By Gary Semenyna, District Representative
Call me a slow learner if you want, but the realization of what the resurrection means in our faith was a bit of a process for me. At Bible College one Easter I was sitting at a table thinking about the death of Christ, and a new appreciation for my salvation overwhelmed me. Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay for my sins…all of them, past present and future. Easter had just become my favourite holiday all because of that realization.
Now some 40 or so years later the resurrection of Christ has changed my life. Don’t get me wrong, as a child I knew that I was a sinner, and that Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sin and was buried and then rose again. I asked for forgiveness and had acceptance from our Lord and Saviour but the spiritual significance of those “Easter” events, and especially the resurrection was an eye opener (or should I say a heart opener) for me.
The Resurrection Brings New Life
When Jesus rose from the dead, He took us out of being ‘in Adam’ or being spiritually dead and now we now have life in Christ, we have His life. (Romans 5:10,11 In short we are forgiven by His death, and saved by His resurrection life. Paul tells the Corinthians that the resurrection is the backbone of Christianity. 1 Corinthians 15:16-19 “For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.”
New Life in Christ
Without the resurrection of Christ, we would still be dead, but because of the resurrection we are now made alive. We are now no longer in our sins, but we are now in Jesus Christ. Through the cross Jesus took away our sins, and through the resurrection we have new life in Him. Our new spiritual life is Christ’s life. Because He lives, we live. We are in Christ and Christ is in us. His life is now our life because of the resurrection.
Resurrection Life is Eternal Life
Listen carefully to Colossians 3:1-4 “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Eternal life is the life lost in the garden of Eden and is now regained through Jesus Christ. Eternal life is not our life made longer or our life made better. Eternal life is having Christ`s life. It is the resurrection life of Jesus Christ that saves us.
Gary & Patsy Semenyna are the District Representatives
for BC and Eastern Canada
