Minister's Blog

Living Between Two Resurrections
The resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ changed things. This is most easily seen in the lives of the disciples and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. The disciples were arguing the night the Lord Jesus was betrayed concerning who among them was going to be the greatest in the coming Kingdom. In a matter of hours they were scattering from the Lord Jesus. Judas betrayed Him, and Peter denied Him three times. Some watched the crucifixion of our Lord, some remained in hiding, but they were all brokenhearted, puzzled, and full of fear. Then our Lord rose from the dead. Their mourning was turned to joy! They did not understand at first, but Jesus met with them and helped them understand what had taken place. Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures, Luke 24:27, CSB. They still asked some foolish questions, but the Lord Jesus was alive! Sin had been atoned for and the grave had been defeated. Then less than two weeks after they saw the Lord ascend into heaven, while the disciples waited in Jerusalem in obedience to Christ’s command, the Holy Spirit came. The disciples were empowered from on high to witness effectively and they finally had the wisdom that had alluded them during the earthly ministry of our Lord. The words of Christ were fulfilled, I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you, John 16:12-14. The apostles preached the gospel, and the church was born.
The “Church Age” is where we live. It is the in between time. We are living between two resurrections. We are those who believe the Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead and was the firstfruits of the resurrection. For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; afterward, at his coming, those who belong to Christ, 1 Corinthians 15:22-23. We serve a risen savior who has already conquered death, removed the sting of death by fulfilling the Law, and we, the church, are His. We believe in the promise of forgiveness of sin in His name and we have received the Holy Spirit, who is that promised Comforter, Counselor, and the deposit or guarantee of the redemption of our bodies in the resurrection which is still to come. We have been born of the Spirit. Our souls were brought to life when we were saved, but we still walk around in these sinful, dying bodies. The Christian’s life brings glory to God as the living soul (regenerated by the Spirit) exerts control over this wretched, sinful flesh (body). The Christian knows he or she is living between two resurrections. The Lord Jesus arose, and one day we two will rise! We will be transformed and will forever be with the Lord, unhindered in our worship and enjoyment of our Lord. I pray we will glorify the Lord as we live in the “in between.”