The Daily Word of Righteousness

Death and Resurrection, continued

And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. (Matthew 27:52,53)

The overflow of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus always brings the dead out of their graves.

All true ministry comes from the cross. It is only as we are brought down to death and then raised by the Lord that we are able to bring His Presence and Life to other people.

Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. (II Corinthians 1:4)

The crucifixion and resurrection that deliver us from sin and death are the only true source of resurrection life for those to whom we minister.

Obtaining a Better Resurrection

Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: (Hebrews 11:35)

The goal of the Christian discipleship is to obtain a "better resurrection" in the future. In order to accomplish our goal we must not "accept deliverance" in the present hour: this is to say, we must deny ourselves now and press into the sufferings and resurrection of the Lord. We must put all of our treasures in Heaven. We must set our affection on things above where Christ and we are seated at the right hand of God.

In the beginning we sold ourselves to Satan to be his slaves. As a result we were driven from the garden so we would be unable to partake of the tree of life and live forever.

Now the Redeemer has come and paid the price for our release. But the wicked one will not permit his slaves to leave even though the price of their release has been paid in full.

The only solution is the imposition of force, of total war. God's Israel stands now on the brink of Jordan, so to speak, ready to go across and seize the land of promise. The land of promise is the fullness of incorruptible Life in God's Presence throughout the eternity of eternities.

The sons of God, the victorious saints, will be a firstfruits of the vine of the earth. Through the Lord Jesus Christ they shall overcome the accuser of the brothers and enter eternal life. The last enemy to be overcome is physical death. The conquering saints will enter life and lead the way for the remainder of the saved creation.

We understand, therefore, that the heart, the mainspring of the new covenant is union with the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus and union with His triumphant resurrection.

Because we have died and been buried with the Lord, the Law of Moses no longer has authority over us. We are legally free to follow another Master, to be married to another Bridegroom.

Because of our union with the Lord in His death and resurrection the blood atonement has enabled the God of Heaven to forgive all our sin so that we are guiltless in His sight.

To be continued.