The name of the message is The
Power of Christ's Resurrection. The Power of Christ's Resurrection. Philippians chapter 3. We'll
read from verse 1 to 10. Finally, my brethren, rejoice
in the Lord. To write the same things to you,
to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil
workers, beware of the concision. For we are the circumcision which
worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and
have no confidence in the flesh. Though I might also have confidence
in the flesh, if any other man thinketh that he have whereof
he might trust in the flesh, I more. Circumcised the eighth
day of the stock of Israel, the tribe of Benjamin, in Hebrew
of Hebrews, is touched in the law of Pharisee. Incerning zeal,
persecuting the church, touching the righteousness which is in
the law, blameless. For what things were gained to
me, those I count at a loss for Christ. Yea, doubtless, and I
count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge
of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss
of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ
and be found in Him. Not having mine own righteousness,
which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of
Christ, the righteousness, which is of God by faith, that I may
know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship
of his sufferings being made conformable unto his death, if
by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Now, in the context of our verse that we'll be looking at, which
is verse 10, Paul is cautioning the Philippian church to beware
of the Judaizers, to beware of those who mix works and grace. And if you study through his
epistles, you'll notice that this is a constant thing that
occurred. And it still occurs today. It still occurs today. We still have people, many, many
religious groups, who teach that you're saved by works. They mix
just a little bit enough of the truth in there, but they clothe
their error with some truth. And it's real subtle. And they
add, though, something that man does, something you got to do. And that's false religion, because
Christ did it all. He did it all, beloved. So Paul's
talking about the Judaizers here, and they are nothing but works-based
preachers who've come in the midst of the church at Philippi.
And Paul brings forth his life as a Pharisee. He says, well,
if they wanna boast, well, he brings forth his life as a Pharisee
to show the Philippians that he was not speaking ignorantly
about the Judaizers, because at one time, he was one of them.
He was a Pharisee. Pharisee of Pharisees, and he
tells the Philippians a little bit about his past. He brings
forth in the text in verse four and five, look, though I might
also have confidence in the flesh, and beloved, anyone who's trusting
in something that they do is having confidence in their flesh.
Anybody who's even at, we were talking about pinprick of works,
to grace, is trusting partly in their flesh, actually all
in their flesh because they've destroyed grace. If you put a
pinprick of works into grace, it's no longer grace. So their
confidence then becomes their flesh in what they do. And I'm
speaking of experience because I came out of that. Where it
was always based upon what I was doing. And other people were
lesser because they weren't doing what I was doing. And it's a
horrible state to be in. It's an absolute horrible state
to be in. So Paul brings forth his life as a Pharisee to show
them that he can speak from experience. If they want to boast about their
pedigree, well, look at him. He's a Hebrew of Hebrews. He's
touching the law of Pharisee, verse five. In his ignorance,
he counted himself, look at verse six. In his ignorance, beloved,
he counted himself blameless before the law. Blameless. touching the righteousness which
is of the law, blameless. Now that he's converted, now
that he's born again, he counts all of these things but loss
for the excellency of Christ. My, and look at what verse nine
says. and to be found in him, not having
mine own righteousness. He wants nothing to do with his
own righteousness because he knows he's been shown by God
that his righteousness in the eyes of the Lord is just filthy
rags, not having mine own righteousness. He wants to be found in Christ,
beloved. and to be found in him, not having
mine own righteousness, which is of the law. What does the
law bring? Condemnation, death. We can never
fulfill it. But that which is through the
faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith, that
which the believer has imputed to him. Clothed in the precious
spotless righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. He says in verse 6 that he used
to he used to persecute the church look at this concerning zeal
persecuting the church This man speaking from experience He knows what these Judaizers
are up to He barely brings forth that now
that he's converted now that he's born again. He counts these
things loss for Christ They were not All that he thought
was important to him. Now, remember, he is a Pharisee
of Pharisees. He had wealth. He had power.
Influence. He counts them all but done.
Worthless. Worthless. And remember, what
are the one things that work based religion and the Pharisees
themselves? What is something that they they
try to do? They try to establish their own
righteousness. Paul says, I don't want to have
nothing to do with that. I want to be clothed in the righteousness
of Christ, because that's the only one who God will accept.
