resurrection of Christ

CHRIST AROSE – WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE?

/ Dr. Daniel Merritt / Leave a comment

HeAroseWhen I was in college, now more years ago than I care to admit, a friend of mine and I were discussing my new found Christian faith. I had not been a Christian long and he asked me a question that has stuck with me for well over forty years. An unbeliever, he asked, “I believe that historically Christ was crucified and arose from the dead, but what difference does it make?” At that time my answer to him was, “If you don’t embrace that truth with all your heart and submit yourself to the One who was raised from the dead, then it makes no difference in your personal life.”

I still abide by the answer that I gave as a nineteen year old, but after almost forty-five years of a relationship with the risen Christ of the cross I can expand upon my initial answer. The historical evidence for the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is so overwhelming that only a hardened skeptic or one willingly ignorant of the facts would deny. So, what difference does it make that Christ was crucified and arose from the dead?

For me the Christ event, his death on the cross and resurrection, is the foundation of my confidence in life. How does the Christ event give us confidence in the various areas of our lives?

First, Christ’s death and resurrection gives us confidence in who He was and what He said. The fact that the Lord raised the Christ of the cross from the dead gives us confidence that He was who He said He was, the Son of the living God. The resurrection is God’s approval that Christ was the promised Messiah and Savior. It is hard not to have confidence in One who has been raised from the dead. Buddha, Mohammad, and other religious leaders of the past are still in the grave. Jesus was resurrected by the power of the Father, giving us confidence that He was more than just another religious leader, but He was who He said He was: the Son of God, the Word made flesh among us.

Second, the death and resurrection of Christ gives us confidence that God accepted the work of Christ for our forgiveness and reconciliation (a restored relationship with the Father). A perfect holy God demands perfect holiness in return, which imperfect humanity cannot comply. Christ came to live the holy life that you and I are incapable of living. But that is not all He came to do. Since holiness opposes sin, that which is unholy must be judged. You and I are sinners who cannot satisfy the perfect demands of holiness; therefore, judgment of our sin is our fate for not being able to comply. Christ, who knew no sin, became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5:21).

How can I be assured, how can I have confidence, that Christ fulfilled the perfect holy life which holiness demands, and how can I be sure He fulfilled the demands of judgment for humanity not being able to comply? That God raised Christ from the dead is proof and confirms that Christ’s life and work on the cross was accepted as complete and finished. The resurrection of Christ is God’s authenticating proof that I can have confidence that His life and death on the cross was sufficient for me to have my sins pardoned, to have a relationship with the Father and to someday dwell with Him in heaven.

Third, the death and resurrection of Christ gives us confidence that the Scriptures are true. All through the Book of Acts the Apostles interpreted the Christ-event by the Scriptures of the Old Testament. Over 300 OT prophecies were spoken by the prophets regarding the predicted Messiah. Jesus fulfilled to the letter every prophecy concerning the long awaited Messiah. How do we know He fulfilled them all perfectly? The resurrection is undeniable proof that he perfectly and completely fulfilled the prophecies, giving me confidence that the Scriptures are true. How do I know the Bible is true? I need no other argument than the resurrection light of Christ which reveals the Scriptures are true and can be trusted.

Fourth, the death and resurrection of Christ gives us confidence in the Holy Spirit. After Jesus arose from the dead, those frightened disciples, locked away for fear of suffering the same fate as Jesus, became men of courage and fearlessness. What happened? Christ empowered them with the Holy Spirit. Our resurrected Lord has promised to abide with each of His followers though the Holy Spirit who indwells. We can have confidence in the indwelling power and presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives because of the resurrection. His resurrection is the assurance He has given us a heavenly power that will sustain us through life’s trials, temptations, and tests. We can have the utmost confidence in the Holy Spirit because of Christ’s triumphant resurrection.

Fifth, the death and resurrection of Christ gives us confidence in the power of the Gospel Message. And what a message it is – God came and walked amongst us in Jesus Christ, lived a perfect life, willingly died on the cross for the sins of humanity and rose again on the third day. When that message is truly believed and embraced lives are changed. The resurrection gives us confidence that the message is true and that it has the ability to change a life (2 Cor. 5:17). When we read the Four Gospels and the Book of Acts we see how the message of Christ can change a life. That he arose gives us confidence that lives can be transformed when the message of His life, cross and resurrection is proclaimed and embraced.

Sixth, the death and resurrection of Christ gives us confidence when facing death. Death will visit us all eventually. It is appointed unto man once to die. What are we to do? The resurrection of Christ gives me confidence when death knocks on my door. Jesus, who was raised from the dead by the power of His Father, assures us, “Because I live, you shall live also” (John 14:19). Because Jesus overcame death and the grave, by faith in Him, we share in His victory. Christ’s victory was my and your victory. What a glorious truth to penetrate our hearts and souls, that because of His atoning death and resurrection we can have confidence in the face of death.

Yes, it has been well over forty years since my friend asked me, “So Christ was crucified and arose from the dead, what difference does it make?” Oh, what a difference the Christ event makes in the lives of those who believe His message and surrender to His grace and love!! If you have not experienced Christ’s saving power He invites you to come to Him today. All He did He did for you and me that we might know the power of His life in us, that we might live daily in the confidence of His atoning death and resurrection.

