Just Because He Lives
Texts:
John 14:19 & 1 Cor. 15:14-21
Key Concepts:
- What difference does the resurrection of Christ make in your life?
- Because I live, you also will live
- What kind of life did Christ live?
A Christian, or a disciple of Christ, is someone who firmly believes in the crucifixion, the death, the burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. It the primary tenet of Christianity. The resurrection is a well-documented fact. Many have invented scenarios and fictitious tales and brought forth clever arguments to disprove it. However, these attempts have failed in light of overwhelming evidence of the empty tomb. Christ appeared to many different people after His resurrection. Many came to faith and had their lives transformed. Still many chose martyrdom refusing to deny their faith in Christ. Throughout the world today Christians are still dying for their faith. According to Paul “if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith… your faith is futile; you are still in your sins… But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man” (1 Cor. 15:14-21, NIV). Indeed, since Christ did in fact rise from the dead; we can rest assured that our faith in is not futile and that our hope is well placed regardless of our circumstances.
What difference does the resurrection of Christ make in your life?
In the upper room, while Jesus contemplated His imminent arrest and death, the disciples grew deeply distressed upon learning that they would soon be separated from their master. Jesus reassured them saying “’I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also … And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever… I will not leave you as orphans… Peace I leave with you... Not as the world gives do I give to you”’ (Jn. 14:3, 16, 18, 27, ESV). As Christians our faith rests on these promises as much as it did for the first disciples. Jesus was about to enter into His week of passion starting with the triumphal entry. The shout of “Hosana!” (Matt. 21:9) would soon turn to “crucify Him!” (Matt. 27: 22-23, NIV). As far as the world is concerned, Jesus disappeared after His ignominious death on the cross and was no more. To encourage His disciples, Jesus also stated “’Yet a little while and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live’” (Jn 14:19, ESV). Though the world would no longer see Him but disciples would still be able to. The resurrection makes it possible for the child of God to be able to see Jesus by faith. The resurrection distinguishes Christianity from all other religions. We worship the resurrected Lord whereas the world worships dead impotent idols that they cannot see once they die. It is the sole privilege of the believer to be able to see the Lord. Death was not the end for the Savior, He wanted His sorrowful disciples to know that they would still see Him after His resurrection. Likewise for the believer, death is only the beginning. After His resurrection, Jesus physically appeared to His disciples and many others. In fact, He lingered for forty days after His resurrection. Thomas was unwilling to believe until he saw the Lord’s resurrected body (Jn 20: 24-29). Later the Lord also appeared to Paul (1 Cor. 15:6-8). The resurrection was not a secret event, nor is it fiction. Many who then lived fellowshipped with the risen Lord. After the Ascension, believers see Christ through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, until we can see Him physically (Acts 1: 10-12). We can contemplate Him by faith and love Him (1 Pet. 1:6-8). It is the believer’s blessed hope to indeed see the Savior face to face. “We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 Jn 3:1-3, NKJV). By faith we have communion with Jesus.
Because I live, you also will live
Our redeemer lives. Consequently we can rest assured that our bodies will be resurrected. Moreover, to be Christian is to be resurrected spiritually. “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:20, NKJV). Indeed, our resurrection is guaranteed because death could not hold on to the Son of God. He has overcome death and promises that someday we will as well. This promise is echoed in Christ’s words to Martha, ‘“Your brother will rise again’” (Jn11:23, NKJV). And ‘“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”’ (Jn11:25, NKJV). This is the resurrected Lord’s guarantee to all those who believe in Him. We have no need to fear death. Our hope and security rest in fact that He is alive today and forever more.
What kind of life did Christ live?
The Lord Jesus Christ lived a victorious life. The life of the Christian is intrinsically intermingled with the life of Christ. The life of Christ flows through the believer. This life is made manifest both physically and spiritually. Because He lives, the kind of life He lived is the kind of life we are called to live. “And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 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. 8:10-11, NKJV). As Christians when we profess our faith in the Resurrection, we must make certain that our lives reflect the life of Christ. Our lives must produce fruits of righteousness. Indeed, since Christ rose from the dead, He has the power to transform our heart to live for Him and to glorify Him. The life we lived when we were dead in sin, cannot be the same we continue on living after our spiritual resurrection. Because Christ won the victory over sin and death, we cannot live a defeated life of sin. Because He lives to please and honor the Father, we also must live to please and honor Him.
In conclusion…
The life of the believer is a life that anticipates the resurrection. It is a life that has risen with Christ. It is a victorious life. We are not saved to live from sin to sin but to have victory over sin and death. All provisions have been made to live a life of victory. Sin has no power over us. The resurrection of Christ also gives us the courage we need to endure trials, persecution, tribulation and to overcome afflictions. We are given a courageous life. This courage has been seen in the lives of countless followers of Christ. From the original disciples/apostles who were martyred for the sake of their faith. Men and women who died courageously because they refused to deny their risen Lord and their way of life. The book of Hebrews, chapter 11, tells us of some of them. “The world was not worthy” of them (Heb. 11: 35-40, NKJV). These brave men and women sacrificed themselves because what they received from their risen Lord was worth more than this life could ever give them. Even at the price of their lives they were not willing to turn their back to their redeemer and friend. The hope of the resurrection will sustain us in time of hardship and suffering. Because He lives, we shall live regardless of what we have to face in this life. Because He lives, we can live a courageous life without compromise. The promise of the resurrection gives us strength for today and it is a bright hope for tomorrow. Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, we shall live for Him. We can serve Him. Because He lives, our work is not in vain (1Cor. 15). Because He lives, so shall we.