April 23rd, 2025
by Stacy Long
by Stacy Long
We Are Raised!
by Stacy Long
Risen Indeed: Embracing Our New Identity in Christ
As we reflect on the profound mystery of Easter, we are invited to dive deeper into the transformative power of Christ's resurrection. It's not just about commemorating a historical event; it's about recognizing our own rebirth and embracing a new identity that has been gifted to us through Jesus' sacrifice and triumph over death.
Imagine for a moment the scene described in Isaiah 53:1, where God seems to be having an internal dialogue within the Trinity: "Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" It's as if God is acknowledging that despite His truth and power being available, humanity struggles to truly believe and receive it. This divine conversation sets the stage for an act of love so profound that it would change the course of history and the destiny of every believer.
Enter Jesus, the suffering servant, acquainted with grief and sorrow. God's solution to our unbelief and weakness wasn't just to keep telling us the truth or showing us His strength. Instead, He chose to do for us what we couldn't do for ourselves. This selfless act of love is beautifully illustrated in the story of Team Hoyt.
Dick and Rick Hoyt, a father-son duo, became famous for competing in triathlons together. Rick, who has cerebral palsy, dreamed of participating in these grueling events. His father, Dick, made that dream a reality by swimming while towing Rick, cycling with Rick seated in front, and running while pushing Rick in a specialized wheelchair. This powerful image of a father doing for his son what the son cannot do for himself mirrors God's heart for us.
Just as Dick Hoyt carried his son through every stage of the triathlon, God, in the person of Jesus Christ, carried us through death into new life. But here's the astounding truth that we often overlook: When Jesus died on the cross, we died too. Romans 6:6 declares, "We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing." Good Friday wasn't just the day Jesus died; it was the day our old, sinful selves were put to death.
This realization changes everything. When we look at the cross, we should see not only Jesus hanging there but also our old selves – the rebellious, unbelieving, sin-prone versions of us that God, in His mercy, put to death. And here's the incredible part: that old self stays dead. It will never be resurrected.
Instead, when Jesus rose from the dead on that first Easter morning, a new creation rose with Him. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." We're not just improved versions of our old selves; we are entirely new beings, born again into a living hope.
Think of it like this: When a baby is born, it's a brand new being that never existed before. Similarly, our resurrection in Christ isn't just our old self coming back to life – it's the birth of a completely new creation. We have been given a fresh start, a new identity rooted in Christ's victory over sin and death.
This truth is so radical that even Jesus' disciples took time to fully grasp it. Imagine if they had been able to see themselves in the resurrected Christ. Picture Nathaniel turning to Peter and saying, "Peter, look closer at Jesus. I can see you in Him!" And Peter responding, "Whoa, I think it is me... and I can see you too, Nathaniel!" When the stone was rolled away from Jesus' tomb, it wasn't just Christ who emerged – it was a brand new you and me.
Now, here's the challenge: Do we truly believe this report? Do we embrace this new identity not just as a historical fact but as our present reality? Many of us intellectually assent to these truths, but we struggle to live in light of them, especially when we've made mistakes or faced difficulties since our initial conversion.
But here's the beautiful thing about God's eternal nature: In His eyes, the crucifixion and resurrection are not just past events – they are present realities. Today is the day of salvation. Today, we are seated with Christ in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6). Today, we are beloved sons and daughters, favored and blessed.
Do we believe God's report about our lives right now? Do we trust His declaration of our identity more than our past mistakes or current struggles? Do we have faith in His promises for our future, knowing that He has plans to prosper us and give us hope (Jeremiah 29:11)?
1 John 5:4 reminds us, "For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith." Our new identity in Christ is one of victory and overcoming. The world and its troubles cannot defeat us when we stand firm in faith, believing God's report about who we are in Him.
In the early church, Christians facing persecution would encourage each other with the declaration, "He is risen!" and the response, "He is risen indeed!" This wasn't just a statement of historical fact; it was a bold affirmation of their unshakeable faith and new identity in the risen Christ. Even in the face of death, they clung to the truth that they too had died with Christ and been raised to new life.
As we contemplate these profound truths, we're left with a choice: Will we fully embrace our new identity in Christ? Will we let our faith in God's report about us shape our present and future? Or will we continue to live as if our old selves still define us?
The invitation is clear: We are risen indeed, because He is risen. Let us walk in this newness of life, overcoming the world through our faith in Christ's finished work. May we daily choose to believe God's report about who we are, leaving behind the grave clothes of our old selves and embracing the freedom and victory that is ours in Jesus.
As you go about your day, remember: You are not who you once were. You are a new creation, risen with Christ, seated in heavenly places, and empowered to overcome. Believe this truth, live this truth, and watch as it transforms every aspect of your life. He is risen, and in Him, so are you!
