Affirming The Risen Christ

“But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.” Acts 25:19

In the Eastern Orthodox Church during Easter they greet one another with what is called the Paschal Greeting: Christ is risen! It is a Common reminder every Easter that Christ is indeed risen from the dead. It is an affirmation. Paul, having stood before the Jews and now before Festus confidently affirms that Christ is risen from the dead. It not just a statement that Paul is making with from a creedal standpoint; He also affirms it with his life!

Is this not the purpose of the resurrected life? To show to the world that Christ is indeed risen and living within his body of the Church. Paul would sum it up as “Christ in you, the hope of Glory.” (Colossians 1:27) So many Christians today think of God dwelling above in heaven and never take the time to consider that he dwells within the temple of his church. This was the purpose of Jesus dying on the cross and ascending back to the right hand of God the Father so that he and the Father would send the Holy Spirit to abide with his church forever.

The Holy Spirit is one of the most misunderstood members of the Godhead. Some in church history have lessened or reduce him to something lower than Father and the Son. Some have interpreted him as a force, while others a mere emotion creating an excitement or frenzy. But the true Identity and mission of the Holy Spirit is that he is God and he was sent into the world to “Reprove the world of sin, righteousness, and judgement to come.” (John 16:8) Jesus said he would also “Teach you all things and lead you into all truth.” (John 14:26; 16:13) But most of all he would “Testify of and glorify Jesus Christ.” (John 15:26; 16:14) Although the Holy Spirit would be sent into the world to accomplish many things, his main purpose would be to affirm the risen Christ within the body of Christ, which is the church.

The resurrected life is described in Colossians 3:1–17. It is one in which the believer sets his or her affections on things above. They seek those things which are above and not earthly things. This in turn leads to a life lived in the Spirit as contrasted to the non risen life being as one dictated by the flesh. Paul is comparing the supernatural life against the natural life. He basically concludes that if Christ was supernaturally raised from the dead and dwells within his church through the Holy Spirit, then there should be a supernatural life being lived out in and through the believer in Christ. This is the affirmation that Paul was declaring and it is the affirmation that the world needs to see today.

One of my favorite hymns at Easter is He Lives. The first verse and chorus pretty much sums up my point.

I serve a risen Saviour, He's in the world today I know that He is living, whatever men may say I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer And just the time I need Him He's always near

He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ Jesus lives today He walks with me and talks with me Along life's narrow way He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Salvation to impart You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart

This is not only one of the great anthems of the church but the greatest affirmation that we as God’s people can offer to the world today. Let us strive to let Christ live out his life in and through us so that the world may know the God sent his Son into the world to redeem it!

For Further study on the Resurrected Life read Colossians 3:1-17

Pastor Robby