The Difference Christ's Resurrection Makes To Us

1. Healing for the past

a. Healing through being forgiven by God

Col. 2:13-14   “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,  having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.”

We have a clean record. 

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!

My sin, not in part but the whole,

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

b. Healing by forgiving others

Eph. 4:32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Luke 23:34 “Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

Christ makes His power available to us so that we can forgive. 

2. Strength for today

Strength through Christ

Romans 6:8 “Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.”

Col. 3:3 “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”

Our unity with Christ makes all that He has available to us.

Strength through a new identity

1 Corinthians 1:30 “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.”

In other words, we are no longer failures. God has declared us righteous, holy and redeemed, because we are in Christ. 

Strength through adversity

Philippians 4:11–13 “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

Where else are you going to find contentment through all of life's trials, outside of Christ?

3. Hope for tomorrow

Freedom from fear of death

Hebrews 2:14–15 “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.”

 Everyone faces death, and death will last forever, but because of Christ's resurrection, we can boast with Paul:

1 Corinthians 15:55–57  “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Knowledge that God will sustain you through the trials of life

Knowledge that God has something much better in store for you

1 Peter 1:3-5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  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,  to  an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and  unfading,  kept in heaven for you,  who by God’s power are being guarded  through faith for a salvation  ready to be revealed in the last time.”

We are being guarded by God's power, so God will enable us to endure.

We are promised  "an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and  unfading,  kept in heaven for " us. Nothing and no one can take that away from us and we will be with Christ forever.