(This blog was created from Stacy Long's original sermon by pulpit.ai)
by Stacy Long
Risen Indeed: Embracing Our New Identity in Christ
As we reflect on the profound mystery of Easter, we are invited to dive deeper into the transformative power of Christ's resurrection. It's not just about commemorating a historical event; it's about recognizing our own rebirth and embracing a new identity that has been gifted to us through Jesus' sacrifice and triumph over death.
Imagine for a moment the scene described in Isaiah 53:1, where God seems to be having an internal dialogue within the Trinity: "Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" It's as if God is acknowledging that despite His truth and power being available, humanity struggles to truly believe and receive it. This divine conversation sets the stage for an act of love so profound that it would change the course of history and the destiny of every believer.
Enter Jesus, the suffering servant, acquainted with grief and sorrow. God's solution to our unbelief and weakness wasn't just to keep telling us the truth or showing us His strength. Instead, He chose to do for us what we couldn't do for ourselves. This selfless act of love is beautifully illustrated in the story of Team Hoyt.
Dick and Rick Hoyt, a father-son duo, became famous for competing in triathlons together. Rick, who has cerebral palsy, dreamed of participating in these grueling events. His father, Dick, made that dream a reality by swimming while towing Rick, cycling with Rick seated in front, and running while pushing Rick in a specialized wheelchair. This powerful image of a father doing for his son what the son cannot do for himself mirrors God's heart for us.
Just as Dick Hoyt carried his son through every stage of the triathlon, God, in the person of Jesus Christ, carried us through death into new life. But here's the astounding truth that we often overlook: When Jesus died on the cross, we died too. Romans 6:6 declares, "We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing." Good Friday wasn't just the day Jesus died; it was the day our old, sinful selves were put to death.
This realization changes everything. When we look at the cross, we should see not only Jesus hanging there but also our old selves – the rebellious, unbelieving, sin-prone versions of us that God, in His mercy, put to death. And here's the incredible part: that old self stays dead. It will never be resurrected.
Instead, when Jesus rose from the dead on that first Easter morning, a new creation rose with Him. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." We're not just improved versions of our old selves; we are entirely new beings, born again into a living hope.
Think of it like this: When a baby is born, it's a brand new being that never existed before. Similarly, our resurrection in Christ isn't just our old self coming back to life – it's the birth of a completely new creation. We have been given a fresh start, a new identity rooted in Christ's victory over sin and death.
This truth is so radical that even Jesus' disciples took time to fully grasp it. Imagine if they had been able to see themselves in the resurrected Christ. Picture Nathaniel turning to Peter and saying, "Peter, look closer at Jesus. I can see you in Him!" And Peter responding, "Whoa, I think it is me... and I can see you too, Nathaniel!" When the stone was rolled away from Jesus' tomb, it wasn't just Christ who emerged – it was a brand new you and me.
Now, here's the challenge: Do we truly believe this report? Do we embrace this new identity not just as a historical fact but as our present reality? Many of us intellectually assent to these truths, but we struggle to live in light of them, especially when we've made mistakes or faced difficulties since our initial conversion.
But here's the beautiful thing about God's eternal nature: In His eyes, the crucifixion and resurrection are not just past events – they are present realities. Today is the day of salvation. Today, we are seated with Christ in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6). Today, we are beloved sons and daughters, favored and blessed.
Do we believe God's report about our lives right now? Do we trust His declaration of our identity more than our past mistakes or current struggles? Do we have faith in His promises for our future, knowing that He has plans to prosper us and give us hope (Jeremiah 29:11)?
1 John 5:4 reminds us, "For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith." Our new identity in Christ is one of victory and overcoming. The world and its troubles cannot defeat us when we stand firm in faith, believing God's report about who we are in Him.
In the early church, Christians facing persecution would encourage each other with the declaration, "He is risen!" and the response, "He is risen indeed!" This wasn't just a statement of historical fact; it was a bold affirmation of their unshakeable faith and new identity in the risen Christ. Even in the face of death, they clung to the truth that they too had died with Christ and been raised to new life.
As we contemplate these profound truths, we're left with a choice: Will we fully embrace our new identity in Christ? Will we let our faith in God's report about us shape our present and future? Or will we continue to live as if our old selves still define us?
The invitation is clear: We are risen indeed, because He is risen. Let us walk in this newness of life, overcoming the world through our faith in Christ's finished work. May we daily choose to believe God's report about who we are, leaving behind the grave clothes of our old selves and embracing the freedom and victory that is ours in Jesus.
As you go about your day, remember: You are not who you once were. You are a new creation, risen with Christ, seated in heavenly places, and empowered to overcome. Believe this truth, live this truth, and watch as it transforms every aspect of your life. He is risen, and in Him, so are you!
(This blog was created from Stacy Long's original sermon by pulpit.ai)
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