How the Resurrection Buried My Doubts

At age 19, I experienced a great deal of doubt as to whether the whole Christianity thing I had been taught since childhood was actually true. I wondered what made it any different than all of the other religions of the world. I read many different opinions about it but none of them satisfied my ongoing doubts.  Then I happened upon the writings of historians and others who lived during the same time period of Jesus Christ. What got my attention was their references to the resurrection of Jesus Christ as a historical fact.  I had read about Jesus' resurrection in the Bible but that could been something someone wrote to make a fascinating fairytale. But now I was faced with historians who were not Christians writing about the resurrection of Jesus as fact, not mythology.  I finally realized I had a choice. Believe that Jesus Christ was who he claimed to be, the Son of God and Savior of all who believe in Him, or deny that and turn from the undeniable facts. I chose to believe and it changed the course of not only my life, but the lives of thousands of others whom I have had the privilege to help. So today, on this Easter Sunday, I revel in the transformative power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Resurrection Reset!

                                  

Have you ever wished you could push the "reset" button on your life? Probably all of us have had that thought after a major failure. If you've ever felt that way, I have some awesome news for you!   God already hit the reset button and you can celebrate it this Easter!

It pleased God to reset who you were by crucifying you and burying you with Jesus on the cross. He crucified the identity you received from Adam, of being spiritually dead, a sinner, and shameful. (Romans 6:6) Then, it pleased God to bury that messed up you with Jesus when He was buried and He left that person, you didn't like, in the grave. (Romans 6:3) Good Friday truly is good because Jesus was crucified and buried and so were you!

God was also pleased to hit the reset button when He included you in Jesus' resurrection. God did not raise a dead Jesus, nor did He raise a messed up you. He resurrected you as a completely different person in your spirit, the place of your true identity. Ephesians 2:4-5. You are now, today, at your core, a child of God, a new creation, the righteousness of God, a saint and more. You are a lot more than you may think and a much better you, than you may think.

It pleased God to give you a new past, a new present and a new future in Him. Your past in Adam was erased and replaced with Jesus' past. Your future in Adam and of hell was erased and replaced with Jesus' future and heaven. Your present was replaced with the daily presence of God, in you and of you, with a new pure, pristine, amazing identity in Him.

A man, I once knew, who was addicted to cocaine, started believing in his own resurrection reset and overcame his addiction.  How?  He realized he wasn't an addict in Christ but an awesome son of God.

I met another man at a pastors' conference where I spoke, whose entire future was remade when he realized his past no longer defined him.  He placed his faith in Jesus' past and future defining him. He ended up marrying a fantabulous Christian woman as a result and now, they have three beautiful children.

Don't let your past be the defining moment of your life. Instead, let Jesus' resurrection define you as you embrace your resurrection reset!  We have much to celebrate. 

Believe it!  It's the Gospel!

Live Free in Christ,

Mark Maulding, President and Founder

www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2015 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!

Resurrection: Jesus is Risen and So Are You!

This week, Christians all over the world will celebrate the resurrection of our Lord, Savior and Life, Jesus Christ.  This is something worth celebrating for sure.  But what about Monday, the day after?  Will we celebrate then too?

Yes, we will when we are confident that we, too, have been resurrected!  Our resurrection is not a physical one, yet.  It is a spiritual one, which is just as real.  Read and embrace this with joy!

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved-and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus."  Ephesians 2:4-6

Please notice, the phrase "raised us up" is past tense.  God has already raised you with Christ. Remember, the old nature, your identity which defined you as a sinner in Adam, no longer exists.  Your flesh does, but not the old nature. It was put to death.  Just read Romans 6-8 and it is right there, plain as day.

Because of your resurrection, you are a new creation.  You are a child of God.  You are a saint.  You are complete.  You are righteous.  You are holy.  You are beloved.

On Easter, celebrate Jesus' resurrection and yours.  Then celebrate it again on Monday and every day after by remembering who you are in Christ.  What a glorious identity we have in Him!

  

Believe it!  This is the Gospel! 

Live Free In Christ, Mark Maulding

President and Founder 

www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2014 Mark Maulding but feel free to share it!