FAITH IN THE RESURRECTION.
WE considered in these columns last week the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and what that resurrection meant. We found that it was not an event to be celebrated by a day in a year, or a day in a week, but that it meant power over death, and hence power over sin. It means to all those who have faith in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, death to sin, death to the world, and "newness of life" in Christ Jesus. The old man of sin is dead and buried, we are "planted together [with Him] in the likeness of his death," a tree of righteousness, to bring forth in newness of life fruit unto God. The beginning of that new life in its outward symbol is baptism. It is putting on Christ before the world. Gal. 3:27. It is being married "to Him who is raised from the dead," that we should "bring forth fruit unto God." Rom. 7:4. It is taking his name, his life, his law, becoming one with him. It was for this that the Spirit, through Paul, prayed concerning the Ephesian Church, and all the people of God, "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come; and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is the body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." Eph. 1:17-23. The power necessary to the Christian is that which raised Jesus Christ from the dead, and that2is the power of righteousness. This means the absolute renunciation of all sin. Thus the apostle expresses the true principle; for while he could boast of many things from a worldly, outward view, he declares: "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith; that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead." Phil. 3:7-11. Here is giving up all for God, not only the evil, but what worldly wisdom might count good. Paul says that they are all nothing, that they are to be reckoned as refuse, that he might obtain that of infinite value. The end, the ultimate goal of his longing, was that he "might attain unto the resurrection from the dead." That this might be he must have the "knowledge of Christ Jesus," he must "win Christ." This meant not having his own righteousness, which carnal pride had wrought by outward obedience to the law, but the inward righteousness of God that was in Jesus Christ, implanted in the heart by living faith, and manifesting forth God's power. Having this righteousness is to "know Him," to know "the power of his resurrection;" for this is the power over all sin. But to know the power of his resurrection, we must know "the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death." The cross precedes the grave and the opened sepulcher. Calvary comes before Olivet. But his way of death and suffering leads to life and glory. By the very means of death Christ conquered him who had power over death, the devil. His death was unto sin, our sin; for he had none of his own. His life was because of his own inherent righteousness. "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:11. Such death, such living, entitles the believer to the "resurrection of the dead," or, as Rotherham translates, "the out-resurrection, that from among the dead." For even as there are two lives, purposes, characters, here among the children of men, so are there of the dead. The first is the resurrection desired by Paul, the resurrection from among the dead, for which Paul longed, which must have been preceded by a death to sin, and a life of righteousness. The other is the resurrection of those who are left. When the righteous are raised at Christ's coming, some remain dead. They did not believe in him, they were not clothed in the righteousness of God. But "there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust." Acts 24:15. Both classes will come forth; it is of eternal importance in which class we are found. God has revealed to us the order of these great events, and the time by which the resurrection from among the dead precedes the resurrection of the remainder. At the beginning of the thousand years, often called the millennium, Jesus Christ comes in glory, raises the sleeping saints, and takes them home to heaven (1 Thess. 4:16, 17); there they live and reign with Christ a thousand years. This is the first resurrection. "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection; on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ; and shall reign with him a thousand years." Rev. 20:6. This resurrection, in which is the power of Christ's resurrection, it is plain, occurs at his second coming, at the beginning of the millennium. "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished." Rev. 20:5. O, it is not of so much importance as to whether we shall be raised from the dead, but in what resurrection shall we rise? He who rises in the latter, who knows not Christ's power here, will meet the second death, to die forevermore. But he who shares the first, will have a part there, because he has known the power of Christ's resurrection here. Never did the church of Jesus Christ need more to heed the injunction of the apostle: "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." Col. 3:1-3. Even "now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." 1 John 3:2. Weary, toiling pilgrim, Christian brother, be faithful to God; in a "little while" the azure vaults of heaven will reveal the coming "King in his beauty." If we are his, if we know him, whether "we wake or sleep," we shall be glorified with him forevermore. Most blessed event to the child of God, blessed hope to the faithful sleepers in Jesus Christ, who will rise triumphant and sing, "O grave, where is thy victory?"