“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive”
1 Corinthians 15: 20-22 (NIV).
The Lord Jesus is the first begotten of the dead, which means He is the first to be born out of spiritual death; the resurrection was the sign. The debt of sin was paid by His death, but His resurrection brought us justification for a new life. Romans 4:23-25 says, “Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification” (KJV). The new creation is the fruit of His resurrection. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (KJV). When Jesus died, you died with Him. When He was buried, you were buried with Him. When He resurrected, you also arose with Him as a new man, a new species.
The Apostle Paul explains it this way in Romans 6:4: “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so also should walk in newness of life.” The death of Jesus did not provide eternal life; it is the resurrection of Jesus Christ that ushered us into eternal life. The Christian means you are born of God, with the God-life and nature. It was the resurrection of Jesus Christ that made Christianity possible; without the resurrection, there is no Christianity. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” Romans 10:9 (KJV).
PRAYER
Dear Father, I believe with my heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that you raised Him from the dead. I confess with my mouth that Jesus Christ is the Lord of my life from this day. I am now a child of God. I have eternal life in the name of the Lord Jesus.
WISDOM NUGGET
“God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee” Acts 13:33 (KJV).