By Kelly Carr 

I am very thankful for Jesus dying on the cross. I remember his death each week when I take the Lord’s Supper. I contemplate all my sins that his blood has removed.

But I don’t regularly contemplate how Jesus’ resurrection is also powerful in my life. I know that his resurrection was amazing and miraculous. I can easily think of the resurrection as being good for Jesus—becoming alive again is quite preferable to being dead. I just don’t always fully comprehend the empty tomb’s importance to my life as I do the cross.

While recently studying Romans 8, I sensed God’s living and active Word opening my eyes anew.

“And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you” (Romans 8:10, 11, NLT).

Let me share two things that captured my attention:

1. He lives, so we live.

Paul wrote in this letter that Christ lives in all believers. That couldn’t happen if Jesus had remained dead and buried. These verses state clearly that though our bodies will die, we will still have life.

Christ’s resurrection gives us the promise of resurrection. That sounds quite applicable to my personal life—I definitely want to live in Heaven some day!

Yet this promise doesn’t just speak of Heaven. Look again: “he will give life to your mortal bodies.” We don’t have to cling only to the dream of a glorious life in Heaven; we can also experience a more filling life right now because Jesus lives. 

What a gift—the promise of an eternal resurrection for our souls, as well as a spiritual resurrection from our sins here and now.

2. We have the same Spirit.

I was struck by the first part of verse 11: “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you.” 

I read that over and over until the light fully dawned on my mind. Do you see it? Can you grasp the power of that statement?

We are told that we have the Holy Spirit as Christians, but we often gloss over his importance. That same Spirit raised Jesus to life again on Easter Sunday. What power it must take to bring a dead man to life—and that same power lives in us.

Whew, that thought gives me chills! 

Nothing is impossible for me with the Holy Spirit as my source of strength and wisdom. Why do I worry? Why am I afraid? Why do I hesitate to speak or act? I must trust the power of the Spirit who brought Jesus back to life—because he lives in me.

Will you live more confidently today because of Jesus’ resurrection? I know I will.