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Topical: Easter

Author: Kent Berghuis

Living the Resurrection

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I live in 
the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."--Galatians 
2:20.

Introduction: What is the gospel?

The believer is called to live out the death and resurrection of Christ.

I.  We have been crucified and raised with Christ legally.

	A.  God looks at us as if we had died with Christ.
		--We are no longer condemned (Colossians 2:13-15; Romans 5:1-2; 8:1-2)

	B.  We have been reconciled with God
		--We are free to grow into Christ's likeness (2 Corinthians 5:19; Rom 8:29)

II. We have been crucified and raised with Christ relationally.

	A.  We have become one with Christ (Rom 6:5-11)

	B.  Christ's experiences become our experiences (Ephesians 2:4-7)

III.  We are to be crucified and raised with Christ in our daily life.

	A.  We must learn to die to our natural sinful nature (Luke 9:23-25; Col 3:1-5)

	B.  When we die to the sinful self, we have Christ's resurrection power to help in our 
		spiritual struggle (Philippians 3:10)

	C.  We are no longer alone, for Christ lives in us 
		--He is our power for living (Galatians 2:20)
		--He is our hope for the future (Col 1:27)

Conclusion

	1.  Have you joined with Jesus Christ by believing in his death and resurrection for the 
		forgiveness of your sins?  This is what we call salvation, and must be experienced 
		to have forgiveness of sin and eternal life.

	2.  Have you as a believer joined with Jesus Christ by living out his death and 
     resurrection as the ruling principle of your life?  This is what we call sanctification, and must 
     be followed for believers to live with the power Christ intended.