The power of His resurrection !

beloved57 · Cobra Joined: 21 Mar 2007 Posts: 457

phil 3:

10That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Paul made a profund statement here. He talks about coming to know the power of christ resurrection, and of course, he already had experienced it, but he wanted more..

There is power in the resurrection of christ, because through it, its confirmed that the sins of the elect, his church have been propitiated and taken out of the way. Its because of this that His resurrected power gives gifts to men [ the church]

Lets look at eph 4:

7But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

8Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

9(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

10He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

This passage is quite instructive as to what Jesus resurrection and acension to the throne on High accpmplished for his body, the church..

It is said that he gave gifts to men..these men of course are the elect, and what are the gifts he gave them ?

1.He gave them the gift of Justification unto life rom 5:

Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

2.He gave them the gift of eternal life

3. He gives them the gifts to believe and suffer for him phil 1:

29For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

He gives them repentance and remission of sins acts 5:

31Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Now lets look at eph 4:

10He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

He gave, not offer, but gave these men to the church, how ? By the power of His resurrection and ascending up on high..

He gave some apostles..Now remember paul when he was the persecuting saul ? Can you recall his conversion experience on the road to damascus ? acts 9:

1And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

2And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

3And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

4And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

5And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

6And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

7And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

8And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

9And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

10And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

11And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

12And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

13Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

14And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

15But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

16For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

What we seen happen here is the converting power of christ resurrection..Paul , though he didnt know it at the time he set out to persecute christians, was a gift to Jesus christ church..The fact that he was in blindness and unbelief did not prevent The resurrected power of christ, from converting him and giving him faith in his name, to accomplish his chosen task for the glory of the lord..

The text says he gave pastor teachers, evangelist, and prophets. All of these gifts to the church had to experience conversion, they were at one time as paul, sinners dead in tresspasses and sins. But, the spiritual death of the elect doesnt prevent their being miracuosly converted to the faith of Jesus christ. Its by the power of his resurrection that the elect are born again..1 pet 1:

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

The resurrection is Gods power in display, and its how God causes belief in His chosen ones eph 1:

17That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

18The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

19And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power,

20Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

21Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

22And hath put all things under his feet, and

Amen, the resurrection and acension of christ is not Just a easter story, but its the declaration of the sovereignty and power of God in display and effectually works for those christ died and rose again..I thank God for the power of Jesus christ resurrection for it caused me to live unto him, who died for me, not only me, but all the ransomed church of God..