Most believers view the resurrection of the Lord Jesus either through a historical or a prophetical lens. They tend to look backward or forward. Too often, sons and daughters of God fail to grasp the present-tense benefits that have come to us as a result of this grand, spiritual conquest that took place when the stone rolled away almost 2,000 years ago. Before we dive into those, let’s take a quick look at how we limit ourselves by adopting a purely past- or future-tense view of the resurrection.
Past-Tense View Is it inherently wrong to look back and remember what Christ accomplished? Of course not! When we look back to the crucifixion and resurrection historically, we understand that Jesus tasted “death for everyone” when He assumed our sin debt (Heb. 2:9).
The One who did not deserve to die instead took our place in death. The curse of death that should have fallen on billions of wayward souls, swallowing them up eternally, instead fell on the Savior who said, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25).
In Samson-like manner, He pushed against the pillars of this unconquerable stronghold and brought it crashing to the ground, accomplishing more in His death than in His life. When He arose victorious, the spiritual atmosphere surrounding this globe was changed drastically and permanently, for Yeshua (Jesus, meaning “the salvation of Yahweh”) succeeded in “saving” us from the greatest archenemy of the human race.
Future-Tense View The past-tense view awakens within believers the prophetic expectation that one day, in the not-so-distant future, we will also conquer death when. As 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 says, “The dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” First Corinthians 15:54 expands on the meaning of this: “So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’”
This is the spectacular and wonderful future scenario, but if we limit this glorious past event to only a future application, we have missed a grand portion of our inheritance as “children of the resurrection” (Luke 20:36). So let’s review the present-tense benefits that have been passed to us as a part of our glorious inheritance.
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