Risen or Resurrected?

Do you have a tradition in your Easter morning service where each one turns to another and says “He is Risen!” and then the other responds with “He is Risen Indeed!” I don’t mean to wrangle over semantics, but I think A. B. Simpson makes a good case for distinguishing between RISEN and RESURRECTED.

One may rise from one level to another; but when one is resurrected he is brought from nothing into existence, from death to life. A true Christian does not rise, but is resurrected. The great objection to all the teachings of mere natural religion and human ethics is that they teach us to rise to higher planes. The Christian life is not about self-improvement, but it is wholly supernatural and divine. Resurrection cannot come until there has been death, and just as real as the death has been will be the measure of the resurrection life and power (The Christ Life).

On this Easter, I fear that too many will be teaching that Jesus’ resurrection means we too will be able to rise to greater heights, achieve our goals and dreams, and reach our full potential. Let’s have none of that. Let us remember that our co-death and co-resurrection with Jesus (Ro. 6:1-11) means we have been raised from the grave of our nothingness to be seated with Him in heavenly places” (Eph. 2:6).

Are You Dying to Live?

In my last post, I made the statement that I am “heavenly,” no longer defined by “earth’s” standards. I sincerely apologize if anyone read any pride into that statement. In my defense, I did NOT say I ‘act’ like a heavenly person (ask my wife or children about that!), only that I know my position in Christ is a heavenly one. We have been born from above (1 John 5:1) and are told to set our minds on things above (Col. 3:2). The question that remains is: how do we live a more ‘heavenly’ life, as those who have been raised up (resurrected) with Christ, while we are yet living in this earthly realm?

Certainly, every serious Christian wants to experience more of Jesus’ power, more of His love, more faith, more patience, more obedience, more purity—Paul calls it ‘resurrection’ life (Ro. 6:4). But, like Jesus, we cannot be raised up without first dying. We cannot experience “resurrection life” until we have died to the old self, (Ro. 6:6), died to the power of sin (6:11), and died to the world’s strong influence over us (Gal. 6:14). And this death is the greatest freedom anyone can ever know (Ro. 6:7).

After all, what can you do to a dead man? You cannot offend a dead man. A dead man knows no fear: there is nothing that can threaten him. A dead man can’t get angry, anxious or depressed—or need therapy!

Those who ‘know’ they have been crucified with Christ (Gal 2:20) will be the freest persons in this world: they ‘rise above’ every earthly trial and affliction. They are “over-comers” (Ro. 8:29).

One of today’s most popular preachers tells his congregation you have to have a "never say die" attitude if you are going to receive the promises of God. I find that so ironic that he has chosen the phrase “never say die” because that is exactly what has to happen if you are going to live in the realm of Jesus’ resurrected life and experience power from on high!