4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,
6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.
Buried with Him. United in His death. United with Him in resurrection.
Our old self is dead - crucified with Him - we are no longer to be, as the 6th verse says, "slaves of sin." 2nd Corinthians 5 tells us that the old has passed away, the new has come. While there are many that believe that the resurrection is a historical fact, we have to make sure we are allowing that fact to become reality in our lives. If we are dead to sin, do we live like it? That doesn't come by mind over matter or merely trying in our own strength not to do something. It comes from embracing the risen Lord and realizing that if we have received Christ, then He lives in us.
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The reality of the resurrection should ideally make a tangible difference in our mindset, how we live, and how we deal with issues of sin. James 2 states:
17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble!
Jesus Christ is risen! He is alive - and in churches all across America, people came to celebrate what He has done. I would imagine that some did it out of tradition, others out of obligation, but many coming to have an encounter with a risen Lord.
A new study by Lifeway Research shows that two-thirds of those responding actually say they believe in the resurrection of Jesus. The survey summary states:
Two-thirds of U.S. adults (66%) say the biblical accounts of the physical resurrection of Jesus are completely accurate. They believe this event actually occurred, according to the 2022 State of Theology study. Fewer than a quarter (23%) disagree, and 11% say they’re not sure.
The article went on to say that level has been "unchanged since 2018."
Respondents have their doubts, though, about the authenticity of the Bible; the article states:
In 2022, for the first time in the history of the State of Theology study, a majority of Americans (53%) say the Bible, like all sacred writings, contains helpful accounts of ancient myths but is not literally true. And 40%, the highest percentage yet, say modern science disproves the Bible.
But, there is certainly an ambiguity in the results, when you consider these findings:
...also for the first time, a majority (51%) say the Bible is 100% accurate in all it teaches. And 52% say the Bible has authority to tell us what we must do. Around 3 in 5 (62%) say the Bible is the highest authority for what they believe.
The article notes:
Despite accepting the biblical accounts of Jesus’ resurrection, many Americans have conflicting thoughts about the Bible and seem to see little connection between Jesus rising again and their daily lives.This is borne out in the fact that about a third of respondents said that "God is unconcerned with their day-to-day decisions." That percentage has been increasing and has hit a high-water mark.
So, therein lies the disconnect. Sure, people say they believe in the resurrection. But, that's not enough. As James wrote, even the demons "believe" in God. But they tremble because they know the ultimate outcome.
You have to ask the question why people don't believe - it's because they don't see their need for a Savior and they certainly don't want to lay down, or surrender, their lives for Him.
If Jesus is risen, then we should consider how that affects our lives. If He is risen from the dead and we have believed it and have confessed Jesus as Lord - if we are saved - then that resurrection power should be evident in our lives. Has Christ changed us? Is that change evident to the people around us? Or have we accepted Jesus but not allowed Him to change us, to bear the fruit of the resurrected life.
The cross has brought us forgiveness; Jesus has paid our penalty. The resurrection brings us the guarantee and satisfaction of new life. It's more than merely historical fact, it is present reality.
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