April 25 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Colossians 3:1–3

Devotional

The expression “resurrection life” is very broad, but not too broad to explain the fruit of Christ’s resurrection. A weaker term would be insufficient because this is the effect of the new life Christ gives to believers. This expression focuses on the life we can experience on earth because of Christ’s finished work on the cross. This new life within is manifested in an outward walk of obedience and abundance. It is the resurrection from the dead on this side of the grave.

This is not a pleasant word for lazy antinomian flesh. By nature we desire a living Christ for the other side, but not for this side of the grave. But without holiness “no man shall see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14). If sin has not become death to us here, then Christ would not be able to be life for us on the other side. That is why the antinomian is making an everlasting error.

The “resurrection life” starts on earth. What happens is that the world loses its attraction and sin becomes an enemy. You become a stranger in the earth and do not desire to join in with worldly pleasures. Even if you would not dare say that your home is above in heaven, or that you are on your way to heaven, there will still be in your life a hunger and thirst after righteousness to live according to the will of God.

The “resurrection life” is a dying life. When Christ starts to live for a man, then that man himself has to die. God’s Word tells us here that it can be no other way. The new life is a fruit of Christ’s resurrection and is manifested as soon as the sinner is raised from spiritual death. At that stage he still does not really know Christ. He only knows that he himself is unholy, poor, and miserable. Still, another life has come and that life will seek the things that are above. That is a life that seeks God.

The “resurrection life” is not according to man’s strength, but only by the strength of Christ’s resurrection. He is raised with Him. Take good note that it does not say that he will rise up with Him, but that he is raised with Him. A sinner will never rise up from spiritual death in his own strength, nor by his own will. The demand to do this is still valid, and just, because he received this life from God at creation. Does God then not have the right to demand that he walk in a new and godly life? Yet he will have to be raised by the power of Christ. Blessed is he when he needs Him for that. Then there will also be fruit coming forth from Him, “For in that he liveth, he liveth unto God” (Rom. 6:10). His people also learn to live not for self but unto God.

Have you recognized your barrenness before God? This is the first fruit of “resurrection life.” You sorrow over your unfruitfulness, your spiritual death. You then mourn at your own spiritual grave. If there are among us such mourners, then God’s Word still proclaims to you that your tears can be dried because of the resurrection power of Christ. Your sorrow is not erased according to your own strength, but only by His strength. You must be united with the living Vine. Cleave then to Him and be ministered to by Him, for He is willing and able, because of His resurrection power, to be everything for a barren sinner.

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.