Three Resurrections

Introduction

The Resurrection of Jesus

The apostle Paul reminds Christians that the resurrection of Jesus is an assurance and promise to us -

“Spirit of Him who raised Jesus...” promises something to us.

“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus...”

Jesus’ resurrection from the dead has several different implications for children of God:

Jesus was declared to be the Son of God with power -

Jesus died for our sins and was raised to justify us from those sins -

For those who are alive in the Spirit and walk by the Spirit, there is no condemnation -

Since Jesus was raised from the dead, we have been freed from the Law of Moses, which brought the knowledge of sin -

The importance of Jesus’ resurrection should not escape our attention. Jesus was raised from the dead in order to give us new life!

The Resurrection to New Life

Since Jesus was raised from the dead to give us new life, Paul reminds Christians of the significance of our spiritual resurrection -

“But if the Spirit of Him…dwells in you”

Paul is reminding these brethren of the blessings they have in Jesus Christ and how they are now led by the Spirit.

“Therefore there is now no condemnation...” -

The law of the Spirit has set us free -

Those born of the Spirit should have their mind set on the things of the Spirit -

Paul has sufficiently built his case: these saints in Rome have set their mind on the spirit and they are spiritually alive.

It is clear that at the time Paul was writing this, they had spiritual life. The question is when did they receive this spiritual life?

Spiritual resurrection = gives forgiveness of sins and life to our spirit

The spiritual life that the brethren in Rome enjoy is because they have come to be crucified with Christ and have been united in Jesus’ resurrection. They themselves have undergone their own resurrection, a spiritual resurrection, giving them spiritual life and “newness of life” -

Baptism is an act of faith. It is the moment when we are united with Christ’s death and resurrection -

The old self was crucified in order that sin might be removed and purged from our lives -

We are able to have newness of life by being united in the resurrection of Jesus. We who were dead in sins are able to receive forgiveness through the grace of God and the power of Christ’s resurrection!

The Resurrection of Our Body

One of the important subjects in Romans is that redemption and salvation is a process that has been accomplished through Jesus’ death and resurrection from the dead.

While we have been saved and forgiven of our transgressions, we have not received all that there is to receive.

There is something we yet hope for and are still waiting to be given -

The Spirit “will” (future tense) give life to your mortal body -

These brethren have already been given spiritual life having been set free from the law of sin and death (past tense) -

Therefore, Paul must be speaking of a different kind of resurrection.

Paul states explicitly that since Christ was raised from the dead, the Spirit will also raise us from the dead -

Our future resurrection will be the same in kind as Jesus’ resurrection!

Jesus was raised “from the dead;” we will be raised “from the dead” — this is not a reference to spiritual resurrection (that was baptism, in what gave us spiritual life and forgiveness of sins).

This resurrection from the dead is a reviving of our “mortal bodies” - ;

While we are children of God, having been adopted by God, we are awaiting our final glorification with Christ -

We have not received this glory because we still suffer death - ,

All sorts of things can cause physical pain, suffering, and death - v. 35

Death is the subject matter - v. 36

Yet, death does not have any real power over us - v. 38

We are made conquerors. We will overcome death -

Our glory will be achieved through the redemption of our body -

Our hope will be realized when Christ returns and calls us to arise from the grave -

Conclusion

The Spirit who raised Christ will raise us also! We will be raised at the last day, when Christ comes to judge the world.

To be prepared for that day, you must be united with Christ’s death and resurrection in baptism so that you can have newness of life!

All of this is possible because Christ Jesus was raised from the dead.