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            If we—as a Christian—do not get beyond just believing that the resurrection of Christ is a fact of history, we will not receive any benefit from that resurrection—any more than we would if we believed that many other historical figures actually lived on earth.  But if Jesus Christ is the same forever, then His life and power could benefit us in marvelous ways.

            The practical benefits and spiritual advantages that come from the resurrection of Jesus Christ must be known, so they can be enjoyed by the believer.  It is an established fact that Jesus Christ rose from the dead—Christians everywhere believe it actually happened—the same as they believe that many other famous people actually lived.  These facts are believed by both saint and sinner.

            Even the devil and his agents believe that Jesus Christ was crucified; placed in a tomb; rose to life on the third day; and ascended on high—but just knowing that this actually took place, does not benefit one’s life—if they believe it only as an historical fact of history.

            Satan does not oppose things in a person’s life that would not benefit them spiritually; but he does oppose truths which would be of much spiritual benefit and blessing—advantageous now and eternal living later in Heaven.  When Jesus taught on earth, He was opposed by every religious leader of the day.  Moses, however, was accepted—they said John 9:28 “We are Moses’ disciples.”

            When a blind man was healed, the leaders of his church ridiculed him, saying John 9:28 “Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples.”  They exalted Moses to the sky, but fought Jesus Christ to the limit—and for just one reason—the devil was in back of that opposition.  Moses was dead and could not benefit anyone, so the devil did not care if anyone followed him; but the devil certainly did care if anyone wanted to follow a living Savior—who could benefit everyone, if they will believe.

            At that time, Jesus was living on earth, and the thing about Him that could really benefit a person, was His divinity—Jesus was God.  Christ was crucified because He said He was the Son of God.  The religious leaders, who were controlled by Satan, wanted to prove He could not save Himself and that He was not God—by crucifying Him.  Mark 15:31-32 “He saved others [they mocked]; himself he cannot save.  Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.”

            Anything that has happened in the past, which would not do us any spiritual good, the devil will allow us to believe it as much as we want.  That is proven by how Satan encouraged the religious leaders to exalt Moses who was dead; but opposed Jesus who was alive.  After Jesus was crucified, Satan did not oppose Jesus’ Divinity, but he did oppose His resurrection.

            The devil did not mind people hearing stories of Jesus being on earth, dying on the cross, and being placed in a tomb; but the moment His resurrection to life was mentioned, there was serious opposition because, anyone could be saved, delivered, and healed, if they believed Christ was alive.  Satan’s only hope of deceiving the people of that day, was to keep Jesus in the tomb.

            The devil has altered his strategy today, but his opposition is just as severe, and his intention just as wicked.  The average church member, or religious organization, will certainly praise the Lord Jesus in song and in message, and will speak much on His resurrection and being alive.  They refer to it often, and have banners in their churches, saying: He’s Alive! Christ is risen!

            They often mention the historical fact of the resurrection of Christ, but down in their hearts they are not trusting in faith, on what His Atonement for sin actually did for them.  They draw nigh with their lips, but serve self in their hearts.  Jesus said Mark 7:6, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written Isaiah 29:13: ‘These people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.’”

            The devil does not oppose the resurrection today, but he has a new scheme that has been widely accepted by the average Christian church—this has made the divinity of Christ void of power.  Jesus Christ is Divine, so when He was on earth, He healed the sick, delivered people from Satan, forgave sins, and brought peace to those who believed—He was God.  He was also crucified, ascended on high, and is in Heaven today—but the average church member stops right there.

            They believe He did all those things then, but He does not do them today.  Instead of the loving Son of God who Acts 10:38 “went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil”—His power, they think, no longer heals; His ears are closed; and He is far from us—as unwilling to do anything for us, as a stone idol in a Buddhist’s temple.

            Satan has convinced people that Jesus Christ is not the same today as He was yesterday, and so the devil has robbed them of every blessing that the Divinity of Jesus, and His resurrection power, is waiting to do for them.  The Truth is that Jesus Christ is the same forever—Hebrews 13:8.

            Jesus came from Heaven to bless our life on earth—to deliver us from trouble; to change attitudes in us and in family members, and to be part of every detail of our personal life, while we wait for His return—1 John 3:8 “The Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”

            Books or magazines by Christian authors refer often to the divinity of Christ, His death on the cross, and His resurrection to life, but say nothing about it doing anything for us today.  2 Corinthians 4:4 “The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

            We are to believe and to pray—asking God to reveal His Truth to us; that His Son came to benefit us today, if we will trust Him in faith to do those things, and then take us to Heaven when He returns.  Jesus came to manifest His power to save, deliver, heal, bless, and protect us in this devil-controlled world.  Heaven is the result of His training, teaching, and preparing us—which is received in no other way.

            It takes more than believing the historical fact that Jesus Christ lived, died, and rose from the grave—just believing that the resurrection of Jesus took place, does not take anyone to Heaven; but truly accepting and receiving Jesus Christ into our heart, to control every aspect of our life, will save us.  No one can turn their back on God, and become His enemy, without experiencing the serious results of that rebellion.

            The only thing that takes us to Heaven is a life lived by faith in the Atonement Blood of Christ—which means following the instructions of the Word of God—serving Him in spirit and in truth—not just saying we accept Jesus into our heart, but truly receiving Him and His Spirit into our life—to control every part of it—actively walking by faith each day.

            Jesus came to provide, protect, and bless our present life here and now—from the major to the most minor detail.  He came to remove things that annoy us; to deliver us from things that oppose us; to eliminate things that could harm us; and to destroy things that would destroy us.  God always did that for His people.  Colossians 1:19 “For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell.”

            The delusion of Once Saved Always Saved teaches that God had something for us before we were born, and has something after we die, but He is not interested in us now—during this life—He just ignores us.  Such people say we are not under Law but under grace.

            Before any Law was given, however, God delivered His people in the present.  Abraham lived 400 years before the Law, and he is our example of Gospel living.  Galatians 3:7-8 “Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.  And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.”  God revealed His presence and His power in the lives of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph—and they lived before any Law was given.

            Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he prophesied that the coming of Jesus would Luke 1:74 “Grant us that we, Being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear.”  Jesus’ presence on earth would deliver us from those who hate us; He would enable us to trust God for everything in this life—and all without it being a burden and without anxiety.  We would be Luke 1:75 “In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life,”—this life here today!

            It really takes something to accomplish that, because our fears; the cares of this life, our worries and the problems we encounter, all pertain to this life here—which includes our home and family; our finances; our physical health and healing; and our spiritual life—having a right attitude of faith in God—because they which be of faith [in this life] are blessed with faithful Abraham [in the next].

            Reading from Isaiah, Jesus said Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted;” to deliver those who have truly repented—people who are really sorry for their sins and unbelief; “to preach deliverance to the captives;”—now in this present life.

            And, “recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised;” which was to take place right then and there.  Whatever sin, sorrow, burden, family trouble, resentment, financial problems, or illness we may experience, Jesus came to this world, died on the cross, and was raised to life to bear those sins and all the results of them—for us.

            Jesus taught us to pray every day for the needs of that day—and for other things needed.  Matthew 6:9-11 “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.”

            The average church member thinks it is ridiculous to pray for each day’s food without some government program, but Jesus taught us to pray in faith each day for such needs.  When we stop placing limits on God, and start trusting Him for each day, He is given the management of our finances, and He is able to bless us thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold—all because Jesus Christ is the same forever—more than historical fact!