The Way of the Saints – Lesson 3 The Resurrection

The Gospel That Includes the Resurrection

In 1 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul explains that the gospel includes three essential elements: the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”— 1 Corinthians 15:3–4

Jesus, the Lamb of God, bore the sins of the whole world and died, but He overcame death and rose again.He now belongs to the heavenly realm.When our hearts partake in Jesus’ death and resurrection, the rest that He enjoys at the right hand of God becomes ours also.When we realize that our citizenship has been transferred to heaven, we experience perfect and eternal peace—even in this life.

Death and Resurrection

Through the death of Jesus, God completely paid the price for all sin so that no judgment remains for us.By His blood, He accomplished eternal redemption and wiped away every transgression.

“All we like sheep have gone astray; each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”— Isaiah 53:6

God placed the sins of all humanity upon Jesus, leaving not a single sin unpaid.When we look at ourselves, we may feel like sinners because we still stumble.But when we look to Jesus, we can boldly say we are righteous—just as Jacob said to Isaac, “I am Esau, your firstborn,” trusting in his mother Rebekah’s word.In the same way, we call ourselves righteous because we believe in the work Jesus accomplished for us.

Jesus was crucified for our sins and rose again on the third day.His resurrection means victory over death, and victory over death means victory over sin.If He had not conquered death, His death would have been no different from that of any other man.But Jesus triumphed. He is the Conqueror of death, and one of His names is “Victory.”

“He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.”— Romans 4:25

The risen Christ, who overcame death to make us righteous, now helps and leads us with that same power.

Gaining the World Through Resurrection

In Genesis, Joseph was imprisoned not for wrongdoing, but because of false accusation.There was no way for him to free himself—but when Pharaoh called for him, he was released at once.Similarly, Jesus, though sinless, died because of our sins. Yet by the power of God, He rose again.

Just as Joseph emerged from prison and became the ruler of Egypt, saving his family and many others,Jesus rose from the dead and brought salvation to the whole world.God raised Him from death to open the way of life for all humankind.

In Matthew 4, Satan tempted Jesus, offering Him all the kingdoms of the world if He would bow down and worship him.But Jesus did not gain the world through Satan’s offer.He gained it by resurrection, crushing the devil’s authority.

“The offspring of the woman will crush your head, and you will strike His heel.”— Genesis 3:15

Satan bruised His heel at the cross, but Jesus crushed Satan’s head by rising from the dead.Though the crucifixion seemed like defeat, the resurrection revealed complete victory.Jesus gained all things—and He did so to give them to us.

Once I realized this truth, I began to walk with confidence as a child of God,experiencing His help and victory in every situation.No one can condemn or accuse those who are saved.Through God, we can overcome everything in this world.

The Purpose of Resurrection

“He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.”— 2 Corinthians 5:15 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”— 2 Corinthians 5:17

Jesus died and rose again so that we might live as new creations for Him.He already made us new, finished our sin on the cross, and through His resurrection,enabled us to live for the Lord.

It no longer matters who we were or how we lived before.Onesimus was a prisoner, but Paul saw him as a servant of God.Paul himself once persecuted the church, but after meeting the risen Jesus,God called him to be a light to the Gentiles.

When we accept what God has prepared for us through His Word,our hearts are lifted to heaven, and we become true workers of Christ.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hopethrough the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you.”— 1 Peter 1:3–4

Through Jesus’ resurrection, God gave us new hope and a heavenly inheritance that will never fade.In this world, we now live as instruments of the gospel, lacking nothing to serve God.This is the power and meaning of the resurrection.

Jesus’ Other Name: Victory

In the summer of 2016, I learned that my wife had been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer.The doctors said it had spread to her duodenum and bile duct, and that she had about three months to live.We went to another hospital in Seoul for a second opinion—it was the same.

Her body weakened, jaundice appeared, and death seemed near.There was nothing I could do.After more than 30 years of serving the Lord, I realized the only thing I could give her was the gospel—the risen Jesus who conquered death.

I took her to a quiet pension in Geoje, where we spent several weeks together.I said to her,

“The Bible says, ‘If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, He will also give life to your mortal bodies.’Do you have that Spirit in you? When you cross the river of death, will Jesus hold your hand? Can you cross with Him?”

Her faith was clear. She had the gospel and the risen Lord in her heart.One day, sitting under the blazing summer sun, she looked at the trees and grass and said,

“Those trees and grasses seem healthier than I am.I am fading away, yet they shine with life.What power sustains them?It’s the Word! The same Word that God spoke in Genesis still upholds them today.That same Word gives me power to enter the Father’s kingdom,to walk by the river of life, hand in hand with Him!”

The risen Christ was living in her heart.And by faith in His promise, she began to recover, sustained by His life.

Just as an airplane on the ground waits to take flight,we who live on earth are made for heaven.Jesus has conquered the world through His resurrection,and through Him, we also have victory in all things.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil, for You are with me;Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”— Psalm 23:4

David faced death, hardship, and persecution throughout his life,but the Lord of resurrection protected him and gave him victory.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;the flames will not set you ablaze.”— Isaiah 43:2

No flood or fire can harm those who walk with the risen Christ.Noah lived through the flood, Israel crossed the Red Sea, and Daniel’s friends survived the fiery furnace.The One who overcame the world is our Lord—and He is with us.Those who share in His resurrection already possess everything.This is the happiness of those who live in the resurrection.

The Hope of Resurrection

Caterpillars, dragonflies, and butterflies all undergo transformation—from crawling larvae to winged creatures that soar.Their earthly existence and their heavenly flight are completely different worlds.The empty shell left behind is not death—it is a sign of new life.

So it is with us.We have a worldly life and a heavenly one.Even when our nation was under foreign oppression, some people lived with hearts already belonging to a new world.Though others bowed to power, those who dreamed of freedom endured because of hope.

“If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”— 1 Corinthians 15:19–20

Without resurrection in the heart, life becomes pitifully earthbound.But those whose hearts have been lifted into the world of resurrection live in joy, regardless of circumstance.

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines...yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”— Habakkuk 3:17–18

When Habakkuk complained that the wicked prospered,God changed his heart.Though outwardly nothing changed, inwardly he rejoiced.That is the joy of a heart that has been transferred to heaven.

May you also lift your eyes above what is seen,find happiness in the new world revealed in God’s Word,and live for the eternal reward prepared in heaven.