RUSSELL SANDERS
4-4-2021
RESURRECTION DAY
LIFE IN THE SPIRIT
Today, April 4, 2021, the Christian Church commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. He lives today and forever.
His resurrection also brings new life to all who believe upon Him as their Lord and God. That faith quickens our “dead” spirit to become “newly alive.” It is only through Jesus that our human spirit comes alive to the things of God.
You may have heard it said that the spirit of a person who is not born again is “dead.” Let us look at what that means.
What it does NOT mean is that our human spirit is literally dead. If it were literally dead, it would be departed from our soul and our body. The body would in fact literally be dead because it cannot live without the life-giving energy of one’s spirit. Our human spirit is “the breath of life” breathed into Adam (Genesis 2:7) that gave life to Adam’s soul and physical body. God had designed Adam to live without physical death. Adam had an intimate personal relationship with God. His spirit given him by God was in perfect accord and harmony with God.
When Adam fell into sin, everything changed. The curse of death came upon him as he took on a sin nature. This meant two deaths, not one. One death was physical as he could no longer live forever in his physical body. The other death was in his spirit which meant his relationship spirit to spirit with God was now broken. His human spirit became “dead” to the things of God. His spiritual relationship was now dead. Without a means of redemption (salvation) this “spiritual death” would be eternal. That is the greatest condemnation known to man.
But God had a plan. It would be a way for man to be redeemed by God, and the spirit-to-spirit relationship could be restored. This is where Yeshua (Jesus) came in as our Redeemer.
The Godhead Trinity of Father, Yeshuah, and Holy Spirit were all involved as ONE in the creation of the world and of Adam (mankind). As soon as Adam fell into a sin nature, God had a plan set to provide for his restoration or reconciliation. It was a way for Adam’s (mankind’s) spirit to once again be made “alive” to the things of God.
Jesus’ blood was sacrificed on a cross to pay the debt of sin owed by mankind (Adam). Jesus’ death paid the debt, but the resurrection brought life. Just as life was restored to Yeshuah (Jesus) so also was life (through Jesus) restored to our human spirit for all who believe upon Him.
Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father (God), but by (through) me.” Our life is through Jesus. Through Him the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) is breathed into us to bring our human spirit back to life through the Holy Spirit dwelling within us.
This can clearly be seen in John 20:22 when Jesus appeared post-resurrection to the disciples in their closed room. He spoke to them, then “He breathed on them and said unto them, ‘Receive ye the Holy Ghost.’”
This is why we celebrate Resurrection Day. Without Jesus’ “resurrection life,” our spirits would still be “dead to God” and our souls condemned to hell.
We have much to celebrate.
