that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:10–11)
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. The power and glory of the resurrection is not only that Jesus was raised to life but that through the resurrection Jesus began a new creation, a new realm, newness of life, and His exultation.
The resurrection of Jesus is not simply a historical fact, but rather it is a transformation that inaugurates a new era in the lives of God’s people.
The Glory and Power of A New Creation
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
The resurrection of Jesus Christ marks the beginning of a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 is a clear indication that the resurrection of Jesus is not simply a restoration, but it is a new creation of His children. This new creation is not a renewal or a reformation of the old, but it is an entirely new beginning. The resurrection of Jesus is a transformative event that brings about a new order of things.
The church fathers also support this view. Athanasius states, “For the Word, realizing that in no other way would the corruption of humans be undone except, simply, by dying, yet remaining immortal and the Word of the Father; therefore, He took a body capable of death, in order that it, participating in the Word who is above all, might be sufficient for death on behalf of all, and through the indwelling Word would remain incorruptible, and so corruption might henceforth cease from all by the grace of the resurrection.”
This quote by Athanasius emphasizes that the resurrection of Jesus brings not a restoration, but a new creation. Athanasius explains that Jesus took on a body capable of death, so that He could die for all humanity. Through the indwelling of the Word, the body of Jesus remained incorruptible, and through the grace of the resurrection, corruption ceased from all. This is the new creation that is brought about for God’s children through the resurrection of Jesus.
Jesus brings about a new creation where corruption ceases and incorruptibility prevails.
The Glory and Power of A New Realm
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is also significant because it marks the entrance into a new realm that had never been entered before. This new realm is the Kingdom of God. Jesus Himself said in John 18:36, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now My kingdom is from another place.” The resurrection of Jesus Christ brings about a new realm, a new order of things, a new covenant for His people.
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:14-15)
The Kingdom of God is not just a physical place, but a spiritual reality. Jesus Himself stated in Luke 17:20-21, “The coming of the Kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the Kingdom of God is in your midst.” The Kingdom of God is a spiritual reality that is present within believers.
The church fathers support this view. Augustine states, “The Lord rose, not to return to this earthly life, but to begin the life of the Church, which is the Kingdom of God in the Spirit. He entered into the heavenly Kingdom, and opened its gates to all the faithful.” This is the new realm that is inaugurated through the resurrection of Jesus. Through the resurrection, Jesus Christ entered into the heavenly Kingdom, and opened its gates to all of God’s chosen.
Marking the beginning of the Kingdom of God, a new realm that was inaugurated by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The Glory and Power of Newness of Life
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is also significant because it is newness of life. Paul states in Romans 6:4, “We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
The resurrection of Jesus Christ brings newness of life to God’s chosen. This newness of life is a spiritual transformation. The resurrection of Jesus Christ not only brings newness of life to believers, but it also enables them to live in the newness of life. This is accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit, who enables believers to live in accordance with God’s will.
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. (Romans 8:11)
The church fathers also support this view. Cyril of Alexandria states, “For those who are in Christ, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is not only an event that occurred in the past, but it is a present reality that enables us to live in the newness of life.” Augustine stated, “For the Lord’s resurrection was the beginning of our new life, and in it He gives us the power to live a new life through His Spirit.”
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the beginning of new life and it is through His resurrection that we are given the power to live that new life through the Holy Spirit.
The Glory and Power of Jesus Christ’s Exaltation.
This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. (Acts 2:32–33)
It is important to reflect on the profound significance of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to Peter’s great Pentecostal sermon in Acts 2, the resurrection of Christ is not only a proof of his deity, but it also marks the beginning of the final phase of His exaltation to the Father’s right hand, where He is now enthroned as the King of kings.
The significance of this truth cannot be overstated. The resurrection of Christ is not just a historical fact, but it is a reality that has eternal implications for every human being. Through His death and resurrection, Christ has triumphed over sin and death, and He has made a way for us to be reconciled to God.
Further, the resurrection of Jesus also proves His divinity. In Romans 1:4, Paul writes that Jesus “was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead.” The resurrection of Jesus is the ultimate proof of His divinity because it demonstrates that He has power over life and death.
Jesus is Our Ruling Lord:
As Christians, we acknowledge Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:3)
Acknowledging Jesus Christ as Lord is only possible through the work of the Holy Spirit and confessing Jesus Christ as Lord is essential for salvation.
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. (Romans 10:9-10)
The Glory and Power of The Sovereignty of Jesus Christ.
I believe that understanding the sovereignty of Jesus Christ is essential for a comprehensive understanding of the doctrine of God and the Christian faith. The sovereignty of Jesus Christ is based on the biblical teaching that all authority has been given to Him by the Father.
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. (Matthew 28:18)
Further, in Philippians 2:9-11, Paul writes that God “has given Him [Jesus] the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Jesus Christ has been exalted to the highest position of authority by the Father.
The sovereignty of Jesus Christ does not diminish the sovereignty of the Father. Instead, it is a complementary aspect of the Father’s sovereignty. In John 5:19, Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.” This passage shows us that Jesus’ sovereignty is based on His complete submission to the will of the Father.
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own authority, but the Father who dwells in Me does His works. (John 14:10)
The sovereignty of Jesus Christ is trinitarian.
In John 14:16-17, Jesus says, “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” Jesus rules by the earthly presence of the Spirit. The Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, and His presence with believers is evidence of the sovereignty of Jesus Christ. In John 15:26, Jesus says, “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness about Me.” The sovereignty of Jesus Christ involves the witness of the Spirit, who testifies to the truth about Jesus.
For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:16-17)
The sovereignty of Jesus Christ refers to His rule and reign over all things. Jesus Christ is the Creator of all things, and all things exist for Him.
As I reflect on the glory and power of the resurrection and exaltation of Christ, I am reminded of the greatness of our God. He is not a distant deity who is unconcerned with the affairs of this world. Instead, He is a loving Father who has sent His Son to save us from our sins and to rule over us as our King.
The resurrection and exaltation of Christ reminds me of my own calling as a follower of Christ. Just as Christ was exalted to the Father’s right hand, we are called to live in a way that reflects the reality of our citizenship in the Kingdom of God. We are called to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Every Resurrection Sunday, every moment Lord, let me remember that the resurrection of Christ is not just a historical event, but it is a reality that has eternal implications for us. Help me live in a way that reflects the reality of my citizenship in the Kingdom of God, and let me worship and serve the King of kings and Lord of lords with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Sola Scriptura * Solus Christus * Sola Fide * Sola Gratia * Soli Deo Gloria
