I am thrilled that because of Jesus, I have been granted eternal life. I don’t understand all that Heaven will be, but I know that I will enjoy it. However, I also hope to have many more years of this life and I would rather them not be horrible. I don’t much care for a Christianity that tells me that my only hope of joy is to die and go to Heaven. I need some help here and now. I am not so much looking for happiness as it is based upon circumstances. What I am desiring is a deep seating joy that can carry me in and through trials. For this, I need the work of Jesus to mean something to my life and how I will spend what years I have remaining.
I think that most of you would agree with me. In fact, I think that you are particularly interested in the life that you are currently living. I think that you are so interested that the majority of your prayers have to do with life now. The thought of our future being secure in Heaven is great and also changes how we wish to live now. Therefore, I want to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus with you this morning by speaking on how the resurrection of Jesus begins a new life.
With this major thought in mind, many aspects of the work of Christ and be addressed. In this post, I will focus on only two beginning with the provision of a new life of liberty. A life of liberty is what is meant by the idea that by His death and resurrection Jesus redeemed us from a life of slavery to sin, setting at liberty to live a life of holiness. Paul the Apostle makes this point in Ephesians 1:3-14
“3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” (English Standard Version)
Through Paul’s words, we come to understand that the state of the redemption makes the Christian life possible. Looking a bit further into this text we discover that our salvation was God’s pre-appointed plan (v. 3-6). The amazing aspect of this is that God had a plan to deal with our rebellion before we rebelled. The plan was to redeem us through Jesus, and not our own efforts or abilities (v. 7-10). Having our rebellion dealt with, we are then in line for an inheritance through Christ (v. 11-12) and the reception of God’s seal by the Holy Spirit (V.13-14).
The new life begins through the Jesus also includes the restoration of harmony between man and God. Consider Paul’s word recorded in Colossians 1:15-23.
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 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. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. 21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
The word Paul uses here that forms the major intent of the passage is “reconciliation” which means to “bring back a former state of harmony”. This reconciling work of Jesus based upon His nature is described in v. 15-20. Paul described this life of harmony in v.21-23. Do these words find meaning in your life? If so, then our task as a church becomes to bring new life to others by joining Jesus in His work. This work involves restoring what has been broken. Again, we turn to Paul the Apostle for understanding and instruction by reading Galatians 6:1-2
1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
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