The Resurrection Changes Everything

I am the resurrection and the life.  Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.  Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never die.  Do you believe this Martha?
-John 11:25-26

The fact that Jesus rose from the dead changes everything.  Jesus came to save us and give us life never ending.  Stepping into life in him gives you and me life in him, now and forever.  No one else in history has promised that or been able to deliver on a promise like that.  Jesus saves us from death to life, because he is God's Son.

The life in Christ is a resurrection life.  That means that when you step into life in Christ, you begin a transformed life.  He brings things to death and brings things to life in your life.  So, the life in Christ is a life of death, burial, and resurrection.

Jesus said to people who want him, who believe in him, or who want to say, 'I am a Christian'; "take up your cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23).  Jesus said that if you refuse to take up your own cross and follow him, that you are not worthy of being his (Matt. 10:38).

Easter is about Jesus Christ's death on the cross and his resurrection from death.  In the Christian's life, Christ brings the Christ follower's life, or self-life: selfish or self-centered life; to death and raises it to become his life.  That is why we are called Christians.

Christians are people who have Christ in them.  We step into his life.  Then, he asks us each to take up our crosses, the instrument of our destruction, and follow him.  The good news is that he is the resurrection and the life, which means he transforms or resurrects our lives into his life.  That is the Christian (Christ-in) life!

His resurrection power changes everything.  He brings life out of death.  He changes me and he changes you.  He makes everything beautiful.

Taking up our crosses does not mean bearing the unique burdens that life hands us.  Life does hand us unique burdens, but taking up our cross means radical obedience to Jesus and his words.  Death to your selfishness and losing your life to find his life will change everything.  You still will have burdens, but your perspective will be changed.  Christ in you, the hope of glory (Col. 1:27).

Christianity is all about the resurrection life in Christ.  He changes everything.  He gets to do it because he is God.  He and Father are one.  If you are a Christian, a Christ follower, then you have it settled that Jesus, the Lord Jesus Christ, is God.

He has saved you.  But that is the glorious beginning.  The story goes on with him transforming you into his likeness.  He wants to take over your life!  His resurrection power in your life changes you.  It changes everything. 

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