“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

This week, we’ve been looking at the centrality of the belief that Jesus Christ fully died, was buried and later resurrected (came back to life). We believe that this resurrection was bodily and physical, that Jesus literally came back to life- not just spiritually or metaphorically. And His resurrection is the physical and literal proof of His deity, His authority over sin and death, and His victory!  

This tenant of our faith is so central to the Christian walk. Romans 10:9 tells us that our salvation rests on whether we believe in our heart and confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead. This is the “living hope” that Peter wrote about in today’s verse- that because Jesus was raised from the dead, we too can have eternal life in His name.  

See, it is the resurrection of Jesus that changes everything. Without it, we are simply another group of faithful followers, believing in an empty promise of the world to come. The resurrection of Jesus is what defines us as believers. We don’t just follow Jesus as a good teacher or even a god-man come down to earth. Many other religions believe the same thing about Jesus- but it doesn’t make them saved, it doesn’t assure their salvation. The Bible is clear- in order to be “born again” as Peter states it here and as Jesus called it to Nicodemus in John 3, we must truly believe and accept the resurrection of Christ.

And even more than just believing it, we must let it change us. We must move from a place of distant acceptance to full surrender. See, the resurrection of Christ means that God has defeated sin and death for all of eternity. It means that He is who He said He is. It means that we can trust Him to do even the impossible. It means that He is all powerful and worthy of so much praise. And when we accept the resurrection of Christ, we choose to participate in eternal praise and glory of the One True King forevermore.  

I think so often we as believers accept the resurrection and move on. We affirm it and we receive new spiritual life in Jesus, but we don’t fully embrace the truth of the resurrection. See, I think we miss the eternal statement that Jesus made the day He walked out of that tomb. I think we miss that He declared through His resurrection that there is NOTHING stronger than Him. There is NOTHING bigger than Him. There is NOTHING more powerful, more righteous, more life-altering than Him.

And if we truly live in the truth of the resurrection, it doesn’t just mean eternal life in the hereafter. It means eternal life now! It means abundant life through the power of the resurrected King! It means that no matter what we face on this earth, no matter what life throws at us, no matter how hard, how messy, how difficult, or how broken it gets- GOD IS ALWAYS BIGGER!  

Jesus has the power to claim victory over even the most lost cause, the deepest pit of despair, and the darkest season of your life- If you will let Him. If you choose to surrender to Him and let His resurrection power permeate every area of your life, it means ultimate victory in His name. No matter what happens, this world is no longer your home, and you are no longer defined by its pull. No matter how hard it gets, you can walk in confidence knowing that the King of Kings has already won. You can walk in confidence knowing that you cannot be defeated for long. Everything will bow to the resurrected Lord eventually.  

I don’t know about you, friends, but that gives me so much peace. It reminds me that though weeping may last for the evening, joy ALWAYS comes in the morning. There is always an end to the pain. There is always an end to the hurt. But in the power of the Resurrected King, for those who choose to follow Him with their whole lives, there is NO END to the joy, the goodness, the beauty, and the promise of eternal life. Be encouraged today! Your King is alive, and He is enthroned forevermore! Praise God!!!

Jesus,

I may feel like I am defeated now. But I know Your eternal life reigns. I trust that Your resurrection power will work all things for Your glory and for my good. I trust You in the pain. I trust You to produce something perfect and good in the authority of Your name. You are the King who is not defeated by anything, even death and sin. You are forever alive and I take refuge in the promise that You will bring me into eternal life with You.  

In the name of Jesus Christ,

Amen