Introduction:

Max Lucado, in his book, Six Hours One Friday, tells the story of a missionary in Brazil who discovered a tribe of Indians in a remote part of the jungle. They lived near a large river. The tribe was in need of medical attention. A contagious disease was ravaging the population. People were dying daily. A hospital was not too terribly far away- across the river, but the Indians would not cross it because they believed it was inhabited by evil spirits. To enter the water would mean certain death. The missionary explained how he had crossed the river and was unharmed. They were not impressed. He then took them to the bank and placed his hand in the water. They still wouldn’t go in. He walked into the water up to his waist and splashed water on his face. It didn’t matter. They were still afraid to enter the river. Finally, he dove into the river, swam beneath the surface until he emerged on the other side. He punched a triumphant fist into the air. He had entered the water and escaped. It was then that the Indians broke out into a cheer and followed him across.

That’s exactly what Jesus did! He told the people of His day that they need not fear the river of death, but they wouldn’t believe. He touched a dead boy and called him back to life. They still didn’t believe. He whispered life into the body of a dead girl. He entered the river of death and came out on the other side. Christ has won over sin, Satan and the second death- Eternal life can be ours as well through Him! The resurrection gives us the power to live above the world system.

I Power to rise above the Fray

1. A great practical principle that Paul tell us is, get out of the system. The only way you’ll ever reach the world, the only way you’ll ever touch the world is to ascend beyond the world into the presence of God. Folks, that is the practical power of the resurrection. Paul says here in Colossians 3, it is a life that focuses on things above, not on earthly things. It is a new spiritual occupation with a preoccupation with the divine. We can live above the distresses!

2. This little section is a call to true spirituality that is only possible by the power of the resurrection. True spirituality is setting your affections on things above and not on things of the earth. It is getting divorced from the worldly system, so that you can step away from the world, you can see the world, and you can reach the world from the vantage point of divine enablement and make an impact. Is that not what we all want to do with our new life in Christ? Make a difference! The resurrection of Jesus Christ is not just about the hereafter but the here and now! Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: — Jude 1:21-22

3. In verse 1, “If ye then be risen with Christ,” this is the reality of “if”. Now it should probably be translated since, because it is already an accomplished fact. “Since you have been risen with Christ,” is literally what the Greek would say. “Since you have been risen with Christ” for those that are here today that are saved this is an already accomplished reality.” Since you have been raised into a new life with Christ we now set our sights on the certainties of heaven.

4. Now listen to me, you were crucified with Christ. So, you died when you were saved, you died to the world. Remember Paul wrote to the Church at Galatia and said,” I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. I Corinthians 15:22

In Romans 6: verses 4 – 10 you died to, that former life as it were, and then after that you rose from the dead and you took on what kind of life – eternal life. Eternal is not just a quantity of life, it is a quality of life, it is a spiritual life. So when you came alive in Christ, at the moment of your salvation, you came alive to the dimension of God’s heaven. You literally, your mind was open to understand God and what God desires, and what God wills for your life. You have eternal life now and the power of that reality too. — I John 5:10-13.

5. Now you died with Christ and you rose with Christ. Don’t forget that. Don’t forget that from the moment of your salvation you entered into a new dimension of life. At the moment you became a believer you were risen with Christ, You live his resurrection life, and that’s why, the apostle Paul says, “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; this means because he lives in us we can put to dead sinful earthly and lustful things. Ears, eyes Hands!

The moment you came to Christ, when you were dead in sins… (Ephesians 2:1) when you were made alive together with Christ, when you were saved by grace, you were instantaneously raised up and given a place in the heavenly in Christ. Spiritually speaking, you ascended. You have the power to live above the fray! You have a new position and the second death has no power over you. Born once die twice, born twice die once.

II The First Resurrection is Secure Rev. 20 vv. 6-15
Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power

1. Job asked the question, “If a man dies, shall he live again?” But Job isn’t the only one that asked that question. I would venture to say that every human being with a functioning brain who ever lived has asked the question about immortality. Is there life after death? Now there may be people who don’t believe there is, but at least they’ve grappled with the question.

2. Throughout the history of mankind, the examination of life after death has found its way into society. Every man, every society, every religion, every system has always had to deal with this reality. It has always made a big difference with man that there is more to life than just here. Man has never been content to assume that he’s nothing but a gleam of consciousness and his end is dust. Man has always longed to be something far beyond that.

3. The Bible says there is an afterlife for every soul, either in eternal hell or in eternal heaven, so says Matthew 25:46. Jesus says in John 5 that some shall be raised to the resurrection of damnation and some shall be raised to the resurrection of life. There is eternal life and there is eternal death. . If you have a first resurrection unto life then there is one unto death.

2. Revelation 20:6 clearly excludes from the second death those who are part of the first resurrection, and thus implies those who participate in the second resurrection are destined for eternal death. At Jesus’ coming, the dead in Christ will be resurrected, and saints who are alive at the time will be transformed. Both of these groups will then receive bodies like Jesus’ resurrected body–bodies that are immortal, imperishable, glorious, and powerful.

—Thus, the first resurrection must include all the dead in Christ. It is also clear from these verses that the resurrections of the dead in Christ and the lost dead are separated by 1,000 years. Jesus distinguish between the two resurrections, even though He did not specify the time difference (see John 5:28-29 with me). Paul called it the “Mystery” resurrection

a) A mystery in the scriptures is a previously hidden truth now revealed by God. When Paul speaks of sleep he means death… we shall not all die! There is a generation that shall not die but shall be changed “Metalasso’ to be changed or transformed “me-tä-mor-fo’-ō “ where we get our words metamorphosis. I Cor. 15: 51-58

b) We note that the “corruptible” meaning our moral bodies has been changed to immoral body like that of our resurrected Lord. Heaven does not except sinful moral flesh nor our carnal things. These are left behind. That is why at the rapture all your belongings will be left where- ever you are and you will be given a resurrected body like Christ.

The glorious news is we are resurrected with our Saviour and Lord the Bride groom of the church. Those who have not accepted Christ shall be left behind. The power of His resurrection gives us a new life in the here and now and a wonderful life in the hereafter.
The hereafter for us will be unspeakable, remember Paul’s saying…I Co.2[9] But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him

Conclusion:

Are you living like your risen? Will you be risen with Christ? Will your resurrection be one of joy or one of judgment? Will it be first or second? Because of the resurrection you can have a new identity and a new life that outshines anything in the past. That’s the power of the resurrection! If we do not have a Savior there is no hope for anyone because of the taint of evil within us which affects all we do. That is very hard for people to believe. God knows what goes on in your thoughts — your heart and your motives — there is no question but that the biblical picture of man is accurate. We are born with a fallen nature. The millennium will prove that to be true. Gospel –Invitation