The Bible teaches that the Lord Jesus Christ – the Lamb of God – was slain from the foundation of the world, and was manifested at the end of the world for our sake. 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). 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: "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. In fact, 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, 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; Romans 1:4). And so today, the Bible calls Jesus the firstborn Son among many brethren. (see Romans 8:29). 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; Romans 1:4; 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; 1 John 4:17). Hence, Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers. (see Hebrews 2:11).
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 NKJV, emphasis mine). Indeed, all things are ours – things present (the earth), and things to come (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. 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 NKJV). 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; 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 delivered 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. 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, emphasis mine). 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). 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). 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, emphasis mine).
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 abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness to reign in life. (see Romans 5:17). To those of you who have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Savior, I encourage you to do so now. Today, if you believe in Jesus Christ, He will come to live in your heart, and you too will be born again and have eternal life. The Bible says, “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (I John 5:11-12 NKJV). So if you desire to receive Jesus and make HIM your Lord and Savior today, pray and call on His Name. I cannot do your praying for you, but if you need guidance, pray this prayer from your heart: “Almighty God, I acknowledge that I am a sinner in need of salvation, and I thank you for sending your beloved Son Jesus Christ to die for me and to bear the judgment for my sins. I believe that Jesus Christ was crucified for my sins and was raised from the dead for my justification. I accept Jesus today as my Lord and Savior. And I thank you that I have received eternal life in the name of Jesus. Amen.”
If you prayed this prayer sincerely from your heart, I’m happy for you. You are born again! Welcome to God’s family. I encourage you to join a local church that preaches the gospel of grace so that you can grow further in your knowledge and understanding of the Word of God. You’re now God’s child. You're now a new creation in Christ. The devil had a hold over your old man because of sin, but he has no hold over you as a new creation — because of righteousness. You have eternal life. I thank God that you have been born again as a new creation in Christ. Stop regarding yourself according to the flesh (see 2 Corinthians 5:16). You are spirit. (see John 3:6). You are no longer a sinner. There is a permanent change in your spirit. You have the life of God in you. You have a new nature — Christ is in you. You have His ability in you. You are no longer held back by the past, and you can live for the future in Christ, according to all His promises. You are an overcomer. (see 1 John 5:4-5). You can experience the overcoming life by walking by faith and by allowing Jesus to live in and through you. (see Galatians 2:20). The victory that overcomes is your faith. 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).
