The meaning of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ to you and me

by David Leach
(Temecula, Ca)

1 Cor 15:21 For since by man (Adam) came death (spiritual death, that is, death to God, followed eventually by physical death) by Man also (Jesus Christ) came the resurrection of the dead (and our being made alive in our spirits to God again, and eventually our receiving a new immortal body).

22 For as in Adam (when we live in our sinful human nature or flesh which we inherited from Adam) all die (to God in our spirits, and then physically) even so in Christ (when we live in our re-born spirits under the control of the Holy Spirit) all shall be made alive (to God in our spirits and eventually if we remain “in Christ” we will receive a new immortal body).

Resurrection - Made alive spiritually to God:

Christ’s resurrection in Spirit gained victory over being dead to God for every member of the human race. But this victory, and our sharing His aliveness to God, only becomes ours when we live “in Him”, that is, our wills are no longer ruled by our Adam nature but our wills are always ruled by Christ’s nature, by the Holy Spirit and by the word of God.

1 Pe 1:3 …God…has caused us to be born again (made alive in spirit) ...through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. ESV

Resurrection - Made alive physically for ever:

Christ’s resurrection in body gained victory over physical death for every member of the human race by qualifying us to receive, at Christ’s return, an immortal heavenly body to replace our current mortal earthly body. But this offer of an exchanged body only becomes ours if we are living in Christ, currently under the control of the Holy Spirit, either when we die physically or we are living in Christ at His second coming.

1 Cor 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The (physical) body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption.

2 Cor 5:4-5 ...We want to slip into our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be NLT swallowed up by everlasting life. God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit (to rule and keep us).

Resurrection – available to all, but only received by those who are and remain Christ’s:

1 Cor 15:23 ...Christ the firstfruits (of both spiritual resurrection, or being alive to God,
and physical resurrection, having an immortal body), afterward those who are Christ's (currently living in Him) at His coming (or who were in Him, when they died physically).

2 Tim 1:10 ...Our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel (to those who will believe this),

Were you there “in Him” when they crucified our Lord? Were you also there “in Him” when Christ rose again from the dead? Have you also risen and remained risen, living “in Him”?

Phil 3:10-11 That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection...in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead (in spirit and in body). NASB