Resurrection: The Dawn of New Creation in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: The Centrality of Christ in the Gospel

The gospel is fundamentally about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Without Him, there is no true gospel. His resurrection is the pivotal event that marks the beginning of a new creation, where He stands beyond the reach of the curse, offering eternal life as a gift from God. This event is described as a "eucatastrophe," a good catastrophe, where the chain of death is broken, and history turns around. Jesus, as the Gardener, walks in a new Eden, ruling in perfect harmony with God. This is the seed of all new life, the source of eternal life. The resurrection is not just a historical event but the foundation of our faith and hope. It assures us that Jesus has overcome the old order of Adam and inaugurated a new creation. [00:50]

1 Corinthians 15:20-22 (ESV): "But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive."

Reflection: How does the centrality of Christ in the gospel challenge your understanding of your faith? What steps can you take today to ensure that Christ remains at the center of your life?

Day 2: Identity in Christ vs. Identity in Adam

Our identity is not determined by our actions but by the head of the humanity to which we belong. In Adam, we share his guilt and death; in Christ, we share His righteousness and life. This understanding challenges the individualism of our culture and calls us to find our identity in Christ. The resurrection life is a justified, righteous life. It is not merely a clean slate but a new identity in Christ, the righteous One. Our righteousness is based on Christ's righteousness, providing comfort and assurance in our relationship with God. This truth allows us to boldly approach God's throne, knowing that our standing before Him is secure in Christ. [16:55]

Romans 5:18-19 (ESV): "Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous."

Reflection: In what ways does your identity in Christ challenge the individualistic mindset of our culture? How can you live out this identity in your daily interactions with others?

Day 3: The Assurance of Righteousness in Christ

The resurrection life is a justified, righteous life. It is not merely a clean slate but a new identity in Christ, the righteous One. Our righteousness is not based on our behavior or faithfulness but on Christ's righteousness. This truth is a source of comfort and assurance, allowing us to boldly approach God's throne. The resurrection also gives us hope for our bodies and souls. We will be transformed to bear the image of Christ, freed from the effects of the fall and curse. This hope is especially sweet for those who suffer, as we will be united with Christ in His resurrection. [26:06]

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV): "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

Reflection: How does the assurance of righteousness in Christ impact your relationship with God? What practical steps can you take to live out this assurance in your daily life?

Day 4: Hope in the Resurrection

The resurrection gives us hope for our bodies and souls. We will be transformed to bear the image of Christ, freed from the effects of the fall and curse. This hope is especially sweet for those who suffer, as we will be united with Christ in His resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus is the guarantee of the resurrection of all things. Creation itself will be liberated from decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. All things will be put under Christ's feet, and creation will be cleansed and filled with the children of God rejoicing in His presence. [34:54]

Romans 8:23-24 (ESV): "And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to embrace the hope of the resurrection? How can this hope transform your perspective on suffering and challenges?

Day 5: The Restoration of All Things

The resurrection of Jesus is the guarantee of the resurrection of all things. Creation itself will be liberated from decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. All things will be put under Christ's feet, and creation will be cleansed and filled with the children of God rejoicing in His presence. Because of the resurrection, we have a new life to live in holiness, a righteous standing before God, and a hope that is like a backbone of steel in our joy. When faced with the weight of sin and death, we can remember the glory of the risen Christ, who will destroy all enemies and reign over a purified world. [39:03]

Colossians 1:19-20 (ESV): "For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."

Reflection: How does the promise of the restoration of all things influence your daily life and decisions? What is one specific way you can participate in God's work of restoration in the world around you today?

Sermon Summary

The essence of the gospel is the good news concerning Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Without Christ, there is no gospel. The resurrection of Jesus is the most splendid event since creation, marking the inauguration of the new creation. It is the moment when Jesus, bursting through death, overcame the old order of Adam, standing wholly beyond the reach of the curse. This event is a "eucatastrophe," a good catastrophe, as J.R.R. Tolkien described it, where the chain of death is broken, and history turns around. The resurrection is the dawn of a new creation, where Jesus, the Gardener, walks in a new Eden, ruling in perfect harmony with God. This is the seed of all new life, the source of eternal life.

Eternal life is not something we can achieve through science or self-will; it is a gift from God, given through Jesus Christ, the head of the new humanity. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul contrasts the first Adam with the last Adam, Jesus Christ. Adam is the first fruit of death, while Christ is the first fruit of life. Humanity is not a collection of disconnected individuals; we are either in Adam or in Christ. Our identity is not determined by our actions but by the head of the humanity to which we belong. In Adam, we share his guilt and death; in Christ, we share His righteousness and life.

The resurrection life is a justified, righteous life. It is not merely a clean slate but a new identity in Christ, the righteous One. Our righteousness is not based on our behavior or faithfulness but on Christ's righteousness. This truth is a source of comfort and assurance, allowing us to boldly approach God's throne. The resurrection also gives us hope for our bodies and souls. We will be transformed to bear the image of Christ, freed from the effects of the fall and curse. This hope is especially sweet for those who suffer, as we will be united with Christ in His resurrection.

The resurrection of Jesus is the guarantee of the resurrection of all things. Creation itself will be liberated from decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. All things will be put under Christ's feet, and creation will be cleansed and filled with the children of God rejoicing in His presence. Because of the resurrection, we have a new life to live in holiness, a righteous standing before God, and a hope that is like a backbone of steel in our joy. When faced with the weight of sin and death, we can remember the glory of the risen Christ, who will destroy all enemies and reign over a purified world.

