We are going to look at the nature of death, where one goes following death. What is the difference between Heaven and Hell? We need to realise that there is a different place for Old and New Testament believers to go after they leave this world. Most people don’t even realise that there are different compartments to the location of the place we call Hell.
We will then investigate what the Resurrection and Righteousness message are all about, and why they are so significant and necessary for the establishment of faith. What Jesus taught about the resurrection of the dead, what the disciples witnessed, how the Resurrection affects our life today, and what the Resurrection has in store for us in the future.
THE RESURRECTION MESSAGE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF OUR BELIEF SYSTEM
Without the truth of the resurrection message our faith is just another religion with no real substance, the message of the resurrection sets Christianity apart – this book is dedicated to establishing this truth in the heart of every believer.
The extent of the work of Christ’s resurrection is staggering. However, if there is one topic that is the ‘central message’ of the Bible, it is the sacrifice of Christ. The Old Testament looks forward to it, whereas the New Testament looks back to it.
In the Bible, Jesus only gave us two ordinances that are to be observed, the Lord’s Supper and Baptism, both of which involve Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Of the Lord’s Supper, Jesus said: “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthians 11:24). Here we have a clear reference to His blood that was shed on the cross. He goes on to say “For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are symbolically proclaiming the fact of the Lord’s death until He comes again,” identifying that He is risen and coming back for us. Then, with baptism, we are to go under the water (representing Jesus’ death), pause (representing Him in the grave), and then come back out of the water (representing His coming back to a new life, His resurrection).
We must be extremely careful not to allow these two ordinances to become routine in our Christian life, and thereby reduce the significance of what Jesus did for us at His sacrifice and resurrection. The greatest gift that anyone can be given is eternal life and the one that made that possible is Jesus Christ. In Christ we have the victory, provided we see ourselves dead to sin and raised together with Him.
We need to remember that the story doesn't end with Jesus’ death. He is currently in Heaven, in His resurrected body, and one day He will return. The resurrection of Jesus was an act of the supreme love of God.
Remember our identification is in who we are in Christ and His resurrection. The Bible tells us in John 14:12 that "the things Christ has done we can do, and greater than these we will do because He goes to the Father." The resurrection demonstrated Jesus’ victory over the power of death and confirmed there is life beyond the grave.
Jesus Christ offers us a "resurrection" power beyond ourselves that can make us alive; it empowers us to overcome the limitations of this realm with an infused ability, as we focus on the Spirit of power working within us.
I hope you receive much insight and revelation as you discover the wholeness of what Jesus achieved for you and me in His death and resurrection.
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