As we celebrate Easter this year I am excited again to remember the centrality of the resurrection of Jesus from the grave. Many have said that the resurrection is the central doctrine of the Christian faith, and I would agree. For without the resurrection of Jesus, he would not be the Christ. His whole life and ministry would have been a fraud, a scam, and a big hoax. But if Jesus was who he claimed to be and he did rise from being dead for three days then he is the Christ, and Christianity is the only true faith in the world.
But even more, the resurrection of Jesus from the grave can give us new "life" each day of our lives. We can live in resurrection life in the here and now. This is what I long for. The Spiritual life I experienced when I was born again has made all the difference in my big-picture perspective of what life is all about. And it gives me inspiration on a daily basis. The Holy Spirit can not only regenerate my soul for salvation, but He can also inspire me for Christian living.
Faith is an interesting thing though. At first, it is the gift of salvation that we must receive to become a Christian. And secondarily it is like the "air" we breathe in our daily life as Christians. Much like when a new born baby takes his first breath when he is born, so the first breath of salvation brings us to life. But then the new child must keep on breathing, inhaling, and exhaling, the breath of life. And as Christians, we must keep breathing the faith of the resurrection to live the Spiritual life.
Each Christian needs the resurrection of their Spiritually dead soul to become a Christian. And then living in faith is like breathing in the air of the new life. We need a believing faith just as a new child needs breathing air. Often we need to rest and catch our breath from a busy time. But we need to keep breathing in the fresh air of God's Word to fill our bodies and soul with God's grace and faith. The resurrection life gives us Spiritual life for living every day. Let's keep breathing in the faith of the resurrection.
FAITH TODAY: Ezekiel 37:10, "So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army."
But even more, the resurrection of Jesus from the grave can give us new "life" each day of our lives. We can live in resurrection life in the here and now. This is what I long for. The Spiritual life I experienced when I was born again has made all the difference in my big-picture perspective of what life is all about. And it gives me inspiration on a daily basis. The Holy Spirit can not only regenerate my soul for salvation, but He can also inspire me for Christian living.
Faith is an interesting thing though. At first, it is the gift of salvation that we must receive to become a Christian. And secondarily it is like the "air" we breathe in our daily life as Christians. Much like when a new born baby takes his first breath when he is born, so the first breath of salvation brings us to life. But then the new child must keep on breathing, inhaling, and exhaling, the breath of life. And as Christians, we must keep breathing the faith of the resurrection to live the Spiritual life.
Each Christian needs the resurrection of their Spiritually dead soul to become a Christian. And then living in faith is like breathing in the air of the new life. We need a believing faith just as a new child needs breathing air. Often we need to rest and catch our breath from a busy time. But we need to keep breathing in the fresh air of God's Word to fill our bodies and soul with God's grace and faith. The resurrection life gives us Spiritual life for living every day. Let's keep breathing in the faith of the resurrection.
FAITH TODAY: Ezekiel 37:10, "So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army."
