Living in Light of the Resurrection

Do people see Jesus when they look at you? We’re one with Him now, if we’ve trusted in Him alone for salvation. That means people should encounter His presence in us—at least sometimes. We’re talking about a tangible difference that your neighbor or family member could see by the way you live today. Unfortunately, for most of us, today isn’t that day. It’s much easier to recall the last time we misrepresented Christ. But we don’t have to live there.

Consider this amazing Scripture penned by the Apostle Paul about 2,000 years ago:

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you (Romans 8:11, ESV).

Aren’t those wonderful words to hear at Easter? Though it’s far too normal for us to look nothing like Jesus—a problem Paul himself experienced regularly (Romans 7:14-25)—the promise for us is this: the Spirit of our resurrected Christ will rise up within us. He can do nothing less! The good news of the Gospel is really good news. All that was once dead can be brought to life, and all that was broken can be set right—because of Jesus. And the Word is clear: the resurrection is everything. Without it, there is no lasting hope on earth (1 Corinthians 15:14).

Paul tells us in Romans that everyone who has been baptized into Christ is baptized into His death and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4). This is why the apostle can go on to say:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

An old identity dies, and God’s Spirit comes to take up residence in us (1 Corinthians 6:19), supplying new life to our bodies.

Let that sink in for a moment. The holy, living God who upholds the universe by the Word of His power has decided to call your body His home (John 14:23). Now, God’s Word promises that the Spirit who empowered Jesus to burst from the grave—breaking the chains of death forever—will also burst forth from your once-dead body to fill your world with light and life. And that is what we are celebrating at Easter! May we live all our days in light of the resurrection.

For the world’s sake, let’s pray until the embers of faith bring this promise to life in us and in our churches. People need to see Jesus, and nothing less can rescue them from the terrible onslaught of sin and Satan. If they just see us, that won’t do anything. But we who place our faith in Christ alone are now, together, the fullness of Him who fills all of us and lives in all of us (Ephesians 1:22-23). When people meet us, they can meet the resurrected Christ who has the power to save them from their sin.

Father, thank you for sending your Son to rescue us from oppression and give us new life. We believe your Spirit is greater than death itself. We believe you can overcome our sinful natures and habits by your power that overcame the grave for Jesus. Please fill our mortal bodies with life until the world sees you when it meets us, and may we see the Gospel go far and wide rescuing the hopeless. In Jesus’ Name we pray, amen!

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Scripture is quoted from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®). ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.