The Resurrection

2Ti 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

THE GOSPEL GIVES A NEW IDENTITY

The death, burial and resurrection of Christ are the foundation of the Gospel. The work of Christ in us and for us, is the power of God unto salvation." Everything God has done for us, or is going to do for us, is rooted and has its foundation in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the source of our new identity. As Christians we are new creations in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Prior to our conversion, we were born of human parents and the Scripture refers to this as being born of Adam. Since Adam and Eve were the first human beings, and the entire human race proceeded form them, we are considered born of Adam.

Not only were we born of Adam, but we received his human nature, which Scripture refers to as the fleshly nature, the old man, or the sinful nature. Scripture also identifies this human nature as the source of sin. Adam was made of earth and had an earthly nature. It is through death that our old man is defeated, and through the resurrection of Christ that we are given a new nature. Rather than having an identity in Adam, we now have a new identity in the resurrected Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:47-48 (KJV) 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

1 Corinthians 15:22 (KJV) 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive

Romans 6:6-11 (NKJV) 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Subsequent to our conversion, we have a new nature derived from the indwelling Holy Spirit.

We are born of the Spirit, the offspring of God. Old things have passed away, behold all things become new. Our old nature went to the cross, in Christ, and our new nature arose from the grave, in Christ. We are joined to and have our spiritual identity in the resurrected Christ!

Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Now that we are joined to Christ, the Lord relates to us as new creations, and adopted into the family of God. As People of God, the resurrection of Christ, gives us assurance that we are able to live lives of victory, over the flesh, over the world, and over the Devil.

1 Peter 1:3 (KJV) 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Romans 6:4-5 (KJV) 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 we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Romans 6:9-11 (KJV) 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

2Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Romans 6:7-11 (NKJV) 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise (in the same manner), you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord!!

  • If we die we are freed from sin, vs 7
  • If we die with Christ we shall also live with Him. vs 8
  • Christ is no longer subject to death, therefore we are no longer subject to death. vs 9
  • He died because of sin once, but now lives to God. vs 10. In the same way we are to see ourselves as dead to sin and alive to God through Jesus Christ.

What does all this mean.

It means that born-again Christians have a fundamental change in their identity through the resurrection of Christ. The above portion of Scripture gave five statements of fact and then tells Christians to reckon it so, meaning to count it as true. To say it another way, what is true about Christ, we are to count as true about ourselves also. We are dead to sin and alive to God through the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. But do not miss this important fact, we now have a new identity, we have our new identity in the resurrected Christ. Prior to the resurrection our identity was in Adam, after the resurrection, our identity is in Christ.

What this means is that now we have the power or ability to walk in the Spirit. We are joined to Christ, and when we walk in the Spirit we are actually walking out our new identity. We are being who we are!

Ephesians 4:22-24 (NLT) 22 throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception. 23 Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. 24 You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God’s likeness—righteous, holy, and true.

1 Peter 1:3 (NIV) 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

We now have an answer to lifestyles that destroy.

We have an answer for drug abuse, sexual sin, habits, lying, cheating, pride, fear, etc.. The power to live a new life is located in the resurrected Christ. This is Gods answer, and it is the work of God that places us in the resurrected Christ.

The gospel is about the work of Christ on our behalf.

It is the power of God to save. And, it is accepted by faith. We simply believe and act on what God says.

Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV) 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

1 Corinthians 1:17-24 (NIV) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." 20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

1 Corinthians 1:30-31 (NIV) 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written:Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.

We began this discussion by talking about the armor that God provides. God says that we cannot be prepared for battle without an understanding of the gospel that produces peace. What I have attempted to do is lay out, in a plain way, the fundamental truths of the Gospel. The Gospel is the beginning point of our journey with Christ, it is the foundation we build upon. The power and work of the gospel alone gives us victory over sinful behavior and a sinful nature. As we make decisions according to our new identity and build upon the work of Christ, we find that the gospel is indeed powerful and Christ is powerfully at work within.!!

Thank you Lord Jesus

Rev 18:1-9 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. 4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. 6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. 7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. 8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. 9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,

Rev 21:1-8 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Rev 22:1-14 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 4And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. 5And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. 6And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. 7Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. 8And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. 9Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. 10And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. 11He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. 12And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 13I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

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