Spring is such an exciting and beautiful time of renewal. The western United States experiences a relatively short winter. It fills my mind with a thrilling sense of hope as daffodils push through in January and by late February begin blooming along with the crocus. This vision of new life prepares my heart for the upcoming celebration of resurrection life in Jesus Christ. As the ugliness of winter gives way to the newness of life in the spring, I’m reminded of my own newness of life in Jesus but also of the price Jesus paid for the ugliness of sin in my life. That Jesus was willing to suffer because of the love of the triune God for me and a people that did not even understand their need is totally amazing to me. My amazement grows more and more the closer I draw near to Him, consider the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus, see the past and present human depravity and my own sin, and ponder the incredible grace we have received.
REDEEMED BECAUSE OF SIN
There is an aching in my heart when I consider my own shortcomings of past and present. It seems humanity in general has not improved a great deal in godliness. The same sinful behavior toward each other and disrespect for God is still as present today as it was in ancient days. “There is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9, ESV). Some of the depravity seems worse because it has become more visible. The sins recorded in the Bible, “all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice, etc.” are the same sins we still battle with today (Romans 1:29-30). The list is long. We are not “basically good” as some like to say. We can easily say, “There is none who does good, not even one” (Psalm 14:3b). We cannot deny our sinful nature. “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John:1:8). Paul recognized his own sinful nature and need for a redeeming Savior. “For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing” (Romans 7:19).
Why has God tolerated such sinful people as us, created to live in righteousness but continually failing? Even though God was angry with His chosen people many times because of their rebellion, He would never leave them alone but said, “With everlasting love I will have compassion on you” (Isaiah 54:8b). God demonstrated continually His “steadfast love toward those who fear him” and forgave and showed compassion (Psalm 103:11-13). While they were sinners and while we are sinners, He extends His hand of love and compassion. “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). God’s love for us was incredibly demonstrated, “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10). God made Jesus “to be sin” to “reconcile us to himself” and He did it “for our sake” (2 Corinthians 5:18-21).
GOD HAD A PLAN FROM THE BEGINNING
Sending His Son to be the slain Lamb for our sins was not a last-minute, intervention act of God’s love. Peter forcefully points this out in his sermon in Jerusalem, “This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God” (Acts 2:23). God’s plan from the beginning was to send us a Redeemer because of His great love for us. And not only God’s love but Peter points out God’s mercy, “According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).
God’s love is so amazing that He sent His Son knowing that He would have to lower Himself to live in the flesh, suffer abuse and abandonment, and die a horrible death. God loves us so much that He was willing to provide a “once and for all” sacrifice that would establish a new covenant with Him for all those who would put their trust in Jesus Christ. Was the suffering and sacrifice of our Savior worth it? God knew that many would not respond in faith. “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Matthew 7:14). But God knew a remnant would believe and receive His love through Jesus Christ. That remnant are the adopted and redeemed saints that will experience the resurrection life here and in eternity. All those who claim Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior know that if we are “united with him in a death like his, we shall be united with him in a resurrection like his” (Romans 6:5).That is the incredible Good News of resurrection life that excites me and should excite all believers with a heart of thanksgiving at this time of the year as we celebrate the Resurrection!
WHAT IS RESURRECTION LIFE?
Resurrection life is living in the newness of life, becoming free from the old way of living in unrighteousness which means to “put on a new self, created in the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24). Becoming a “new creation” in Christ Jesus is a progressive process of walking in wisdom and love and knowing that “those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised” (2 Corinthians 5:15,17). Our newness of life comes from a change of heart whereby we follow the teachings of Jesus out of love and obedience (Romans 6:17). The resurrection power of the Holy Spirit that we received in accepting Christ gives us the strength to walk in righteousness (Romans 8:9-11).
Resurrection life also means that we will share in His sufferings. Even though I am walking in the newness of life, I still deal day-to-day with the trials of this fallen world including the limitations of an aging body. Besides the brokenness of the world around us and our own mortal weaknesses, we suffer persecution in society, politically and socially. We suffer less than in many countries of the world but still experience the negative influence of a secular culture that surrounds us. But as Paul emphasizes, we need to “count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8). Suffering is a reminder that our hope is not in the things of this world.
Resurrection life is also knowing that my weak and aging body will one day be transformed by Jesus Christ into a glorious body (Philippians 3:20-21). I will one day continue the resurrection life I have begun here as a citizen of God’s kingdom. By the grace, mercy, goodness, and loving kindness of God through Jesus Christ, I can be confident that I am “justified by his grace”… “to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:7). I carry that hope with me in my daily walk.
GOD HAS NEVER GIVEN UP
As we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, let’s remember that our redemption by Jesus’ blood and resurrection is all because of God’s love. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). God has never given up on us. He will continually draw us unto Himself for the glory of His name. He is a God who loves and keeps His promises to His children who hear His voice and walk in the newness of life through His grace and mercy in Jesus Christ.
