This Sunday celebrates what is the most famous and pivotal Sundays in world history: Resurrection Sunday. The Gospel message–that the Son of God died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day–is what Christians have proclaimed for the past 2,000 years. And even though this message is many centuries’ old, the reality is still applicable to our lives today. For Easter Sunday, our special 10 am service will highlight through Scripture reading, congregational singing, special music, and a message of the significance of Jesus’ resurrection. 

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For the Christian, the resurrection of Jesus grants us this amazing privilege to be alive in Christ. For the past couple of months, I wanted to write a hymn for our church to sing, reflecting the teachings of what it means to be alive in Christ. We have sung this for the past two Sundays, but I wanted to offer some additional comments behind the lyrics here.

The first verse reads:

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I was dead in all my sin, 

Walking in the worldly course.

Destined to receive God’s wrath; 

Bound to Satan’s ruling force.

 

This is the reality of the unsaved person, as told in Ephesians 2:1-3, “And you…who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” However, the chorus interrupts this former reality with these truths:

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But God reached down in mercy, 

Grace given to me, bought with a price.

My debt, nailed to the cross, forgiven of all. 

Crucified with Him, I’m alive in Christ.

 

Compare these lyrics to what the Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 2:4-5, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved).” To be “quickened” means to be “made alive.” Although we were once spiritually dead, God’s grace has the power to cause spiritual life to be born again. Colossians 2:13-15 says similarly, “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”

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Whereas Verse 1 spoke of the past, Verse 2 speaks of the present:

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Now in Christ I live for Him.

Sealed forever, guaranteed.

God is faithful to complete 

All His perfect work in me.

 

The term we sometimes use to describe God’s spiritual work in us is sanctification. His Holy Spirit has sealed us unto the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30). And we can bank on the fact that the spiritual work He began at the day of our salvation will certainly be completed when we are glorified (Philippians 1:6).

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Speaking of our glorification, Verse 3 looks into eternity future:

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When I stand before God’s throne

All my boast will be His grace.

Riches, measureless, He’s shone,

In return, I’ll give my praise. 

 

As Ephesians 2 continues to explain, our salvation is not by works, but of God’s grace–otherwise, we would have reason to boast. But there is something we ought to do in light of becoming spiritually alive in Christ: praise and glorify God. 

We hope to see you this Sunday morning, when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and as we consider what it means to be “Alive in Christ.”

 

In Christ,

Pastor John Wiley