Tuesday, April 18, 2017

To Live For


Perishable is raised imperishable. Dishonor is raised in glory. Weakness is raised in power. The natural body is raised a spiritual body. You are alive and to live for.

April’s Awakening, Day 18

Is it a small thing in your eyes to be loved by God—to be the son, the spouse, the love, the delight of the King of glory? Christian, believe this, and think about it: you will be eternally embraced in the arms of the love which was from everlasting, and will extend to everlasting—of the love which brought the Son of God’s love from heaven to earth, from earth to the cross, from the cross to the grave, from the grave to glory—that love which was weary, hungry, tempted, scorned, scourged, buffeted, spat upon, crucified, pierced—which fasted, prayed, taught, healed, wept, sweated, bled, died. That love will eternally embrace you.

 —Richard Baxter

All the kings throughout history sent their people out to die for them. Only one person ever died for their people willingly and lovingly.

 —Dave Brown  



But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 1 Corinthians 15:12–14, 20–22, 42–44 NIV  



For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 1 Corinthians 15:3–7 NIV  



            Christ certainly is risen from the dead and alive. For forty days after His resurrection, before His ascension into heaven, Christ walked this earth and was seen by many individuals on many different occasions. As believers, we can also trust that we will have glorified, resurrection bodies just like Christ. After His resurrection, Christ could eat and drink and could also seemingly appear and disappear without notice and pass through locked doors. A spiritual body indeed, but very physical too. So will it be with us when our salvation is complete at the Rapture, when our body, soul, and spirit will be united together in the air with Christ, with holiness once more a part of us and sealed within us forevermore. We will live forever in our glorified bodies through the Millennium and eternity to come. In the twinkling of an eye—what anticipation awaits that moment—come quickly, Lord Jesus!  

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