That's the only one. So what he used to boast in,
now he sees as absolute folly. And he sees it as absolute folly
in someone trying to work out their own righteousness by their
own works, now that he's born again. And note all the things
he used to boast in, all the privileges he enjoyed as a Pharisee
in his conversion from Pharisism, all those things he counts but
done. Suffering the loss of all things that he might win Christ.
Look what he brings forth by inspiration of the Holy Spirit
in verse 10, that I may know him and the power of his resurrection. And the fellowship of his sufferings
being made conformable unto his death, the power of his resurrection. Paul is speaking of the resurrection
of the Lord Jesus Christ. So let us first look at the fact
of the resurrection, the fact of it, that it really did occur.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, after that He had died upon the cross,
after He lived a perfect life for His people, and then after
He died upon the cross as the sinner's substitute, as a substitute
of His people, He died and was buried. He's buried in a sepulcher,
hewn out of rock, so that it could not... Now, this was a
new sepulcher that had been hewn out of rock, so that it could
not be said that any might dig under the grave. or dig down
to get them. It's shooing out of a rock, beloved. And it was a sepulcher where
no man had been laying before. Turn, if you would, to Matthew
27. Matthew 27. Now, if any man did rise from
this grave, then it must be the Lord Jesus Christ, because no
one else had ever used this tomb. Look at Matthew 27, verses 57
to 61. And then we'll continue down all
the way to 66, but we'll read a little portion here. Matthew
57, or 27-57, I'm sorry. When the evening was come, there
came a rich man of Arithmaea named Joseph, who also himself
was a Jesus disciple. He went to Pilate and begged
the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body
to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the
body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his
own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock. And he rolled
a great stone to the door of the sepulcher and departed. And
there was Mary Magdalene and the other Mary sitting over against
the sepulcher. Now this sepulcher was sealed
and it also had a band of soldiers set there to guard the tomb.
Not by his friends though, but by his enemies. But by his enemies,
by his professed enemies. And look at Matthew 27, verse
62 to 66. Now the next day, that fall,
the day of the preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees
came together under Pilate, saying, Sir, we remember that deceiver
said, well, he was yet alive. After three days, I will rise
again. Command therefore that the sepulcher
be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come
by night and steal him away, and say unto the people, he is
risen from the dead, so the last error shall be worse than the
first. Pilate said unto them, ye have a watch, go your way.
Now these are soldiers. These are hardened soldiers. These are men who guard, and
they will lose their life if they don't guard. You have a
watch, go your way and make it as sure as you can. So they went
and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone and setting
a watch. Turn, if you would, to John 21. John 21. And we know that our Lord rose
from the grave, didn't He? He rose from the grave and He
appeared at different times after His resurrection and in various
ways to His disciples when they were assembled. He walked with
two of them on the road to Arimaeus, and He appeared to them when
they were fishing. So our Lord, despite what man
did, they set a watch, and our Lord, He rose from the grave.
By the power of God, He rose. The stone was rolled away, and
our Lord rose. Look at John chapter 21, though.
Verse 14. But when the morning was now
come, Jesus stood on the shore. Now this is after his resurrection.
But the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith
unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him,
No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of
the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now
they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
Therefore, that disciple whom Jesus loved, and we know that's
John, saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that
it was the Lord, he gird his fisher's coat unto him, for he
was naked, and did cast himself into the sea. And the other disciples
came in the little ship, for they were not far from land,
but as it were two hundred cubits, dragging the net with fishes.
As soon as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals
there, and fish there laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith unto them,
Bring ye the fish, which ye have now caught. Simon Peter went
up and drew the net to the land full of great fishes, and a hundred
and fifty and three. And for all there were so many,
yet was not the net broken. Jesus, and here he is, here he
is, beloved. He's the risen Savior. appearing
to his disciples. Jesus saith unto them, Come and
dine. And none of the disciples dared ask him, Who art thou,
knowing that it was the Lord? Jesus then cometh and breaketh
bread, and giveth them fish, and likewise. This is now the
third time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples, after
he was risen from the dead. So when they had dined, Jesus
saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Barjona, lovest thou me? This portion here. This portion
here is. Such a dear portion of scripture,
Peter had denied the Lord. Three times. And note. Note how our Lord is
with one of his elect. Peter's one of his, just like
you and I, we who believe and look how look how how compassionate
our Lord is. So when they had died, Jesus
saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me
more than these? He saith unto him, yea, Lord,
thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second
time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Lord,
or yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him,
feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time,
Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because
he said unto him the third time, lovest thou me? And he said unto
him, Lord, thou knowest all things. You know all things, Lord. Thou knowest that I love thee.
