When and How Do We Rise Above Into Newness of Life?

April 21, 2023
God-in-Christ, Living Abundantly

During the Easter season, believers celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And rightly so, for his resurrection illustrates the amazing truth that our lives are more than just this natural experience. 

Scripture and millions of recorded near-death experiences tell of a life value that is beyond this life. Clearly, God has much more in store for us: “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.” (a) [see endnotes for scripture]

While this verse refers to life in eternity, it also speaks of a quality of life that is offered to us in this life. So, when and how do we rise into newness of life?   

From Death to Resurrection Life

Jesus declared “I am (currently) the resurrection and the life (Greek zoe – spirit life).” (b) The Message version translates it this way: “You don’t have to wait for the end. I am, right now, Resurrection and Life.” So, what is the Resurrection Jesus spoke of? 

The Greek word translated ‘resurrection’ in our Bibles (anastasis) means: to arise, the opposite of falling. While there is value in viewing resurrection as a futuristic event, we want to realize many Scriptures speak of resurrection as more than an arising out of physical death.

Resurrection is a quality of life available to us during this life. We are invited to rise out of our deathly slumber and be “born from above.” (c)  Our interaction with God-in-Christ helps us to arise from our sleepy slumber and experience resurrection life in our day! We can arise from our deathly perceptions into elevated views and better understandings of God’s intention for our earthly lives.

Relying on the ‘trial and error’ experiences of natural life without God’s input is a deathly way to live. A previous blog, “What Is The Primary Sin That So Easily Entangles us?” shines light on the death decree given in the Garden of Eden. Scripture really says as long and to the degree we remain separated from God and rely just on “the knowledge of good and evil,” we “will be dying.” (d) 

This caution speaks of an ongoing condition rather than an eventual death. Ignoring God’s input is a deathly condition. “While we are dead in our transgressions, Christ comes to us as a savior.” (e) The newness we experience today is an arising – a resurrection from dying perceptions.

Scripture encourages us to “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you” (f) What a gift it is to partake of eternal perceptions, become spiritually minded, and keep transforming into better expressions of the love and light of God. Scripture goes on to say: “This is eternal life; to know (by experience) God and Jesus Christ.” (g) 

The newness we experience today is an arising – a resurrection from dying perceptions.

Walking In Newness

Scripture tells us we can overcome our deathly attitudes and rise into better ways of living. “As Christ was raised from the dead…so we too might walk in newness of life.” (h) God invites us to stop falling for the Garden lie (we can be as God) and daily rise to walk in a fresh newness.

Ever since the sinful turn from God’s guidance in The Garden of Eden, we are inclined to just look to the wisdom gained from natural experience. (i) We tend to believe what our natural senses see and hear while discounting the insight our spiritual senses provide. (j) Fortunately, we can hear and observe what the Spirit of God is saying and arise to improve this life’s experience.

So, how do we arise to walk in newness of life? We acknowledge our earthly-mindedness and turn to God’s insightful wisdom. Our repentant attitude begins to restore us into God’s fellowship where we partake of what the Tree of Life represents – spiritual (zoe) life. As we see and hear more clearly, we arise to become fuller expressions of God’s heart. (k) 

In this life our physical body declines and finally returns to dust while our spirit (breath of life) returns to God. (l) It is during this life that our individual conscious soul (mind, will and emotion) can arise and experience a “more abundant spiritual life (zoe)” with Christ. (m) 

Jesus lived ‘in’ resurrection life and displayed the peace that passes natural understanding. (n) So did Paul while in prison where he wrote many of his enlightening Epistles. Peter was released from his restrictive attitude toward others and began to live above the attitude of his day. (o) The biblical examples are endless. We can walk with Christ in newness of life, daily.

As we see and hear more clearly, we arise to become fuller expressions of God’s heart.

Arise With Christ Today

The Apostle Paul sheds more light on this amazing truth, saying: “I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus…and the power of His resurrection (arising) …that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead (a standing up out of deaths ways).” (p) Thankfully, we can arise out of our deteriorating perceptions.

“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you formerly walked…But God being rich in mercy…even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ…and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places.” (q) 

God has prepared for us a quality of life that is from above while we inhabit this world. He invites us (our mind and heart) to arise from our deathly way of life, to participate in His saving ways. We can arise into a more heavenly mindset and be seated “with Christ…raised with Him above it all.” (r) As we open ourselves to God’s insights and perspectives, we daily arise into heavenly places.

Our repentant attitude allows God to assist our delivering release from bad attitudes and patterns of behavior. We are free to mature into better images and likenesses (reflections and resemblances) of His heart. (s) We do this as we live by the eternal (ongoing) insights and perspectives God shares. (t) 

The extent to which we experience resurrection life today depends on how fully we interact with God-in-Christ. This is true for us as individuals and as families, communities, and nations. So why wait? Let’s arise and live in resurrection life today. 

“You don’t have to wait for the end (a physical demise), I am, right now, Resurrection and Life.” (u) 

Let’s arise and live in resurrection life today. 

a) 1 Corinthians 16:9; b) John 11:23-25) c) John 3:3, 7-8, 15; d) Genesis 2:17; e) Ephesians 1:3; 2:1-6; f) Ephesians 5:14; Isaiah 60:1; g) 1 John 5:11; John 6:47; 17:3; h) Romans 6:4; 7:6; i) Genesis 3:6; 1 John 2:16-17; Romans 5:12;    j) Psalms 34:8; Matthew 11:4-5; 13:16-17); k) John 17:3, 18; 3:16; l) Ecclesiastes 12:7; m) John 10:10; n) John 1:4; Philippians 4:7-8; o) Acts 11:2-18; p) (Philippians 3:8-11; q) Ephesians 2:5-6; r) Ephesians 2:5-6; s) 2 Corinthians 3:18; t) John 12:49; 6:63, 68; 8:47, 51, 54-55; u) John 11:25( The Message version)

Keith Carroll, “The Relationship Guy”
Relational Gospel Founder
Created To Relate author

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