Blessings,

Dr. Dan

EASTER IS EVERY DAY

/ Dr. Daniel Merritt / Leave a comment
Easter Sunday Christians will gather early in the morning for Easter Sunrise Services to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Only time will tell whether the skyline will yield a reddish glow from a sun whose early morning rays pierce through the darkness or yield clouds that will seek to hide the sun’s radiance. No matter the weather, I am thankful on that first Easter morning the clouds of sin, the devil and death could not keep Jesus, the Sun of Righteousness, from piercing the darkness of this world with His glorious Light of redemption and EveryDayreconciliation. As Christians gather for Sunrise Services the cool gentle morning breeze that will brush our cheeks should reminded us of His ever abiding presence. As we lift our voices in praise that Christ arose from the dead let us joyfully sing of His triumph over the grave. As we gather if we listen closely we can still hear the proclamation of the angels on that first Easter morning echoing in the air, “He is not here, He is risen.” Yes, “this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, [being raised from the dead] sat down at the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:12). That Christ arose from the dead is truly a wonderful truth worth lifting our voices in praise.
 That Christ arose from the dead is a historical fact. Evidence from eyewitnesses of the Christ-event and even from writings other than the Bible by first century writers verifies the historicity of His resurrection. The cross and resurrection of Christ is the central point of eternity, history and the Christian faith. While Christians can celebrate the historical reality of Christ’s resurrection, for the Christian Easter is every day. But how does Christ’s resurrection impact our daily lives?
 For the believer Easter if every day, for the same power that raised Christ from the dead is available to us each day of our lives. Paul writes about this amazing truth, “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you” (Romans 8:11). Did you get that, the same power that raised Christ’s lifeless body from the dead dwells with us and in us; such power is available to us in our daily lives. WOW!!
 If the resurrection power of Christ dwells with us and in us why should we think we can’t face and get through the obstacles, difficulties and mountains that we confront in life? Yes, we place our faith in a historical event, but much more, His living presence is accessible for the practicality of daily living. It matters not what the trial, the testing, or the temptation the resurrection power of Christ is there to strengthen us. Paul, as he faced his own obstacles, writes, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13). Writing from a prison cell he knew the practicality of Christ’s resurrection power to help him in his daily situations.
 The believer has access to “the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which [God] wrought (exerted, accomplished , brought to decisive finality) in Christ, when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand…” (Eph. 1:19-20). This verse tells us that the power we have available to us was put to the ultimate test when Christ was raised from the dead. If such power was victorious in the raising of Christ from the cold dark tomb, cannot “the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe” help us in the adverse circumstances of our lives. Can you think of a situation that His power is not able to give us victory?
 P.T. Forsyth eloquently writes, “From the New Testament point of view the seat of chief power and authority in the universe is the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ…For Paul the omnipotence of God was chiefly shown in raising Christ from the dead… [the] act wherein was exerted the whole power of God for the world – the resurrection of Christ.” Forsyth goes on to say the center point of the Christian’s faith must be in the two-fold event of the cross and resurrection and we must not lack faith in “the greatest exertion of omnipotence ever known – the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. We only [live] by the power of his resurrection.”
 Our Christian faith rests upon Christ’s resurrection and His living presence in our midst. Yet are you and I living daily by the power of His of resurrection? Do we desire to know the power of His resurrection working in our lives? The practicality of the resurrection is that its power is sufficient to empower us daily in all of life’s storms and struggles. The supreme exhibition of the power of God is found in Christ’s resurrection, but are we relying upon such awesome power each day? While we gather this Easter Sunday to celebrate His resurrection, it is an event we can celebrate every day of the week. We can celebrate knowing His presence and power penetrates and invades every area of our lives.
Blessings,
Dr. Dan

THE GREATEST EVENT SINCE CREATION

/ Dr. Daniel Merritt / Leave a comment

It was 45 years ago that man first stepped on the moon. I remember as a seventeen year old gathered around the TV with my parents on July 20, 1969, watching the historic moment. As Neil Armstrong made that first step upon the moon by a human being he said, “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”  MoonCrossII

Armstrong’s journey to the moon In Apollo 11, along with fellow astronauts Buzz Adlrin and Michael Collins, took four days to reach the 250,000 mile destination. Twenty minutes after Armstrong made his historic step, his crewmate, Buzz Aldrin, joined him on the moon’s surface. Over half-a-billion people around the world watched spell-bound as the two men spent some two hours bounding in the light gravity, hitting a golf ball, and planting an American flag.

Upon the Apollo 11 returning to earth then President Richard Nixon stated of their remarkable accomplishment, “This is the greatest week in the history of the world since the Creation.” While it was truly a historical and remarkable event, I disagree that it was the greatest event in the history of the world since Creation.

