Resurrection Life
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” (John 11:25-26)
This is the heart of the gospel: though we were dead in sin, we can find new life in Christ – the Resurrection. Salvation is not just about life beyond the grave, but also about living a new, purpose-filled life in the present.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:17-18)
While the story of Lazarus (John 11) is about being raised from the dead physically, it paints a great picture for us of what it means to have new life in Christ. It provides some great insight for our daily walk of faith.
By Jesse Smith
Jesse and his wife, Melanie, reside in Lexington, along with their son, Zak.
This is the heart of the gospel: though we were dead in sin, we can find new life in Christ – the Resurrection. Salvation is not just about life beyond the grave, but also about living a new, purpose-filled life in the present.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:17-18)
While the story of Lazarus (John 11) is about being raised from the dead physically, it paints a great picture for us of what it means to have new life in Christ. It provides some great insight for our daily walk of faith.
- “Lord, if you had been here” (John 11:21,32) – You can’t measure God’s love and care for you based on your circumstances. Life will have unexpected, unplanned, unwanted moments. In the midst of those moments, God is already at work, accomplishing His purpose. By the way, this also means that you cannot judge someone else’s faithfulness or God’s love for them based on the circumstances you see in their lives.
- “Take away the stone” (John 11:39) – The stone was rolled away for us when Jesus came from the grave. The Romans had sealed the stone, but Jesus sealed the promise. By faith, we can follow Jesus out of the grave and into new life.
- “Lazarus, come out! (John 11:43) – Jesus called Lazarus individually, specifically. That’s how it is for us. Jesus calls us individually for a specific purpose. He has an incredible plan for your life and my life – a plan that starts with following Him by faith from death to life.
- “Unbind him, and let him go” (John 11:44) – Jesus doesn’t just call us from the grave; He sets us free from every bondage to live a new life. Not free to live as we please, but free to fulfill His purpose.
By Jesse Smith
Jesse and his wife, Melanie, reside in Lexington, along with their son, Zak.
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