Introduction:

“These are in accordance with the working of the strength of [God’s] might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead” (Eph. 1:19–20).

  I.     In Christ You Have All The Power You Will Ever Need.

A.     The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the Great Hope of Believers.

1.       Because He lives, we will live also (John 14:19).

Peter said that we have been “born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away” (1 Peter 1:3–4). We and what we have are protected by God’s power (v. 5).

a)        In Ephesians 1:19–20 Paul draws two comparisons.

1)        The power God demonstrated in the resurrection and ascension of Christ and the power He demonstrates on behalf of every believer.

That power is described as God’s “working,” “strength,” and “might.” Together those synonyms emphasize the greatness of God’s power, which not only secures our salvation but also enables us to live godly lives.

2)        The second comparison is between our Lord’s resurrection and ascension and ours.

The grave couldn’t hold Him, nor can it hold us (1 Cor. 15:54–57).

54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up  in victory.55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Satan himself couldn’t prevent Christ’s exaltation, nor can he prevent us from gaining our eternal inheritance.

b)        In Christ You Have All the Power You Will Ever Need.

1)        For evangelism you have the gospel itself (Rom. 1:16).

2)        For difficult times you have the greatness of God’s power is at work in you (2 Cor. 4:7).

3)        For holy living you have God Himself at work in you “both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13).

No matter how weak or ill-equipped you may at times feel, realize that God “is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that [you] ask or think, according to the power that works within [you]” (Eph. 3:20). So keep striving according to that power (Col. 1:29), but do so with the confidence that ultimately God will accomplish His good in your life.

A.     The Power of Christ’s Resurrection.

1.       A New Relationship (Philippians 3:10)

               Your relationship with Jesus is the one relationship you are to value above all others for two important reasons: (1) the intimate communion possible with your Lord and Savior, and (2) the wondrous benefits that union can bring.

a)        Intimate Communion.

1)        Our Relationship With Christ.

The heart and soul of all Christianity is our relationship with Christ. Our salvation begins with Him, our sanctification progresses with Him, and our glorification ends with Him. He is the reason for our being, and thus He is more valuable to us than anyone or anything.  This is why Paul counted “all things loss” (Phil.3:8).

(a)      The function of the church is to build up the people in “the knowledge of the Son of God” (Eph.4:13). There the word “knowledge” is from epignoµsis, which refers to full knowledge that is correct and accurate.

(b)      That is the knowing of which Jesus spoke when He said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them” (John 10:27).

(c)      To know Christ is a life long process that will not be complete until we see our Lord.

b)        The Benefits.

1)        the righteousness of christ.

(a)      To know Christ is to have His righteousness, His holiness, and His virtue imputed to us, which makes us right before God (Phil.3:9).

2)        the power of christ.

(a)      While having Christ’s righteousness frees us from the penalty of sin, we are still subject to the control of sin.  But the power of Christ is available to us to conquer sin daily.

(b)      Christ’s resurrection demonstrates the extent of His power.

Raising Himself from the dead displayed His authority and control over both the physical world and the spiritual world. 

(c)      The resurrection power of Christ deals with sin in two ways.

1.         We experience His resurrection might at salvation.

a.         We were buried with Christ in His death, and we rose with Him to “walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4).

b.         We are “new creatures in Christ” (2Corinthians 5:17)

c.         Because we are “in Christ Jesus” He has become to us “wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:30).

d.         Our life is hid with Christ in God (Col. 3:3).

e.         We are buried with Him by baptism into death (Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12).

f.          We are one body in Him (Rom. 12:5).

g.         Christ is our life (Col. 3:4). Christ is in us, the hope of glory (Col. 1:27).

But to defeat sin daily, we need…

2.         His resurrection power to be our resource. We need His strength to serve Him faithfully, to conquer temptation, to overcome trials, and to witness boldly (Eph.3:20). 

a.         “Our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin” (Rom. 6:6).

b.         Elsewhere Paul wrote, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me” (Gal. 2:20).

c.         Only as we build our relationship with Christ and tap into His might will we have victory over sin in this life.

3)        fellowship with christ.

Because we live in a world full of pain and suffering, each one of us will experience suffering to one degree or another.

(a)      When we suffer, Christ is with us to comfort us during our heartache (2Cor.1:5).

(b)      The truest test of your character is your response to the severest times of suffering. 

1.         The easiest thing to do is to get angry and blame God.

2.         The other is to compromise your faith.

3.         Either response will cause you to miss out on the richest fellowship available to you.

a.         The deepest moments of spiritual fellowship is the direct result of intense suffering.

b.         Suffering always drives us to Christ because we find in Him our merciful high priest who sympathizes “with our weaknesses” (Heb. 4:15) and who “was tempted in that which He has suffered, [and] is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted” (2:18).

4.         View your sufferings as opportunities to be blessed by Christ with His fellowship.

4)        the glory of christ.

(a)      Paul’s hope is “to attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Phil.3:11).  This is Paul’s reference to the Rapture of the church (Phil.3:11, 20-21).

(b)      On that day we will realize the completion of our salvation, but, until then we must (1Jn.3:3) “purify ourselves, just as He is pure”.

B.     The Believers Hope of Heaven.

1.       The Believer’s Life Must be Focused on Christ’s Return (Phil.3:20-21)

a)        Believers Are To Constantly Be Looking for the Lord’s Return.  

How Should We Be Waiting?

1)        Philippians 1:6; 1Thess.5:24 – Know that He will complete that good work which He began.

2)        Matthew 6:20, 33—Jesus taught that we are to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven—He wants our hearts.

3)        Colossians 3:1—He was teaching us to fix our hearts on heaven, “seeking those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on things above, not on the earth.”

4)        Mark 4:19—The cares of this world are nothing but a snare & a deadly pit, For all that is in the world----the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life----is not of the Father but is of the world. (1 John 2:16 NKJV)

5)        Titus 2:11-14—denying ungodliness, worldly lusts, live soberly, righteously & godly

6)        1Peter 1:13-16—Live a holy life

7)        John 15; 1Jn 2:24—Abide in Christ

8)        James 4:7-10—Submit to God, Resist the devil, Draw near to God, repent of sins, Humble ourselves

9)        1John 3:3—Purify ourselves from sin

10)    2Corinthians 7:1—Cleanse ourselves, perfecting holiness in the fear of God

11)    Hebrews 12:14—Pursue peace and holiness

12)    2Timothy 2:22—Flee youthful lusts

Matthew 24:44—“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

1Thessalonians 4:16-18—For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.   Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.   Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Conclusion (2Peter 3:10-18)

Think about the fact that you are a citizen of heaven.  What differences should this fact make to your outlook, behavior and priorities? 

John 5:25-29

There Are Those Who Will Be Raised to:

(1)    a resurrection of life, or

(2)    a resurrection of judgment

Which category do you fall in (Revelation 20:6, 14; 21:8)?