The greatest event, the most unique event in human history was when the Creator of the heavens and the earth stepped from eternity into time clothed in human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. Christ’s birth, life, death, and His glorious resurrection have left an impact upon human history that time cannot erase, but time only increases. The cross of Christ towers over history as the eternal plus sign of the universe. Christ is to us just what His historic cross and His resurrection is – hope for sinful humanity. All that Christ was in eternity past and eternity present was put into what He did when he stepped foot upon planet earth.

The crowning chapter of Christ’s earthly ministry and his atoning work on the cross was His resurrection from the dead. What His birth promised, the Resurrection declared fulfilled. Christ forfeited His life on the cross, and arose for the dead to give our forfeited lives new life. His conquering resurrection has opened the door to the possibility of new life for all who will enter and receive Christ as their Savior.

The Christian faith is grounded and built upon the truth that God has acted and continues to act in and through the One who died upon the cross and arose from the dead. Christ’s rising from the cold dark tomb is God’s exclamation point and seal of approval on the work of Christ. The two fold act of the cross and the resurrection is, as P.T. Forsyth says, “Our faith’s center of gravity.”

By Christ’s resurrection, sin and the devil lost their chief servant – death. We have the promise of final victory based on the victory already won by Christ’s resurrection. Sin, death, and the devil will not win at last because they failed to win the only time they ever could have gained the upper hand.

Because Christ arose from the dead all persons by faith in Him are partakers in His victory! His resurrection proves that LIFE, not death, is God’s final word to us.

Oh, let us rejoice – HE IS ALIVE! As a result of the greatest event since Creation, when our Creator in Jesus Christ walked on earth, His resurrection power is ever available to every Christian to empower us as we journey through life.

Blessings,

Dr. Dan

HE IS RISEN

/ Dr. Daniel Merritt / 1 Comment

HEAROSE The cold dark grave could not hold Christ. The angels proclaimed on that first Easter morning, “He is not here. He is risen” (Matthew 28:6). The glorious resurrection of Christ authenticates all He came to be and accomplish by His life and in His death on the cross.

The cross of Christ – what love and grace; what amazing grace. For on the cross God in Christ did for us what we could not do for ourselves. At the cross Christ assumed for us the responsibility of satisfying the holy demands of God and assuming our judgment for not being able to comply.

The proof that Christ was who He said He was and that God accepted the Offering of Christ is that He raised Him from the dead. Paul writes of Jesus the He was “declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4).

The resurrection of Christ is the indisputable proof that the life and work of Christ on the cross is accepted before a holy God as finished and complete. On the cross Jesus said of the work He came to do on behalf of God and man, “It is finished” (John 19:30). His resurrection is the confirmation that “it is finished.”

The author of Hebrews wonderfully states, “But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God” (Heb. 10:12). That Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father indicates that His work on the cross was accepted, is finished, and completed. That He is alive at the right hand of the Father indicates He has risen from the dead as verification that His work of redemption is finished.

Christ’s rising from the sealed tomb is God’s exclamation point and seal of approval of who Christ was and what He accomplished. The two fold act of the cross and the resurrection is our faith’s center of gravity. At the cross Christ was our Sin-Bearer, Redeemer, Forgiver, Reconciler, Bestower of Grace, our Savior and Lord. In the resurrection of Christ the power of God was dramatically proclaimed when the angel is heard heralding, “He is not here: for He is risen” (Matthew 28:6).

Christ bore our sins in His body on the cross, winning redemption for us from the midst of judgment upon sin. His resurrection is evidence redemption was won and forgiveness provided. His work on the cross does not simply pluck us out of the hands of sin, but He delivers us unto the hands of righteousness. His resurrection enables us to find refuge in God’s righteous hands.

Christ of the cross is our foundation for living, and it is by Him we must continually adjust our compass. Yet more than our foundation, because of His glorious resurrection on that first Easter morning He is our daily source. His resurrected presence is with us each and every day.

The center point of God’s revelation to man is Christ on the cross which brightly shines to sinful man a new light to the path of life, and because of His resurrection we share in His great victory over sin, the devil, and the pangs of death. P.T. Forsyth writes as only he can, “The seat of chief power and authority in the universe is the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are one with Christ, not only on His cross, but in His resurrection. As we are one with Him in the likeness of His death, so we are in the likeness of His resurrection. The revelation of God in the Cross of Christ [and His resurrection] is its own reforming principle and its own cleansing light.”

It is Christ and His action on the cross and His resurrection which creates within us anew and enables us to see Jesus and His cross as the foundation and certainty for the hope of humanity. Christ was born as King. He went to the cross as King. He arose as King. As the Risen King, He beckons us to Himself. Embracing Him in faith is the soul’s laying hold of Christ as its only source of life, pardon and salvation. While the world wants a Christless cross, the Christ of the cross calls us out of sin unto newness of life.
When our eyes are open to what God in Christ has done for us on the cross, how can we not come and kneel in thanksgiving and worship, embracing Him as Lord and Savior? For God in Christ provides for us atonement, redemption, forgiveness in the historical events of the cross and His resurrection. And it is at the cross and the open tomb humanity can find a restored relationship, redemption, and the adoption as sons and daughters of the Most High God.

He is Risen! My, what a Savior we have! Unto Him all praise and glory belongs.

Blessings,
Dr. Dan