Resurrection World

“Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.’” (Mark 16:14, 15)

Each gospel account, whether you are reading from Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John, is the story of how it all began. By the time we arrive at the end of each of the gospels, we realize this is only the beginning. Everything in the gospel story drives us to the point of Christ’s resurrection. Indeed, without the resurrection, there would be no story. But when Jesus has risen, a whole new world has begun.

In this new world, the world in which Jesus Christ the Son of God has risen from the dead, death no longer reigns. Jesus Himself holds the keys to Death and Hades. (Revelation 1:18) Paul wrote, “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11) We no longer need fear death—death has been defeated, conquered by Christ, and we will be raised from the dead just as Christ has been.

In this new world in which Jesus has risen from the dead, sin and the devil himself have also been dealt the death blow. We live in a world in which our sins are paid for through the death of the Son of God—we can live, breathe, eat, work, worship, and love knowing our sins are forgiven and the penalty for our sins is taken away. (Colossians 2:13, 14) But we also have the power to live the holy lives we were created to live since the risen Christ has given us His Holy Spirit and we are no longer slaves to sin. (Romans 6:6)

This new Resurrection world in which we live has the One who died and rose again seated upon the throne and reigning over all things. This is the gospel we preach. And it has gone into all the world. It will continue to have its effect until all the world bows the knee to the Risen King. We live in a world right now in which the old is passing away and all things are becoming new—new life, new holiness, new creation, a whole new world.

Let us then live as new-world citizens, putting all of our trust in Him and His Word, praying and working for His kingdom to come, for His will to be done, having the confidence that the good work God began two thousand years ago in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ He will go on completing until the day He pulls it all together in our own resurrection. Christ has won the victory, and we live in a victorious new world.

“Great God in heaven above, we give You thanks for the victory won in our Lord’s death and resurrection, and we give You thanks for the whole new world in which we live because of Christ’s resurrection from the dead. We thank You for the forgiveness of sins, for the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, for the hope of eternal life, for the resurrection of our own mortal bodies, and for Your holy and righteous reign over all things. Help us to live by faith in the Son of God who died for our sins and rose again, conquering death, sin, and the devil. Spread this gospel throughout the world, dear God—we give You thanks again it has come to us—and make us good new-world citizens who joyfully take up our task in the spreading, we pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Risen Lord. Amen.”