"If ye then be risen with Christ...." I Corinthians 15

As we are justified, we must move to live a new and holy life! His fruits ARE evident in our life. We don't celebrate the resurrection just on Easter Sunday, but it has a continuing impact and we seek after those things which are heavenly! (Sanctification) He not only guides His church in His word, but continually leads them in the truth!

The woman heard "why do you seek the living among the dead?" The disciples could not initially grasp the truth of all that occurred. They were estranged from these things having expected Christ to redeem "Israel." The women came and were going to embalm Christ (keep Him in the grave.) The stone which was so important was rolled away and Christ was risen! (The HEART of the gospel!) The resurrection is of primary significance although it was denied from the beginning and it is not different today. It is a holiday, but how many actually believe the resurrection?? We underscore that He is risen and we are partakers in both His death and resurrection. Justification AND sanctification. We are partakers of the first fruits! We have 1) overcome death, 2) are partakers of His Spirit within us, and 3) have the full assurance that we WILL partake in His final resurrection!

We are dead. Essentially, what we see with our naked eye died with Christ however. (Romans 6:3, 6, 7-10) As far as the flesh is concerned, we are dead to sin even though sin is NOT dead in us! That's the flesh that still needs to be crucified. A power play that the old man continually wages against the new man in Christ. The world is an example of a complete subjection and slavery to sin. Nail it! Crucify it! Nip it! The possibility to do that is in our Lord Jesus Christ working through the gospel to motivate us through the Holy Spirit to a new and holy life! (The Spirit of the risen Lord as our sanctifier.) The sacrifice (Christ) makes us LIVING sacrifices to serve our Lord Jesus Christ! We are called "dead heads" by the world, but take note.....sin and the flesh is NEVER satisfied. EVER! Our life is hid in Christ now! Our true, spiritual life is in Christ. That is why the world with unregenerate hearts cannot see it. They can only see the results of it. You can see where the wind blows. You can feel it....but, you cannot see it or its essence. We are dead to sin and alive in Christ!

That life in Christ will not be hid long. One day it will be rectified and we will appear with Christ in our resurrected bodies. We will be with Him publicly and all the earth will behold His Glory. And we will enter into glory forevermore!

The woman at the well was asked the question once. "Believest thou this?"