0960. Reassurance

Reassurance

"He hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1Pe_1:3)

Had Jesus Christ remained in the grave all assurance as to salvation, and all the blessings of the Christian life would have been taken away. The resurrection reassured the saint; it established every claim that Christ ever made; it made sure everything that Christ wrought upon the Cross. But the resurrection does more.

The Risen Christ assures the saint that his life is safe–hid with Christ in God; that his daily walk may be victorious over the world, the flesh and the devil; and that his work may be perfected in the will of God. Let us consider these three important steps.

1. Kept safe in His life. The resurrection assures the security of the believer's life.

"For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son; much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life" (Rom_5:10).

George H. C. McGregor used to read this verse, "kept safe by His life." This certainly is worthy of thought. Salvation is not only from the penalty of sin, but also from the power of sin. The death of Christ saves us from sin's penalty but the life of Christ saves us from its power.

Christ, the Risen Son, says unto us, "My sheep, hear My voice, * * and they follow Me; and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand." We are kept safe in the life of the Risen Lord Jesus Christ. Sin can never touch us.

2. Strengthened by His power. The resurrection of Jesus Christ imparts unto the believer the power that is absolutely vital to the Christian's victorious life. Paul said, "That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection" (Php_3:10).

Saints who know the One Who died, but who know nothing of the One Who has risen indeed can not live as saints should live. Overcomers belong to those who know Christ risen. The Lord Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of the Father far above all authority and power. He sits there with the world and the devil under His feet. He is a conquerer. As we get in touch with Him we are made conquerors. No street-car was ever more helpless, when the trolley has slipped the wire, than is a believer, separated from contact with the Risen Christ.

3. Perfected in His work and will. The resurrection establishes us in the work and will of God. It is the Book of Hebrews that gives us that matchless verse. "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the Blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to Whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

Isn't it blessed that God, through the Risen Christ, can make us perfect in every good work to do His will; that God, through the Risen Christ, can work out through us the things that are well pleasing in His sight? God, pity the believer who walks apart from Him. Christ well said, "Apart from Me ye can do nothing." The Apostle Paul just as truly said: "I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me."

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR