He Is Risen! Are You?
You likely shared in the traditional Easter greeting a few times this past week.
“He is risen.”
“He’s risen indeed.”
The Bible suggests that Christians add another greeting.
“He is risen.”
“I’m risen, too!”
Resurrected with Christ
The Apostle Paul says it plainly. “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above” (Colossians 3:1).
In Ephesians, Paul goes even further in applying Christ’s resurrection to the Christian. He prays that we might know, “his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him the dead” (Ephesians 1:19-20).
The same power that resurrected Christ is in every Christian.
Tapping into Our RPMs
Of course, any honest Christians has to ask, “If I’m raised with Christ, if I have the same power implanted in me that raised Christ, then why don’t I live like I’m dead to sin?”
The answer is simple, yet profound. Instead of living victoriously in Christ, we live defeated lives because we try to live in our own power.
Paul tried the same futile approach before he became a Christian—placing his confidence in his own strength (Philippians 3:1-6). That’s why as a believer his focus was laser-like. “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings” (Philippians 3:10). Paul understood what we must understand—we have to tap into Christ’s resurrection power. We have to avail ourselves of and apply the strength that’s already in us.
We don’t do that alone. In Ephesians 3, Paul prays that we “may have power together with all the saints” to know Christ’s love, to be filled with God’s fullness, and to experience the immeasurable power that is at work within us (Ephesians 3:17-21).
We need “RPMs.” No, not Revolutions Per Minute. But Resurrection Power Multipliers. (Which explains why I call my ministry “RPM Ministries.”) As we commune with Christ and connect with Christians we tap into Christ’s resurrection power. As we cling to Christ the Vine, His power flows into our lives so that we can produce fruit to His glory.
Knowing Our Identity in Christ
One of the most powerful ways we can “tap into Christ’s resurrection power” is through knowing, memorizing, meditating upon, and applying the truth of our new identity in Christ. We are co-crucified with Christ and we are co-resurrected with Christ. We are more than conquerors in Christ. We are saints with a new nature and sons and daughters with new power.
With that in mind, here’s a free five-page resource Who I Am In Christ (excerpted from Soul Physicians: A Theology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction) that has over 150 verses about your new identity in Christ. Applying these truths to your life will help you to personalize the reality that, “He is risen. So am I!”
Join the Conversation
What spiritual disciplines assist you to tap into Christ’s resurrection power?
This is a very insightful article and reinforces something so simple and basic yet that most Christians miss. We died with Christ but we rose with him too! I agree that most people still live defeated lives because they do not appropriate that reality and begin to walk it, and speak it, out on a daily basis. We must know who we are now in Christ not focus on who we were!