LESSON 13 POWER OF THE RESURRECTION
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Romans 6:3
Q. What does it mean to be baptized into Christ?
A. It means we actually share His death and resurrection.
Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4
Q. And what does it mean to be baptized into death?
A. United with Jesus in death, is not just figuratively but actually giving up our ways.
Death in Christ:
When we acknowledge our life forfeited, and give up all claims to that life, and everything that is connected with it, that very moment we die with Christ. Now what does it mean to give up our life? It is all that pertains to the life that we naturally have in ourselves, it is sin. It is “the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16). “We ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another” (Titus 3:3). All these things and more are to a greater or lesser degree the life of every person.
When we come to that place where we see that we have those things, and are ready to give them up, then it is that we can die with Christ, and have His sinless life in the place of our sinful life. In yielding up this life of ours, we give up all these things, and when they are given up, then we are dead with Christ. Jesus then accounts us clean in His sight and as we continual surrender our will and way, Christ though His Spirit works out a new life in us day by day.
Death in sin:
“All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Because all have sinned, judgment has come upon all men to condemnation. This condemnation is eternal death, for the wages of sin is death. (See Romans 5:12, 18; 6:23.) Every man that does not believe in Christ is condemned already. (See John 3:18.) The sentence of death has already gone forth, and our life is forfeited.
In yielding to Satan, we have sold ourselves to him, and have received nothing in exchange. The Scripture says, “Ye have sold yourselves for nought” (Isaiah 52:3). Therefore we really have no life. This life that men live does not belong to them; they have given it, with themselves, into the power of Satan. And because sinners are condemned to death, —have forfeited their life, —the Scripture says, “he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36). He will never have any life of his own.
The sentence of death has been pronounced upon every man, and that sentence will be executed. Every man must die, because “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). But there is given to every man a choice as to when he will die. Christ died for all men. We can accept His death, and die in Him, and thus have His life.
On the other hand we may, if we wish, refuse to acknowledge Him, and die in ourselves. But die we must. Death has passed upon all men, and all men thus die. The life of every man is forfeited; of ourselves we have no life at all. But in this union with Christ it is His personality that dominates; we yield ourselves to Him—become swallowed up in Him—so that the one person is not us but Christ.
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection. Romans 6:5
Planted together—Closely united to.
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Romans 6:6
Q. How do I know if I am alive or dead?
A. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Romans 6:7
Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, He died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:9–11
In the same way look upon yourselves as dead to the appeal and power of sin but alive and sensitive to the call of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:11 Phillips
Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. Romans 6:8
Q. What is it to believe?
A. The whole experience that we are studying is ours if we will believe which means, “A yielding of the will and affections.” This surrender of our heart prompted by the grace of God’s Spirit and yielded to is death. The same belief that leads to death is also “Accompanied with a humble reliance on Christ for salvation.” This is life.
Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses. Colossians 2:12, 13
Q. We are buried with Him in death; risen with Him in life. But how can this be?
A. It is through faith in God’s power as it was demonstrated by raising Jesus from the dead. This same operation God wishes to do in us, raising us from the death of sin. Just as surely as God raised Christ from the dead even so will He quicken or make us alive. How? By faith.
Q. What is faith?
A. It ‘is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.’ It is an assent of the understanding to God’s words, which binds the heart in willing consecration and service to God. Faith is rendering to God the intellectual powers, a yielding of the mind and will to God and making Christ the only means to enter into the kingdom of heaven.
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Galatians 3:27
Q. To be truly baptized it must be into Christ. What does this expression mean, “into Christ?”
A. It denotes penetration beyond the outside or surface of a thing. It has the idea of insertion or mixing, and is the passing of a thing from one form or state into another. This is true baptism. Allowing Christ to penetrate into our inmost being not just hung onto as a cloak to cover unconfessed and unforsaken sin. Christ through the Holy Spirit wishes to insert His life into our life so that we are changed from a life of rebellion and sin. Then the Spirit of the Lord changes us into the image of Him who has called us from glory to glory by the renewing of our mind.
We are to put off the body of sin. And to put on Christ which makes “not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof” (Romans 13:14). For we are to be “in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30).
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Romans 8:10, 11
Our body of flesh is dead because of sin. There is no holiness of flesh. Our flesh is as other men who know not God, and we are all subject to the first death. But praise God, our mental disposition, our mind, our spirit, is made alive through the gift of righteousness, by that Spirit of righteousness that proceeds from God and renews our mind.
Through the Spirit the believer becomes a partaker of the divine nature. Christ has given His Spirit as a divine power to overcome all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil, and to impress His own character upon His people. And if this Spirit dwells in you, the very Spirit that raised Christ from the dead, will through the Spirit dwelling in us cause a quickening of this body, this man, not just at the resurrection but today and now.
