THE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION

    More often than not, this is the month in which we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. To a few this is a myth, to some a fact, but to many it is a blessed hope!

     How many people fully understand and comprehend the power of Jesus Christ's resurrection? How many Christians are allowing themselves to be energized and governed by that same power in their daily lives?

    There are two great verses in Philippians, chapter three, concerning the power of the resurrection. In Philippians 3:10 we read, ''that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection." In Philippians 3:21 we read, "who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body" (NIV). The first verse concerns the power of the resurrection enjoyed and revealed morally. The second concerns the power of the resurrection enjoyed and revealed physically. Therefore, the resurrection has a moral as well as physical aspect.

    One day the believers will exhibit Christ's physical glory in resurrection; Philippians 3:21, "who shall change [transform or change the fashion of] our vile body [body of humiliation], that it may be fashioned like [to be conformed] unto his glorious body [the body of glory]." Ken Taylor has paraphrased this verse thusly: "When He comes back He will take these dying bodies of ours and change them into glorious bodies like His own ... " This truth assures believers of immortality (see also 1 Corinthians 15:14-20,51-53, and 2 Corinthians 5:1-61). After penning the truth in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, concerning the resurrection of the saints in this dispensation, Paul concluded by saying, "Wherefore comfort one another with these words" (v.18). The truth of immortality is a tremendous comfort to the child of God.

    But in Philippians 3:10, the power mentioned assures the believer of justification (Rom. 4:24,25; 1 Corinthians 15:17). To be justified means to be declared righteous because of the imputation of divine righteousness (Rom. 3:24,25; 2 Corinthians 5:21). This justification brings "peace with God;" "Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God" (Rom. 5:1 ).

    Secondly, the power in this verse raises up the believer spiritually with Christ. How? By identification (Rom. 6:3,4; Col. 2:12).

    Thirdly, the power allows the believer to triumph over sin and produce the fruit of the Spirit in his/ her life. The Greek word translated ''to know" in Philippians 3:10 means ''to know by experience." Paul wanted the same power surging through his own being, that raised Christ from the dead, which helps believers over-come sin in their lives and produces the Christian graces. The Greek word for power in this verse is dunamis.

    There are two aspects to this Greek word; one relates to that which overcomes resistance (Rom. 6:6, 14, 17, 18), our word dynamite; the second refers to inherent power, the power to reproduce itself (Gal. 2:20; 5:22,23), our word dynamo.

    What power was it that raised Christ from the dead? According to Romans 8:11 it was the Holy Spirit. How do we, then, appropriate this resurrection power? By faith--(Eph.1:15,16,19,20) and by yielding to the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18; Rom. 6:13, 16). It is said of the disciples in Acts 1:8 that they would receive power "after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you." You and I, as children of God, have this power continually at our disposal in this dispensation of grace because of the presence of the Holy Spirit indwelling our bodies (1 Cor. 6:19).

    One of the great tragedies of the Christian life is unrealized, and therefore unused, power. As we will exhibit Christ's physical glory in resurrection, so should we exhibit His moral glory in daily conduct. So often we are willing to believe a divine fact (physical resurrection) but are not willing to be energized and governed by the same divine fact (power for victorious living). Philippians 3:10 must be true in your life before Philippians 3:21can be a hope. Remember, resurrection is a demonstration of Christ's power and Calvary is a demonstration of Christ's love (Rom. 5:6-8).
  
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