Creator, Father, King #248

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead.

AS HUMANS, WE LOVE to accomplish things.

We enjoy celebrating major milestones of human achievement, such as the first man to summit Mount Everest (1953), the first runner to break the four-minute mile (1954), and the first person to land on the moon (1969).

Yet there’s one momentous achievement that trumps anything mere mortals have accomplished: the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But as we continue to discuss Jesus’ resurrection, an important question lingers: What does it actually accomplish for believers today?

More than you could ever imagine.

What’s It Mean?

Jesus’ resurrection was the seminal event of human history. The entire Christian faith stands on the glorious truth that God’s Son died for our sins and rose to life again.

Here are a dozen incredible things that the empty tomb means for you:

1. It certifies all of Christ’s claims about himself (John 2:18-22).
2. It proves there is no other way to God except through Jesus (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).
3. It allows us to approach God’s throne confidently since we have a High Priest who represented us perfectly (Hebrews 4:14-16).
4. It confirms God’s acceptance of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice for our sins (Isaiah 53:11; 2 Corinthians 13:4; Ephesians 1:19-20).
5. It allows for regeneration, or the ability to be spiritually “born again,” for all believers (today’s verse).
6. It assures every believer of justification before God (Romans 4:25).
7. It fills every Christian with the same heavenly power that raised Jesus from the dead (Ephesians 1:19-20).
8. It enables sanctification in Christians (Colossians 3:1-4).
9. It encourages godliness and Kingdom building among God’s people (John 16:7-8; Acts 1:8).
10. It guarantees believers of eternal salvation in Christ (Romans 8:34-39).
11. It assures Christians of final victory over sin, Satan, and death (Acts 17:31).
12. It assures believers of eternal life in heaven (Romans 8:10-11).

This is by no means an exhaustive list. But are you beginning to see the power, love, and grace that God has lavished on all believers by raising his Son from the dead?

The resurrection of our Lord has accomplished so much for your sake!

Now What?

Prayerfully read and meditate on the Scripture passages mentioned in the list above, praising God for the glories of Christ’s resurrection!

Did You Know?

New Zealand’s Edmund Hillary and Nepalese Sherpa Tenzing Norgay were the first to top Mount Everest. England’s Roger Bannister broke the four-minute mile. American Neil Armstrong was the first man to step foot on the moon.