Paul has so much to say about the death, the burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

 In 1 Corinthians 15:17-20 (NKJV)  “And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead.”

Can we establish during this time that we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ that He is absolutely, positively alive and we know that because He lives in us! Our identity is found in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

We hopefully identify with Him in His death as Paul said about himself; Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)  ^“ I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” We have been crucified with Christ which means we have died to self and now live because of Jesus in us. We deny ourselves, take up our cross, and we follow Him or we are not His disciples. We are buried with Him which is beautifully symbolized in water baptism as we go under the water…we are literally separated from life. We are dead and buried with Christ.

But the best news ever is that we are benefactors of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Again Paul says in Philippians 3:10-11 (NIV)  ^“ I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Guess what? Paul experienced the resurrection power of Jesus and you and I can too! Do we really want to know Him and do we really want the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwelling inside of us? Jesus and Holy Spirit are available to all who are hungry for His presence and power! Go after all God has for you during this Easter season!