The Weekly Perspective
by Burke Shade, Associate Pastor
At Easter Sunday lunch, the guests sat around the table discussing the importance and benefits of the Resurrection.
“Jesus overcame death, giving us assurance we will overcome death in him.”
“He was raised that we might be justified with God.”
“He crushed the serpent’s head in his death (Gen 3.15), but in his resurrection he plundered his kingdom.”
“No resurrection, no hope for eternal life, says Paul in 1 Corinthians 15.” “Our sins were covered by his death, but in his resurrection, we are glorified with life in the Father.”
All great answers of course, leading to much discussion as well about other tangential resurrection doctrines.
But the discussion sounded like a summary of Question 62 in the “I Belong to God” catechism: “What did the death and resurrection of Jesus do for you?”
Answer: “Because I trust in the crucified and risen Jesus, I am now regenerated (which means I am born from above and share in Jesus’ resurrection life), I am justified (which means I am right with God and forgiven by him), I am adopted (which means I am God’s child and heir), I am reconciled (which means I am at peace with God and he calls me his friend), I am sanctified (which means I am a priest to God, and he promises to make me grow in holiness and obedience), and I am glorified (which means I have the Holy Spirit living in me and will be conformed to Christ’s image).
No wonder the New Testament authors talked about the Resurrection so much! Maybe you should, too!