It is resurrection power that gives life to the soul “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). The spirit of life in Christ Jesus, “the power of His resurrection,” (Philippians 3:10) sets men “free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2). The dominion of evil is broken, and through faith the soul is kept from sin. He who opens his heart to the Spirit of Christ becomes a partaker of that mighty power which shall bring forth his body from the grave. It is by virtue of this union with Christ that we are to come forth from the grave,—not merely as manifestation of the power of Christ, but because through faith, His life has become ours.
Crucifixion:
And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. Galatians 5:24
What is it to be crucified? It means to subdue the flesh, that carnal nature with its passions and lusts. But how can this be? God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness. This includes the Holy Spirit, which wages war against the flesh and subdues it if we are surrendered to the way of God. It is this continual surrender that is likened to crucifixion and to live such a life is the power of the resurrection. So then we cannot do the things that the flesh clamors for. (See Galatians 5:16–18.)
Unless we are crucified with Jesus, His death and resurrection profit us nothing. For me to be crucified is not merely to look back on Calvary and accept a dying Savior. To be crucified with Christ is for Jesus to come into my heart and take my sins, bearing them on that tree. I must accept Jesus crucified for me and in me, and then I can know Jesus living through me.
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Galatians 6:14
The cross cuts us off from the world, while at the same time the cross unites us to God, because the friendship of the world is enmity with God; “whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4).
Put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts. Ephesians 4:22
We are to put this old man off; we are to crucify him. Ephesians 4:23, 24 describes what is to take the place of the old man. We are to put on the new man, which means being renewed in the spirit of our mind by the creative power of God. Verses 25–32 describe the character of the old man that is to be put away. The old man includes the characteristics such as lying, stealing, bitterness, and evil speaking and other such actions and thoughts.
Q. What are the evidences that we have been crucified?
A. To be crucified with Christ means the utter giving up of self, acknowledging that we are nothing, and trusting absolutely in Christ: The putting away of lust and passions, anger, selfishness, the love of the world, and sin; the bitterness, wrath, and anger, the stealing and lying, the grieving of the Holy Spirit through unbelief and the hardness of our hearts
Resurrection:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3
Q. How are we begotten?
A. “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Peter 1:23). What is this hope that brings life? It is the hope or confidence of righteousness by faith worked out in us by the Holy Spirit. (See Galatians 5:5.)
The Spirit brings righteousness; for the Spirit is Christ’s representative, the means by which Christ who is our righteousness, comes to dwell in our hearts. Therefore the hope, which the Spirit brings, is the hope which the possession of righteousness brings, namely the hope of an inheritance in the kingdom of God, and the earth made new. The righteousness that the Spirit brings to us is the righteousness of the law of God, which is written in our hearts, instead of on tables of stone.
This hope “entereth within the veil following our risen Savior into the sanctuary above. (See Hebrews 6:19, 20.) For we are to dwell in “heavenly places with Christ Jesus.” (See Ephesians 2:6.) For we have a living Savior and a living hope. Let us therefore lay aside every weight which does beset us, and run with patience and hope the race that is set before us, even as Christ who suffered for us leaving us an example.
The new man of the resurrection:
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. Colossians 3:1–3
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Ephesians 4:23, 24
Q. What are the characteristics of the new man?
A. The mind and life is set on things of eternal value not on things of this world. Our mental disposition is renewed. God’s desire is to take that mind and restore it day by day from faith to faith. Then love, commitment, and obedience to God, becomes a part of our life, even as we await the renewing of this sinful body at the resurrection when this corruptible shall put on incorruption.
The new man of the resurrection means the old life is gone and our life becomes centered on God and His Word. The new man of the resurrection seeks righteousness and holiness. The holiness the new man seeks for is wholeness in the service of God. This is true Christian living.
Overview:
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death. Philippians 3:10
Q. How shall we know the power?
A. By the word
Some examples
Christ’s resurrection:
And behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. Matthew 28:2
Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. John 10:17, 18
Q. What was the power that raised Christ from the grave?
A. The call of the Father, the commandment of God, His word.
At the second coming:
And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Matthew 24:31 (This trumpet is the voice, or word of God; see also Revelation 1:10; 4:1.)
Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Isaiah 26:19
What is it that calls the sleeping saints from the grave. The cry of the voice of God His call to awake, His eternal word
A present-day example of a call to awake:
Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. 1 Corinthians 15:34
Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. Ephesians 5:14
The very same power that raised Christ from the grave, and call’s the sleeping saints from the grave, is available to us who are living. As truly as God shall call the dead to awake from the grave, His Spirit call’s us to awake to newness of life.
We know that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead can quicken us; for that is why Christ was raised from the dead. There can be no greater exhibition of power than that which is required to raise the dead. It is creative power. And this is the power, which is given to us in Christ. The resurrection power is known when we are buried with Him by baptism into His death, and raised up in new life in Him. How true it is, that “His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). And it is the manifestation of the power of Christ’s life in our life that gives us a sure hope of eternal life with Him.
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