Jesus saith unto him, feed my sheep. Do you notice he didn't
berate him? Do you remember? Do you remember
the picture we have in Luke chapter 15 when the shepherd goes and
finds the lost sheep? And he picks the sheep up. And
he puts the sheep on his shoulders. Because he loves his sheep. And
that sheep can just gaze in the eyes of the Savior. Lovest thou me? Verily, verily,
I say unto thee, when thou wast young, thou girdest thyself,
and walkest whither thou wouldest. But when thou shalt be old, thou
shalt stretch forth thy hand, and another shall gird thee,
and carry thee, whither thou wouldest not. This speak he signifying
by which death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this,
he saith unto them, Follow me. So the fact of the resurrection
is right before us. Turn if you would to Matthew
28. Matthew 28. He appeared to His disciples. Here is the fact of the resurrection
spoken of in Matthew 28, verses 2-6. 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. His countenance was like lightning,
and his ramnet white as snow. And for fear of him, the keepers
did shake and become as dead men. And the angel answered and said
unto the woman, Fear not ye. What does God say to his people?
Fear not. Fear not. The guards tremble.
He says to his people, fear not. Fear not ye, for I know that
ye seek Jesus which was crucified. He is not here. He is not here. For He is risen, as He said,
Come and see the place where the Lord laid. Now, second point,
let us consider the necessity of the resurrection. Christ must
rise from the grave. He must, beloved. He must rise
from the grave to fulfill His teaching. Turn, if you would,
to Matthew chapter 12. He must rise from the grave to fulfill
His teaching, as our Lord had often spoke of His resurrection.
And this would be proof that He was the true Messiah, God
incarnate in the flesh. Look at Matthew 12, verses 39
and 40. But He answered and said unto
them, An evil and adulterous generation Seek it out for a
sign, and there shall be no sign be given to it, but the sign
of the prophet Jonas. For as Jonas was three days and
three nights in the whale's belly, so shall the Son of Man be three
days and three nights in the heart of the earth." Now turn,
if you would, to John 2. John 2. So the necessity is because the
Lord Himself spoke of the resurrection. Look at John chapter 2. Then answered the Jews, verse
18, 18 to 22. Then answered the Jews and said
unto him, What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest
these things? Jesus answered and said unto
them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it
up. Then said the Jews, forty and six years was this temple
in Belden, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? They didn't
understand what he was speaking. But our text here says, but he
spake of the temple of his body. They thought he was speaking
of the temple. Where, when therefore he was
risen from the dead, his disciples remembered. that he had said
this unto them and believed the scripture and the word which
Jesus had said. Now remember, these are the words
too that his enemies remembered in their ignorance and in their
arrogance to set a guard to try to stop the Lord while they thought
that the disciples would come and steal the body. They had
no clue that the Lord was speaking of himself. Had the Lord Jesus Christ not
risen, they might justly have said, we know this man was an
imposter. But beloved, they could not say
that because our Lord Jesus Christ rose from the grave by the power
of God. The same power that saves a sinner. The same power that saves a sinner. The power of God. He rose from the grave to give
us assurance of salvation. It was necessary to give us assurance
of salvation because we know that because Christ rose from
the grave that God is satisfied. He's satisfied with the sacrifice
of Christ. Scripture declares He was raised
for our justification, for our justification. It pleased the Father. that he
would wound our Savior for our transgressions, for our sins,
that he would bear the wrath and justice of God for our sins. Remember, he's sinless, spotless,
perfect. The scripture declares this,
he shall see the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied.
God sees the travail of Christ upon the cross as the sinner's
substitute, as the substitute of his people, and he's satisfied. He's satisfied with that sacrifice. By his knowledge shall my righteous
servant justify many, for he shall bear their iniquities.
