The Resurrection

The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the foundation of the gospel message. Throughout the book of Acts and the Epistles we find references to this miraculous event. Jesus was not the first person to return from the dead. There are Old Testament examples of people coming back from the dead, and Jesus Himself raised several from the dead in the gospels. However, they all died again.

And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. (Col. 1:18)

Jesus was the first ‘born’ from the dead. He was the first to conquer death and was raised in His incorruptible, eternal body. He will not die again.

This same resurrection power takes place in all who believe in Him. “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Rom. 10:9)

“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” (Rom. 8:11)

The resurrection is more than an event that happened 2,000 years ago. It is happening daily around the world. Men and women are believing in the resurrection of Jesus and then experiencing their own resurrection. Life takes the place of death, light drives out darkness, faith replaces fear and joy replaces depression.

This is what it means to be born again. Your spirit must be raised from the dead (separation from God). When He returns our bodies will also experience the transforming power of the resurrection. The resurrection is more than a day of remembrance. It is the day that we proclaim life from the dead!

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. (1 Pet. 1:3)