From the Pulpit...

Jesus is not presently hanging on a cross in weakness. He is not helplessly lifeless in a cave. He did not swoon and then die the death of a normal man. Instead, He died by crucifixion and was raised by the powerful working of God (Acts 2:24, 2:32, 3:15, 3:26, 4:10, 5:30, 10:40, 13:30, 13:33, 13:37, 26:8; Romans 7:4, 10:9; 1 Cor. 6:14, 15:15; Gal. 1:1; 1 Peter 1:21). He is “in power” in a new office, sitting at the right hand of God awaiting His enemies to be made His footstool (Heb 10:13). Meanwhile, He is the head of the church (Eph. 1:22, 5:23, Col. 1:18) and reigns as God, the sovereign potentate over all things. Those people who are “in Christ” by faith will likewise be raised up with Him physically (2 Cor. 4:14) just as we were spiritually (Col. 2:12, 3:1). We have that certain hope because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Peter 1:3). He was crucified in weakness, but He lives by the power of God (2 Cor. 13:4). He is not the Son of God in weakness—He is the Son of God in power! We are partners with Him and have access to His power. We know He has it, because He was raised from the dead directly to that place of power, by the power of God that works in us who believe (2 Cor. 4:7, Eph. 3:20). With that power we can give testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus (Acts 4:33). We can know the power of his resurrection. And we know that the second death has no power over those who believe!