“…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
The Apostle Paul wrote a great deal in his epistles concerning the resurrection, specifically the power associated with the resurrection. But he did not stop there, just declaring the truth of it. He went on to speak of knowing the power of the resurrection in one’s life. Now, one might think that the apostle is speaking uniquely with that moment when we shall rise to meet Christ, either in the air, or after the physical death of the believer. There is no doubt that he is referring to this blessed power of God being revealed to and in us, so that we are at that moment becoming as Jesus is in His glory. There shall be in that moment the full revelation of Christ’s victorious life in the believer, the absolute putting off of all of this creation and all associated with the sin of Adam, to know the fullness, and completeness of Christ realized in heaven, for ever with the Lord. The power of Christ’s resurrection, and our identity with it, is unalterably associated with the blessed hope of the believer, for by this power the conquering of sin and death by Christ is realized fully in the life. But is there not another application to the life concerning the present day use, and experience of this power? Is not the power of the resurrection the same power that the believer needs in order to reign in life, overcome every barrier and obstacle to faith, to victoriously glorify his Lord and God in this earth, as he shall one day do so in heaven by the Spirit?
When the believer was placed into Jesus Christ, not only did the work of Christ on the cross, with regard to sin, Satan, and the world, was accomplished perfectly for him, but he was raised out of Adam’s condemnation and prison of sin, to rise with Christ and be victoriously seated with Him in heavenly places. Christ’s victory became his own. It is important to realize and grasp that this victory is a present, everlasting one. Like the Lord HImself, there is no “variableness or shadow cast by turning.” It is finished, completed, eternally set in stone, for it is based on an everlasting, unchanging work of God. Just as sure as nothing can separate the believer from the love of Christ, so nothing can diminish or change this victory, revealing the power of the resurrection, a power that is today available to the believer to live by. Where does one begin with regard to “entering into” this victory, making it one’s own, and living by the faith of the Son of God, trusting Him for the realization of it?
The first thing is to grasp a Biblical principle that is revealed throughout the Old Testament, and amplified in the New. It is the principle of revelation. What does this mean? Jesus told His disciples concerning freedom from sin and Satan, that “…ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32) In the Old Testament we might call this a “vision” of the truth. God chooses to reveal the truth to the heart, in order to lay a foundation and direction for faith. Once there is a clear understanding of the eternal truth of God, a vision of that which is spiritually and eternally real, then the basis has been laid for one to trust God according to it.
The second thing we must grasp is the authority and power of Christ that is available to the believer to live by. Jesus said: “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (Jn. 8:36) Just as it is imperative to grasp the truth of God, so it is essential to lay hold upon Christ alone as our power and strength. He IS our resurrection power, a power that is unceasingly available to the believer who will trust Him for it.
Dear Father, Reveal Christ’s power in us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.