN CHRIST JESUS, and HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THE FLESH, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I MORE SO: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS IN THE LAW, blameless. But what things were GAIN to me, these I have counted LOSS for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss FOR THE EXCELLENCE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST JESUS my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and COUNT THEM AS RUBBISH, that I MAY GAIN CHRIST and be found in Him, NOT HAVING MY OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, which is from the law, BUT THAT WHICH IS THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST, the righteousness which is from God by faith; THAT I MAY KNOW HIM AND THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:1-11 NKJV, emphasis mine).
Beloved, the moment you confessed with your mouth that Jesus is your Lord, and believed in your heart that God has raised Him from dead, YOU WERE SAVED. (see Romans 10:9). But that is not all; when you believed in your heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead, the Bible says you were not believing for nothing; you were believing unto RIGHTEOUSNESS. (see Romans 10:10). In other words, you were believing to become righteous. And so you did become righteous the moment you believed in your heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead. At that very moment you ceased being a sinner — your old (sinful) self died with Christ (see Romans 6:6) and you were born again or created according to God in true holiness and RIGHTEOUSNESS (see Ephesians 4:24). At that very moment you became a new creation (see 2 Corinthians 5:17); you became God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that you should walk in them. (see Ephesians 2:10). Thus, RIGHTEOUSNESS is a GIFT (see Romans 5:17). And believing that God has raised Jesus from the dead makes available to the believer the gift of righteousness. This also conforms with the apostle Paul's declaration that Jesus "was delivered over to death for our sins and WAS RAISED TO LIFE FOR OUR JUSTIFICATION (or our righteousness)." (Romans 4:25 NIV, brackets and emphasis mine). Isn't this just awesome? All believers need to unite in thanking our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for the gift of righteousness. Indeed, what He has done for us is beyond human comprehension. And He did it all out of love. Today, we (believers) are citizens of Heaven (see Philippians 3:20) because of the love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, “who was delivered up for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.” (Romans 4:25 KJV). We (believers) are righteous because of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We must all learn, like the apostle Paul, to appreciate the righteousness which is through faith in Christ.
It is truly amazing when one comes to clearly understand the point Paul is making in Philippians 3:1-11, which is quoted above. Paul exhorts us (believers) that we should rejoice in the Lord (Jesus Christ), and beware (or stay clear) of those who seek to put us back in bondage to the Law to strive to attain the righteousness which is in the Law. (see also Galatians 2:4; Romans 7:6; Galatians 4:21-26; Galatians 5:13-18). Paul refers to such people (who seek to put us back in bondage to the Law) as “dogs,” “evil workers,” “the mutilation,” and later in verse 18, “enemies of the cross of Christ.” Paul evidently detests the attitude of such people and describes them as “evil workers” primarily because of their pride and insistence on their ability (and faithfulness) to perform the works of the Law and earn their own righteousness, which by God's standard, is just impossible (see Romans 3:20; Galatians 3:11; Galatians 2:16; Galatians 2:21). And thus, in that sense, these people have become evil workers, because in reality they do not keep the Law (see Acts 7:53; Romans 9:31; Jeremiah 11:10; Hosea 6:7), and are even sinning more, since the Law is the strength of sin. (see 1 Corinthians 15:56). Moreover, these “dogs” and “enemies of the cross” fail to realize that the presumption that one can keep the law to gain merit with God is itself inimical to the gospel; it is diametrically opposed (in the strongest way) to the will and purpose of God in giving the Law, and in sending Jesus Christ to redeem mankind from the curse of the Law. (see Galatians 2:24; Romans 3:20; Galatians 3:10-13). It is my prayer that all of humanity will strive to know Jesus and the power of His resurrection.
Knowing Jesus and the power of His resurrection was the apostle Paul’s life goal also. In his epistle to the Philippians, which we quoted above, he wrote: ”That I may know Him and THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION..." (see Philippians 3:10). There is power in the resurrection of Jesus Christ indeed, and everyone should have the same hunger or burning desire (as Paul) to know Jesus Christ and the power of His resurrection, and to participate in His sufferings so that we can share in His glory. The power of Jesus’ resurrection is such that no one can be saved without believing (in their heart) the resurrection of Jesus. The Bible says, as we noted earlier, that in order for anyone to be saved, not only must he confess with his mouth the Lord Jesus, but he must also believe in his heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead. (see Romans 10:9). It is the power of Jesus’ resurrection that gave birth to me and to you, and to all who are in Christ, whom the Bible calls the new creation (see 1 Peter 1:3; Acts 13:33; with 2 Corinthians 5:17). As a believer, the resurrection of Jesus Christ not only gave birth to you, but also gave you “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (I Peter 1:4-5 NKJV). The power of His resurrection has also made the believer righteous (through faith) by birth (see Ephesians 4:24). It has made the believer a partaker of the divine (or God) nature, and thus one with God. (see 2 Peter 1:4; 1 Corinthians 6:17; Romans 8:9; Romans 8:16; John 3:6). Jesus Himself was born or begotten of God by the power of His resurrection. (see Acts 13:33). And so today, the Bible calls Jesus the firstborn Son among many brethren. (see Romans 8:29). Jesus is also the Firstborn from the dead (see Colossians 1:18; Revelation 1:5), and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (see 1 Corinthians 15:20). Now, the firstborn or the first begotten from the dead and the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep is talking about the fact that Jesus is the first to come out (or be raised bodily) from the composite death (i.e. both physical and spiritual death) with a glorious body. Jesus was the first Man (dead both spiritually and physically) to be raised to life both spiritually and physically (or bodily), and to receive the glorious body. Jesus was the first Man to be born through the resurrection in that sense, the first Man to be raised from the dead with a spiritual and glorious body. We have all been raised from spiritual death with Jesus, but we are yet to be raised from physical death and to receive our spiritual and glorious body. If we should all die (physically) before the Lord returns, we will also be raised (at the resurrection) with that same spiritual and glorious body Jesus now has. If we don't die before Jesus returns, however, our bodies will be transformed into that glorious spiritual body upon Jesus' return, and we will be caught up together in the clouds with the dead in Christ (who will rise first) to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. (see 1 Corinthians 15:50-55; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). Indeed Jesus is the Firstborn Son among many brethren. And we are the many brethren. Both the firstborn Son and the many brethren are born of the same Father (God) by the resurrection (see Acts 13:33; with 1 Peter 1:3). And both the firstborn Son and the many brethren are the same in divine life and nature. (see 2 Peter 1:4, with 1 John 5:11-12). Hence, Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers. (see Hebrews 2:11). Hallelujah!
