We all long to have the power to control our lives so that we may be free from physical and financial distress, from inconveniences to hurtful experiences. We long to control our bodies from sickness, our children from spiritual drift, and to safeguard ourselves from any possible danger.
We may not long for the power to control others, but we do in many respects long for the power to have a comfortable, and problem free life. We may call this worldly power, and it is so alluring. However, as alluring as it may seem, it is completely out of our reach. Many search for it, and some taste of its temporary sweetness, but it does not last. For the only power that endures comes from God himself. For this reason, wisdom tells us, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). And if we do not hear Lady Wisdom’s voice, may we hear the warning of the prophet, “Thus says the LORD “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD” (Jeremiah 17:5).
For this reason, on this lovely Resurrection Sunday, let us remember the resurrection power of the Lord Jesus Christ. For worldly power only leads to utter devastation, while resurrection power gives us eternal satisfaction. On this basis, let us meditate on the resurrection power of Christ which raises us to walk in newness of life, empowers our mortal bodies to walk in the Spirit, and transforms our lowly bodies to be like his glorious body.
Newness of Life
The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans makes an astounding claim. He argues that the power of sin no longer has a grip on believers for they have been raised with Christ. He writes, “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” (Rom 6:4). This amazing power to walk in newness of life is given only to believers, for our union with Christ makes us “alive to God in” Him (Rom 6:11). In this new life, we have the promise of eternal life, where “death no longer has dominion” (Rom 6:9) over us. We can truly consider ourselves as dead to sin. The enslaving power of sin no longer controls us, for we have been made free to walk in righteousness.
Empowered by the Spirit
Furthermore, in God’s providence, He not only saw it fitting to raise us to newness of life with Christ, but in his good pleasure, He gave us the Holy Spirit so that we may have the power to walk in a manner worthy of our calling. Paul writes “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” Truly astonishing! Here we are given a gospel promise, God will give life to our mortal bodies, just like he gave to Christ through the power of the Spirit. Building on this, Paul then exhorts the Romans to “put to death the deeds of the body” (Rom 8:13). In other words, anyone who has trusted in Christ has not only been justified by faith but also has the Holy Spirit sanctifying him.
Glorification
Finally, through the resurrection power of Jesus Christ we have obtained justification, sanctification, and moreover glorification. Paul says this powerfully in the beloved golden chain of salvation, “And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified” (Romans 8:30). This is the true power of the resurrection; those who have died with Christ and have therefore experienced justification will truly experience the power of Christ’s resurrection in their glorification. This will be evident, for he will “transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body” (Phil 3:21). And this is the hope of our salvation.
We long to be in control because we long to be free from the consequences of sin in this broken world. It is not wrong to want a better life, yet we must continually remind ourselves that the solution is found only in Christ. And one day we will experience all of the promises given to us in the resurrected and reigning Christ.
Tony Morales
Seminarian