Note, he shall bear their iniquities. He's sinless. My King bore my
iniquities, my iniquities, my sin. In Christ being released from
the power of death, we are thereby assured that God is well pleased,
God is satisfied with the sacrifice of Christ upon the cross. in
the place of his people, and atonement has been made. It's been made, beloved. It is
finished. That means it's done. That means
there's nothing to be added. Do you see the folly of works-based
religion? Do you see the folly of when
man says, well, I have to make a decision? It is finished. Look and live. Look to Christ
and live. Oh my. We know that it's God,
the Holy Spirit, who will make us look and have us look. But
look, we look, don't we? We who believe, look. And we
keep looking. We keep looking to Christ. My. Christ rising from the grave
also gives us assurance of the resurrection of our bodies. Of
our bodies. We know that to be absent from
the Lord is to be present, or absent from the body is to be
present with the Lord, but one day we'll receive glorified bodies. Bodies with no sin. And the resurrection
assures us that this will occur. Turn, if you would, to Acts chapter
17. The resurrection of the body was not believed by those who
Paul proclaimed Christ to at Mars Hill. They didn't believe
it. Most of the Jews believed in
the resurrection, but there was a whole sect of Sadducees who
denied it. But beloved, when the Lord rose
from the grave, he put that, he put, he put it out of dispute. He has risen, and because he
rose, we're gonna go. We're gonna go. Look at this
in Acts chapter 17. verses 18 to 20. Then certain
philosophers of the Epicureans and of the Stoics encountered
him, and some said, What will this babbler say? Others, some,
he seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods, because he preached
unto them Jesus in the resurrection. They had no clue. And they took him and bought
him unto the Arabicus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine
whereof thou speakest is. For thou bringest certain strange
things to our ears. We would know, therefore, what
these things mean. So there was many during that
time who didn't believe that we rise from the grave. Now, the importance. Let us look
at the importance of Christ's resurrection. Our text in Philippians
3.10 says this, that I may know him and the power of his resurrection
and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto his
death. What is the power of his resurrection? Beloved of God, it is to be raised
from the death of sin to a life of righteousness and holiness,
which is only in and through the Lord Jesus Christ. The resurrection
of Christ's body would avail Paul nothing unless he was born
again by the Holy Spirit of God. And he had experienced God's
power by the rising of his own dead soul. Is it so with you? Have you experienced the power
of God? Being born again by the Holy Spirit of God? It's amazing. that he takes sinners
who are dead. Our natures are dead. And we
become born again by the Holy Spirit of God. So Paul had experienced this,
the rising of his own dead soul, which was bought from death spiritually
to life in Christ. Turn, if you would, to Colossians
chapter one. Colossians chapter one. Scripture declares, verses 12
to 14, giving thanks unto the Father
which hath made us meet, now that means to be qualified, qualified, to be meet, to be
partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, who hath
delivered us from what? The power of darkness. And oh,
what darkness we were in. But He's delivered us from the
power of darkness and has translated us into the kingdom of His dear
Son, born again of the Holy Spirit of God. Those who are dead in
trespasses and sins, under the power of darkness, He translates
into the kingdom of His dear Son. Look at this. In whom we
have redemption. How was our salvation purchased?
By His own precious blood. In whom we have redemption through
His blood. And look at this, beloved. Rejoice, rejoice, even
the forgiveness of sins. How many sins? All sins. Oh, what power! What power! The Lord Jesus Christ dies upon
Calvary's cross. And remember, there will never
be a resurrection unless there was the death of Christ. And
the Lord Jesus Christ dies upon Calvary's cross, shedding His
own precious blood, paying the price for all of our sins. And
not just ours here, we who believe, but for the sins of all the elect,
of all the ages, so that we will be eternally redeemed by the
Lord Jesus Christ, purchased by Him. He's obtained eternal
redemption, Scripture declares. Glory to His name. Praise His
name. He's the only one who could accomplish
this. Oh, what a great Savior we have. And one of the chief ends of
our Lord's resurrection was for him to enter into heaven as our
mediator. He is our mediator right now,
beloved, our advocate with the father right now for his people. My. Seated at the right hand
of the God, and why? Why is he sat down? Because the
work is finished. As I said before, in the Old
Testament, there was never a chair in the Holy of Holies for the
priest to sit down, because he was always doing something. But
Christ is sat down at the right hand of the Father. The work
is finished. He rises to be with the Father
and He sends down the Holy Spirit. Sends down the Comforter. The
one who draws us to Christ. The one who regenerates us. The
one who applies the redemption that Christ had finished on the
cross to our hearts by drawing us to Christ. By regenerating
us. We're born again of the Holy
Spirit of God. And He does that for every single
one of His sheep. That's why we preach the Gospel.