In fact, prior to His resurrection, the most intimate term Jesus used for His disciples was “friends” (see John 15:14-15). But after His resurrection, He began to call them “brothers” (see John 20:17), because through His resurrection, His disciples (since they believed in Him) had been regenerated or begotten of God (see 1 Peter 1:3). Therefore, the fact that the Lord is not ashamed to call us brothers indicates that we are one with Him in life and share His divine nature indeed. We are truly the sons of God, and we have the full rights of sons. And now because we are God’s sons, God has given us the Spirit of His Son. (see Galatians 4:4-7). So today we have the power or the legal right to make the claim that we are sons of God. We have the same rights (as sons) that Jesus has. The Bible says Jesus Christ is the heir of ALL THINGS. (see Hebrews 1:2). And the Bible also says that all believers are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ (see Romans 8:17). This means that collectively, believers are heirs of ALL THINGS together with Christ. No wonder Paul told the Corinthian Church that “let no one boast in men. For ALL THINGS ARE YOURS: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or THE WORLD or life or death, or things present or things to come—ALL ARE YOURS." (see I Corinthians 3:21-22). Indeed, all things are ours — things present (Heaven and earth), and things to come (the new earth and the new Heaven) are ours — because we are joint-heirs with Christ. All things are yours, beloved. And all things are mine. This is great news. And it has all been made possible by the power of Jesus’ resurrection.
Thus, we always have to remember that we are the sons of God and joint-heirs with Christ only because we are IN Christ. In all things Christ has the preeminence, because He is the Head of the Body. (see Colossians 1:18). We are the Body of Christ. We have to abide in Him and let His Word abide in us in order to experience the fullness of our inheritance and power as sons. God has given all authority in Heaven and on earth to His Son Jesus Christ. And Jesus shares that authority with those of us who believe in Him and thus are His brothers and joint-heirs with Him. (see Matthew 28:18-20). He says, in His name we will cast out demons; we will speak with new tongues; we will take up serpents; and if we drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt us; we will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. (see Mark 16:17-18). For us to be able to experience all of these, we have to abide in Him and allow His Word to abide in us. This is why Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5 NKJV). The apostle Paul was walking in the consciousness of this truth when he declared that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13 NKJV).
Beloved, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Let us, therefore, get to know Christ more deeply and intimately through His Word. Let us get to know the power of His resurrection, because the resurrection of Jesus Christ is central to the gospel of Christ. The book of Acts shows how the disciples were witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection, and how they preached it powerfully to the world. “And with great power the apostles GAVE WITNESS TO THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD JESUS. And great grace was upon them all” (Acts 4:33 NKJV; see also 1:21-22; 2:29-32; 4:1-2). Peter witnessed about the resurrection of Jesus Christ in the very first sermon he preached on the Day of Pentecost. (see Acts 2:22-32). He quoted David (in the Psalms) to prove that the resurrection of Jesus Christ was prophesied in the Old Testament, and that it was not possible that death could hold Jesus. (see Acts 2:30-31). Then in 1 Peter 1:3 he says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope THROUGH the RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ from the dead.” This speaks mightily of the power of Jesus’ resurrection. We were begotten through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The resurrection of Jesus is the central message of the church, a message no true church of Christ can deny. Hence, the resurrection of Jesus Christ was also at the core of the apostle Paul’s teachings. For example, in Athens, Paul spoke forcefully to the philosophers about the resurrection of Christ. “Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, ‘What does this babbler want to say?’ Others said, ‘He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,’ because HE PREACHED TO THEM JESUS AND THE RESURRECTION.” (Acts 17:18 NKJV). Paul then told them, “‘Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all BY RAISING HIM FROM THE DEAD.’ And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, ‘We will hear you again on this matter’” (see verses 30-32).
In his letter to the Corinthian Church, Paul again preached about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He said, “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time” (1 Corinthians 15:3-8 NKJV). Then Paul adds, “Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.” (I Corinthians 15:12-22 NKJV).
In the Book of Revelation, John also bears witness of the resurrection of Jesus Christ whom he calls “the Faithful Witness, the Firstborn from the dead, and the Ruler over all the kings of the earth.” (see Revelation 1:5 NKJV). Jesus Himself — the Faithful Witness — also bears witness of His own resurrection. He says, “I am HE WHO LIVES, AND WAS DEAD, AND BEHOLD, I AM ALIVE FOREVERMORE. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.” (Revelation 1:18 NKJV).
Beloved, just like Peter says, the resurrection of Jesus Christ has indeed given a living hope to mankind; and we have to proclaim to the world the same message Paul preached, that indeed Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead for our justification. (see Romans 4:25). Let us proclaim this message everywhere. Let us encourage all men to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and to receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness to reign in life. (see Romans 5:17). Amen. Remain blessed.
I share this message, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16).
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