Key Takeaways

1. The gospel is centered on Jesus Christ, and without Him, there is no true gospel. The resurrection of Jesus marks the beginning of a new creation, where He stands beyond the reach of the curse, offering eternal life as a gift from God. [00:50]
2. Our identity is not determined by our actions but by the head of the humanity to which we belong. In Adam, we share his guilt and death; in Christ, we share His righteousness and life. This understanding challenges the individualism of our culture and calls us to find our identity in Christ. [16:55]
3. The resurrection life is a justified, righteous life. It is not merely a clean slate but a new identity in Christ, the righteous One. Our righteousness is based on Christ's righteousness, providing comfort and assurance in our relationship with God. [26:06]
4. The resurrection gives us hope for our bodies and souls. We will be transformed to bear the image of Christ, freed from the effects of the fall and curse. This hope is especially sweet for those who suffer, as we will be united with Christ in His resurrection. [34:54]
5. The resurrection of Jesus is the guarantee of the resurrection of all things. Creation itself will be liberated from decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. All things will be put under Christ's feet, and creation will be cleansed and filled with the children of God rejoicing in His presence. [39:03]
** [39:03]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:50] - The Essence of the Gospel
[01:50] - The Inauguration of the New Creation
[02:49] - After Darkness, Light
[03:54] - Prophecies of Resurrection
[04:58] - Eucatastrophe: A Good Catastrophe
[05:58] - The Turning Point of History
[07:00] - The Gardener in the New Eden
[09:07] - The Seed of Eternal Life
[10:00] - The Gift of Eternal Life
[11:03] - First Corinthians 15: Adam and Christ
[12:13] - First Fruits of Death and Life
[14:06] - The Third Day and First Fruits
[15:54] - Humanity in Adam and Christ
[17:57] - The Problem of Individualism
[19:56] - Romans 5: Life and Justification
[22:31] - The Vindication of Christ
[24:16] - A Righteous Life in Christ
[26:59] - Our Identity in Christ
[28:13] - No Condemnation in Christ
[29:21] - The Hope of Resurrection
[30:25] - Bearing the Image of Christ
[32:38] - The Fulfillment of Glorification
[33:49] - Hope for the Suffering
[34:54] - The Transformation of Our Bodies
[36:04] - The Resurrection of All Things
[37:08] - The End and the Kingdom
[39:03] - The Last Adam and the New Creation
[41:06] - The Glory of the Risen Christ
[42:16] - Closing Prayer

Sermon Clips

The gospel is centered on Jesus Christ, and without Him, there is no true gospel. The resurrection of Jesus marks the beginning of a new creation, where He stands beyond the reach of the curse, offering eternal life as a gift from God. [00:00:50]

The resurrection, said Tolkien, was a eucatastrophe. For it was a catastrophic event, but a good catastrophic event. Writing to his son Christopher, Tolkien explained. He said, "A eucatastrophe is the sudden, happy turn in a story, which pierces you with a joy that brings tears. Your whole nature, chained in a material-cause-and-effect, the chain of death, feels this sudden relief, as if a major limb out of joint had suddenly snapped back." [00:04:50]

Friends, we are meant to think of the resurrection in grand and cosmic terms. Do you remember the very first encounter with the risen Lord Jesus? In John's Gospel, Mary, she turned her eyes streaming with tears from the tomb. She turned, and she saw Him. And do you remember what we're told? She supposed Him to be the gardener. [00:06:39]

Eternal life is a gift of God, given only to and through His Anointed One, the head of the new humanity. [00:10:24]

Paul saw it very differently. Paul saw that we have a far deeper problem. And he saw a far grander vision. Our plight, he saw is not merely that each of us fails to be good enough and needs a little forgiveness. He saw our very identity as a problem. We each have a problem that goes back beyond our own birth. [00:18:46]

Now, what Paul's giving us here is the connection between life and justification or righteousness. Now, what's going on is this. After the cross, when the Son had so perfectly displayed the extent of His love, the Father could not leave His righteous and beloved One dead. And so, He vindicated, or justified, Him. [00:21:48]

Now, what a glorious gospel that gives us! The new life we're given and born into through the resurrection of Christ is a righteous life, a justified life. And this justification, ah friends, it's so much better than being just as if I'd never sinned. It's better. [00:24:16]

My fate is determined by the Head of the humanity to which I belong. You know, to know my identity, you must look at my head. If I belong to Adam, I share his guilt, and death is my destiny. But I belong to Christ, and so His righteousness, His life are mine. [00:27:16]

Brothers and sisters, because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have a new life, a justified, righteous life beyond condemnation, as Christ is beyond the cross. Praise God for the resurrection of Jesus Christ! And more, it is a life, this resurrection life of glorious and all-subduing hope. [00:28:43]

And in that day, we shall fully be freed from all the effects of the fall and the curse. The Spirit's work of perfecting and beautifying us, of making us like Christ, will be fulfilled. And having been elected, called, justified, and sanctified in Christ, we will finally and fully share His glorification. [00:32:26]

For the resurrection of Jesus, the firstborn, is the guarantee of the resurrection of all things under His feet. Creation itself cleansed and filled with the children of God rejoicing in His presence, in righteousness and peace. [00:39:33]

Brothers and sisters, praise God for the resurrection of Jesus Christ! Because of it, we have a new life we want to live out in beautiful holiness. Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have a righteous standing before our glorious God. We can face and defeat the accuser. [00:40:18]

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