A Lively Hope By His Resurrection

Everyone who has trusted Jesus alone as their Lord and Savior by faith (Eph 2:8), understands that salvation was “according to His abundant” or unlimited “mercy.” Jesus was known to show His mercy while He was here on earth (Mk 10:47). He was always “moved with compassion” (Mt 9:36), as He looked upon the multitudes that were both helpless and hopeless in their sins. He also reached out in love by “healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people” (Mt 4:23). The phrase “hath begotten us again” means that He has caused us to be “born again” (Jn 3:7), as His children (Jn 1:12), the moment we are saved (1 Jn 3:1).

 And because we now belong to “the household of God” (Eph 2:19), we have the glorious hope of eternal life “by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead!” If the rapture does not happen in our lifetime (1 Thes 4:17), then we shall physically die one day (Heb 9:27). But “we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection” (Rom 6:5), because He conquered death (Rev 1:18). There is “now no condemnation” (Rom 8:1), in “the lake of fire” (Rev 20:14), since we are eternally secured (Php 1:6). In the meantime, we can “walk in newness of life” (Rom 6:4), because we are new creatures “in Christ” (2 Cor 5:17).

How? By following “after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness” (1 Tim 6:11). Upon experiencing “the power of His resurrection” (Php 3:10), the crucified life of the old man (Gal 2:20), now follows the resurrected life of the “new man” (Eph 4:24)! Therefore, sin should no longer reign in our mortal bodies, that we “should obey it in the lusts thereof” (Rom 6:12). By God’s grace, we can now deal with our daily spiritual battles, because of the “lively hope” that we have in His resurrection! God bless you!

- Pastor Melito Barrera