Living the Resurrected Life

This is Not Some Future Hope…

I love this verse in today's Morning Prayer (from the Liturgy of the Hours):

But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Romans 8:10-11 ESV

Our bodies are subject to death because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. Of course, this righteousness is not inherent in us but because of the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead. Yes, the Spirit that raised Christ from the dead gives us life…real life! This is not some future hope but a very, real and present reality--the very power that raised our Lord is at work in us.

Wow. That is worthy of some reflection, don't you think?

This transformative power is further made understandable through our baptism into Christ. Baptism symbolizes our union with Christ in His death and resurrection. As Paul articulates in Romans 6:4, through baptism, we are buried with Christ into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. This newness of life is a life "divinized" in Him, a term reflecting the profound reality of being made partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). This divinization is not an obliteration of our nature but a fulfillment of it; we are made fully alive, fully human, in Christ.

It reminds me of the scripture text of Colossians 3:12-17 that expands on this newness of life, detailing the virtues and practices that should characterize those who have been raised with Christ. The call to put on compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience reflects the transformation expected because of the Spirit's work within us. The peace of Christ is to rule in our hearts, and the word of Christ is to dwell in us richly, guiding our interactions and worship. Our transformation in Christ underscores the communal aspect of our transformation—it's not just individual, but is also to be reflected in how we relate to one another in the body of Christ.

I love the verse in 2 Peter 1 because it complements what Paul says here in Colossians. The divine power granted to us—everything we need for a godly life has been provided through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. We are called to growth in faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. These qualities make us effective and fruitful in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. They are evidence of the Spirit's transformative work, marking us as participants in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

Romans 8:10-11, when read in the narrative found in Colossians 3:12-17 and 2 Peter 1, presents a compelling vision of Christian life. It is a life empowered by the Spirit that raised Christ from the dead—a life marked by righteousness, transformation, and divine participation. This is the real power at work within us, enabling us to live lives that reflect the glory of our risen Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.