Resurrection can be likened to repentance in the bible because both point to an awakening to a new life and a new beginning. Repentance requires that we submit to the Father before He can lift us up out of our ‘graves’ of sin and give us a new start. This is similar to Christ’s resurrection because he had to submit to the Father and descend into a grave of death on our behalf before God raised him from the dead and lifted him up to his new position of authority.
Resurrection is victory over the death that this world constantly exposes us to. The world is full of sin and the bible says in Romans 6:23 that the wages of sin is death. Death in this context will refer to the consequences we will reap as a result of sowing sin into our lives. Repentance and resurrection lift us up out of those graves and gives us a fresh start with God.
Matthew 28:6 says – He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where He lay. This scripture refers to the story of the two Marys’ visit to Jesus’ tomb, where the Angel of the Lord informed them that Christ had resurrected and was no longer in the grave. They were essentially seeking the living (Jesus) in the place of death (the grave). Likewise, once we have submitted our lives and struggles to God, He will raise us from our place of death, which is where we are struggling with sin.
Our personal graves of sin or place of death could be a struggle with sexual sin, alcoholism, depression, addiction, gossiping, adultery, witchcraft, idolatry, anger, slander, etc. When your submission or repentance is genuine and connects with God’s heart then like Jesus, He will raise you from your grave and when people come looking for you in those places of death they will no longer find you there. They will be informed that your life has changed because of the fresh start that God has given you and hence you have risen and have been promoted to a better place by God. Like the angel, people will proclaim on your behalf: He is not here! She is not here! He or she has risen, just as Christ promised. Come and see the place where he or she lay!
Repentance and resurrection are all about an empty tomb. When you submit to God and allow His Holy Spirit to work in you then by the time He’s done, all that will be left of your depression, grief, unforgiveness, anger, wickedness, jealousy, idolatry and sorrow will be an empty tomb and the grave clothes you left behind.
John 20:6-8 says Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. The fact that Jesus’ grave clothes were neatly folded holds a lot of significance when it comes to our own resurrection from the tombstone of death. It signifies that when we break free of the sins that are threatening to lead us to our death, we do so with the confidence and authority that only God’s power can confer. Jesus did not hurriedly run out of the grave in fear, rather he took his time to fold the grave clothes to signify to us that we need not fear our bondage to sin because God’s power is sufficient to set us free and besides, Jesus had just finished defeating death and taking away its keys. Sin can no longer hold us captive because Jesus has bequeathed to us the power to break free. Fold up your grave clothes and the remnants of your past in the tomb and leave free. Galatians 2:20 says – 20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
I don’t know what type of tomb you’re struggling to break free from in your personal lives but I do know that tombs are a cold, lonely and dark place. The only way out is to repent and submit to God so that His power can resurrect you from your place of death and people will say of you: “He / She is no longer here; He / She is risen”.
Happy Easter to you all. God bless and keep you. May your ‘tombs’ remain empty by His grace. You are not there…you are risen!
Related articles
- Defending Christ’s Resurrection (siriusknotts.wordpress.com)
- Daily Devotional | The Resurrection Of The Believer (thelivingwordministries.wordpress.com)
- The Two Resurrections Of Believers (ptl2010.com)
- Worship Reflections for Easter Sunday (trinitytuscaloosa.wordpress.com)
I liked you word picture Watchman very much, but we must also put to death our evil flesh nature, we can not ignor the Scriptures that tell us how to do this and we need to ask with all our heart for God’s wisdom James 1:4-6 if we want to understand them 1 Corinthians 2 9-16 . Jesus is our only Teacher by the empowering of The Spirit…. We are to walk in Love.
Colossians 3:4-6 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.
Ephesians 4:23-24 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
2 Corinthians 7 : 1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Romans 6:6- 7 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
Romans 6:17-19 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness
Romans 8:1-4 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans 8 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it, or if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Christian Love from both of us – Anne
Hi again Watchman I just noticed we are on your Blogroll I put you on ours from the start as we also value you and God’s Truth in your presations and your messages and your willingness to let others share from the heart even if you don’t at the time agree with them.
You are a Godly man of Integrity and we respect you for this and your also a patient man and with all our Hacker problems you needed to be for sure but it’s your humour that brought me joy when I needed it most, those Aliens were going to take me away
yes I’m Zany at times but you let me be and even laughed, Wow no wonder you are one of my favourite bloggers.
Thank you for your very kind words and God Bless you greatly as you Bless others.
Christian Love from us both – Anne
It is people like you that make blogging a pleasure. I have learnt so much from you Anne. Even our little fallouts were God ordained to help me improve as a person. Your depth of knowledge and passion for truth is clear for all to see. It is truly an honour and privilege to have met you in blogosphere! God bless you and Ron now and always.
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Wonderful, Chidi! Jesus is risen! WE are risen and free in and through Him! Hallelujah!! Happy Easter, my dear friend and brother in Christ. I pray God’s love and blessings for you and your family. May His plan for you continue to unfold just as He has planned. His will WILL be accomplished! He has the victory, and so do we!!
For His glory~
Natalie
Hi Natalie! Happy Easter to you too my wonderful sister in Christ! Today represents so much not just for us believers but the entire human race. I pray that you and your family will arise to newness of life this season and always. May His will be established in your life. God bless you Natalie.
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