He Is Risen!

Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:11

In Romans 6, the apostle Paul shows how the death and resurrection of Jesus relate to our own lives. His death frees us from the slavery to sin and from its penalty. But His resurrection allows us to live life. Reformed Protestants are so busy focusing on His death, and the cross that caused it, that we miss the better event, His resurrection. Our justification comes at a point - a starting point; our entire life follows.

Imagine being in prison because you can't pay your debt. Now imagine somebody paying it off for you and you become free. While this is wonderful in its own right, now what do you do? Let's say you are freed from prison, but this occurs at 5:30am in January in Northern Minnesota, and you are released with only the t-shirt and shorts you came with. You sit huddled on the sidewalk outside the prison, shivering, trying to rejoice in your new freedom, all the while not noticing that the limo parked at the curb is waiting to take you away to a vacation in Hawaii. That is the resurrection!

He is Risen! Live, ye dry bones!