Because it goes forth with power. Power of the Holy Spirit regenerates
dead sinners and turns us to Christ. Turns us to Christ. Scripture declares this. Turn,
if you would, to John chapter 11. Do you know that there is
salvation in no other? No other. And here's a couple
pieces, two scriptures for us to look at here. John chapter
11, verses 25 and 26. And a question for every single
one of us in this room. And a question for whoever shall
hear the message. Look at this. Our Lord said this.
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life. That's
exclusive. That's exclusive. I am. He's
speaking as the great I am. Remember, I am the resurrection
in life. He that believeth in me, though
he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth
in me shall never die. And here's the question for all
of us. Believest thou this? Believest thou this? We are saved by grace through
faith. It is the gift of God, not of
works lest any man should boast. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
and ye shall live. Now this faith which has been
granted to the believer is not a dead speculative faith. It's not an intellectual faith. But the believer is born again
by the Holy Spirit of God to a new and living way faith in
Christ Jesus, which is wrought out by the operation of God,
the Holy Spirit in us. We live to change life, don't
we? Brother Jim, you mentioned that last. We live a changed
life. We don't desire the things we
used to desire. We battle the flesh. We fight
daily. Seeking to live a life pleasing
to God. But all by the power of God,
the Holy Spirit working in us and through us. And this faith is granted to
the believer, granted to the believer, regenerated by the
Holy Spirit. It's an operation of God, the
Holy Spirit, in us. And it is a faith, it is a faith
with Christ as the center. It is a faith with Christ as
the center. He is the object of our faith. And our faith looks
away from ourselves, and our faith looks to Christ in Him
alone. the opposite of how we used to be. All I used to do
is look to self before the Lord saved me. It's incredible. Is it not so
with you? He changes our desires. And he becomes everything to
us, everything. So what is the results of the
power of His resurrection in our lives? The believer dies
to the things of the world and now battles sin daily. And remember,
we're being conformed to the image of the Son while we sojourn
upon this earth. So there'd be opposition from
the world towards God's people. Turn, if you would, to Romans
6. The believer walks in newness of life, being born again by
the Holy Spirit of God. And may we count all things but
loss for the excellency of Christ and for the knowledge of Him.
This is why we get together and gather together to learn and
grow, not to be able to boast about what we know, but to adore
Him more, to be in awe of what He's done and what He's doing
still. God's not, He's not silent. He's
moving and working all things out according to His will and
purpose. Daily! Every second! Our God is in full
control. So the believer walks in newness
of life now that they're born again. Look at Romans 6, verses
4-6. Therefore we are buried with
him by baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised from
the dead by the glory of God the Father, even so we also should
walk in newness of life. We hate the things we once loved.
And now we love the things we once hated. It's a work of God. For if we
have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we
shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection. If He rose,
we're going to rise. You know, like I often say, where
the head is, the body soon follows, right? He's the head, we're the
body. Oh my, it's wonderful. So when
we ponder the depths and the riches of our wonderful Savior,
the Lord Jesus Christ, we are left in awe. And may we desire, as we
gather together, may we desire to know Christ and the power
of His resurrection. And may He be a source of comfort
and strength for us this side of eternity. Because He's the
one who we will be looking act and seeing and worshiping and
adoring when we're in glory, when we're in eternity. He is
the center of worship in heaven. It's all about Him. Heaven would
not be heaven without Christ. And that's where the blood-bought
saint of God is going. Because He's there. He's there. Oh, may this rise us up above
the world, above the sorrows of this world, and may we have
our hearts and minds set upon Christ. Let us always remember
He is seated at the right hand of the Father right now, right
now, in majesty, in power. And may we gather together in
this place, we who are believers, to be comforted, to have our
hearts knit together in love. as we consider our Savior, when
we consider who He is, when we consider what He's done for us,
and we consider where He is right now. He is the sinner's substitute.
