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Living The Resurrected Life
“Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die.” (John 11:25,26 NASB)
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20 NASB)
In this season, we commemorate the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a time when we remember His death and celebrate His resurrection. We remember His death because it purchased our salvation (1 Peter 1:18,19). We celebrate His resurrection because it signifies that He has victory over the grave and as He lives on in eternity so will we one day. Scripture calls His resurrection the “first fruits” of those who have died (1Corinthians 15:20).
There will come a day when our mortal bodies will take on immortality and we will be made like Him (1 Corinthians 15:22,42-49). This is wonderful and we along with all of creation long for it (Romans 8:22, 23) but that is not the only benefit of the resurrection of our Lord.
The resurrection of our Lord makes it possible for us to live a victorious life of love, joy and peace. What we don’t always realize is that Jesus’ death and resurrection was not just a death benefit but also a life benefit. Colossians 2:6 states, “As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.” Just as we were saved by faith so we must live our lives by faith. This life of faith is realized as we embrace the resurrected life. In this article we will explore why and how it is possible to experience joy, peace and a sense of victory every day.
Why It is Possible
Before any resurrection can occur, there must first be a death. Ephesians 2:1 (NASB) states, “You were dead in your trespasses and sins.” Since the fall of Adam, every human being comes into this world spiritually dead, separated from God. As a result, we are all candidates for a resurrection. Ephesians 2:5-6 (NASB) goes on to say that at the moment of salvation, we were “made alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly place, in Christ Jesus.”
When we put our faith in Christ for salvation, several things happened. We know that our sins were forgiven providing for us peace with God resulting in a place in heaven with him, but we were also given a new life here on earth (John 10:10b). It is a resurrected life. It is a life that is holy and eternal that is lived out among the ungodly and the temporal. It is a life that enables us to have a sense of victory in all situations. This is revealed as we explore what it means to be seated with Christ is heavenly places. Ephesians 1:20-23 describes being seated in heavenly places with Christ as a place of authority over “all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come.”
The rule, authority and power and dominion is referring to ranks of demonic powers. This is confirmed in Ephesians 6:12 where similar language is used and it is further described as “spiritual wickedness” and “forces of darkness”. So we don’t have to be under any circumstance because in Christ we are over every circumstance. “Greater is He that is in us than He that is in the world” 1 John 4:4b (NASB). This speaks of the resurrected life of Christ that comes to abide in us at salvation through the person of the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit comes to live in us, we are given a new nature and the old sinful nature is put to death (Romans 6:4-6).
This new nature brings the nature of God to our lives known as “the fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16-24). It enables us to live a consistent life of joy and peace freeing us from anxiety, dread and fear. It enables us to obey the command to “rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4-7). We may agree that it sounds good in theory but wonder how to access it in our daily lives especially in times of trial.
How It is Possible
The resurrected life is accessed by faith. Colossians 2:6 (NASB), states “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk in Him.” The term “walk” is not referring to a stroll down the street but rather ones life/lifestyle (Ephesians 4:1-3). Faith is a key to the Kingdom of God. It unlocks the power and provision of God in our lives. The resurrected life is manifested in our lives when we by faith yield the control of our lives to the Holy Spirit daily.
This yielding to the Holy Spirit’s control enables us to be filled with the Holy Spirit. This releases the nature of the Holy Spirit in our lives (Ephesians 5:18-21). His nature will dominate rather than our old nature and we will experience love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control in any situation. (Galatians 5:22, 23). This is also called in Scripture “abiding in Christ,” “abiding in His Word,” and allowing the Word of God to dwell in us richly (John 15:1-11 & Colossians 3:16).
It is making a conscious choice throughout the day to say “no” to the flesh and “yes” to the Holy Spirit. It is not an option. It is command (Ephesians 5:18). We are commanded to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Any thing less is like taking peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on a cruise ship. When you run out of sandwiches you go hungry when others who paid the same fare dine sumptuously. The sandwiches represents our own human efforts and limited resources. The ship’s banquets represents the abundant peace and joy that belong to us as joint heirs with Christ, who are invited to live as Kingdom citizens.
The Challenge
Stop trying to produce in your life what only the Holy Spirit can produce. Get off of the roller coaster and begin experiencing consistently the joy, peace and power of the resurrected life. Practice yielding to the Holy Spirit in the everyday challenges of life so that you may soar through the bigger challenges. Simply confess any known sin in thought, attitude, or action; receive God’s forgiveness (1 John 1:9); and ask the Holy Spirit to take control. Imagine yourself putting your hand in His hand and allowing Him to walk you through your day.
Meditate on the Word of God to assure yourself that God is in control and “has your back.” You can allow Him control because He is trustworthy. Use your own words to agree with the Word and declare your victory throughout the day and “rejoice in the Lord always!” Let’s pray.
Prayer:
“Lord, I confess that I have tried to live the Christian life in my own strength and I have failed. Thank You for forgiving me of living independent of You. I surrender the control of my life to You. I know that You love me and I can trust You with this precious possession. Live Your resurrected life in me that I may live the abundant life You purchased for me. I love You and I thank You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Copyright © 2008-2015 Shermaine Jones
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