VICTORY IN JESUS
Just yesterday, triumphant Christians
celebrated Resurrection Sunday worldwide,
with sounds of rejoicing rising to Heaven from 7 continents, 196 nations and 61
territories. Just two days before, on Good
Friday, we commemorated the sacrificial suffering and vicarious death of our
Savior on the cross. Golgotha, a destination-of-death,
had been totally transformed into a location-of-life because it was there that Christ
forgave us for “all trespasses.” There Jesus
Christ blotted out the legal ordinances “that were against us [and] contrary to
us…nailing them to his cross.” On that now
sacred hillside in the environs of Jerusalem, he devastated all satanic “principalities
and powers,” and “made a show [a spectacle] of them openly, triumphing over
them in it.” (Colossians 2:13-15)
The scriptures inform us that in the
hours between Friday’s bloody crucifixion and Sunday’s miraculous resurrection,
Jesus Christ descended into the bowels of hell to minister salvation to souls that
were ‘lost’ prior to his dispensation of grace and truth. (Ephesians 4:10) Then, early Sunday morning, Jesus Christ rose
from the dead, with a dynamic declaration of victory: “All power is given unto
me in heaven and in earth.” (Matthew 28:18)
In an efficacious encounter with Satan, the Conquering Christ snatched
away the keys to death, hell and
the grave. And we still hear the
victorious war cry of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords echoing throughout eternity:
“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (I Corinthians 15:55)
What are the spiritual implications? What potentials and possibilities are actualized
by the resurrection of Jesus Christ?
Kingdom Principle Number One: Our faith (that we are free and forgiven) is fully
justified. (Romans 4:25) When
Jesus rose from the dead, he established the credibility of every promise
previously made, including our freedom and absolution from the power and penalty
of sin. Therefore, Resurrection Day is an affirmation, confirmation
and validation of The Word.
Kingdom Principle Number Two: We need no longer fear death because it has
been defeated. (I Corinthians 15:3-8;55)
The separation of body and soul is indeed a blessing for every
believer. “Blessed are the dead which
die in the Lord…that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow
them.” (Revelation 14:13) In fact, “precious
in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” (Psalm 116:15) Never forget: Our last breath here becomes
our first breath in eternity.
Kingdom Principle Number Three: We now have eternal life abiding within us.
(I John 5:11-14) Jesus Christ promised “My
sheep know my voice…and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and
they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John
10:27-28) Eternal life commences the
moment we believe on the Son of the Living God.
Kingdom Principle Number Four: We have assurance of our future resurrection.
(I Corinthians 6:14) At the second coming
of Jesus Christ, the dead shall be raised.
According to the Apostle Paul, “flesh and blood cannot inherit the
kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; we shall not all
sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye…”
(I Corinthians 15:50-52) Our emphasis,
therefore, should be on “things above.” (Colossians 3:1) This constitutes a serious challenge for the
contemporary church, which sometimes seems focused more so on here-and-now.
Kingdom Principle Number Five: We have the promise of a prepared and eternal home
in Heaven. “Let not your heart
be troubled,” Jesus admonished, “ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it
were not so, I would have told you. I go
to prepare a place for you. And if I go
and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself;
that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:1-3) The resurrection is our strongest guarantee
of an eternal home in Heaven.
Every forgoing principle is certified
by The Word and verified by The Resurrection.
Because HE lives, I can face tomorrow;
Because HE lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know HE holds the future,
And life is worth the living just
Because HE lives!
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