He is the perfect one, beloved. The perfect one. And in Him,
God sees His people. When Christ died upon the cross,
we died with Him. When Christ rose from the grave,
we rose with Him. When God looks upon Christ, He
sees His people, and He sees us, beloved, clothed in that
perfect, spotless righteousness. Right now. Isn't it wonderful? It's amazing. We are imperfect, but He's perfect. He's perfect. And in him, the perfect one,
we have forgiveness of all our sins. A-L-L. All. It is Christ. It is in Christ
the perfect one that God loves us. It is in Christ the perfect
one that he has loved us from eternity. He did not start loving
us when we were saved. But beloved, he has loved us
with an everlasting love, even when we were dead in trespasses
and sins. He has always loved his people.
and He will always love His people. How great is this love which
God has for His people in Christ, the perfect One, the One who
bore our sins on Calvary's cross, the One whose perfect spotless
righteousness is imputed to us, How much does God love his people?
So much that he sent Christ to die upon the cross for all my
sins. And if you believe for all your
sins, that's how much he loves us. We can't even plumb it. The depths of this love, depths
of mercy. God deals with our sins. His
justice is poured out on the perfect one, the Lord Jesus Christ,
who bears the sins of his people, and he pays everything God demands
for our sins. Everything. The perfect one dies
for the imperfect one. The imperfect ones, we who are
sinners, are clothed and covered. Now, we who believe are clothed
and covered in the spotless righteousness of Christ. Thus, by reason of
this blessed transference or exchange, the imperfect ones
become as the perfect one in the sight of God. Now, we're
still sinners, aren't we? But in the sight of God, we are
clothed in the righteousness of Christ. And we are dealt with
as such. That is comforting. Perfection, think of this too.
And we know we're sinners, but think of this being clothed in
the righteousness of Christ. Perfection covers imperfection. Perfection covers imperfection.
And the believing sinner stands complete. Turn, if you would, to Colossians.
The believing sinner stands complete in the perfect One, which is
Christ, the Lord, before God. Look at this. This is good news
for sinners. Colossians 2, verses 9 Starting in verse 9. For in Him
dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and ye are... Oh, rest here, beloved. Rest here, beloved. And ye are
complete in Him. Complete in Him, which is the
head of all principality and power, in whom also ye are circumcised
with the circumcision made without hands, and putting off the body
of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, you are
born again, buried with him in baptism, wherein you are also
risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, which
has raised him from the dead. And you being dead in your sins
in the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together
with him, heaven forgiving you, all trespasses, blotting out
the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was
contrary to us, took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross. And heaven spiraled principalities
and powers. He made a show of them openly, triumphing over
them in it. What a Savior. What a Savior. And the believer
stands accepted in the Beloved, accepted in Christ, complete
in Christ, complete in Christ, accepted in the Perfect One.
His perfect sacrifice hath redeemed my eternal soul. And now we stand
before God on a new foot, as men and women who have become
the righteousness of God in Him. And as a result of this wonderful
salvation, we get new life, peace and pardon, blessings from our
great Lord, simply because the Perfect One worked out and obtained
eternal salvation for us. What a Savior! What a Redeemer. And this is the one who rose
from the grave. This is the one who rose from
the grave for our justification. He died on Calvary's cross for
our sins. And he rose from the grave for
our justification. What a Savior. Rejoice, beloved
of God, rejoice. What a King. Gracious Heavenly
Father, we come before Thy throne in awe, in absolute awe of the
salvation we have in You, Lord Jesus, that You, the perfect
One, the perfect, spotless Lamb of God, would die in the place
of imperfect ones, which we, Your people, are dead in trespasses
and sins, and yet You left the glories and splendors of heaven
to die upon the cross in our place, to live the perfect life,
first that we could never live, satisfying the law of God in
all points for us, and then dying upon the cross and purchasing
us with your own precious blood. And then we have hope in the
resurrection, knowing that you rose, we'll rise too. and that
you, our great God and King, are seated at the right hand
of the Father, and God the Father is satisfied with the sacrifice which you did in our place, in
our room. May we leave this place, we who
believe, rejoicing, rejoicing that our Lord is King. Oh Lord,
what love you have for your people. In Jesus' name, amen.