The resurrection of Jesus Christ was accomplished by the same power available to you today. Learn how Christ won resurrection victory over four significant foes.

Resurrection – to come alive again after death. Imagine the significance of that power!  

Jesus Christ died on the Cross to pay for our sins. He died and was buried. Three days later, He fulfilled His promise to arise from the dead.  

The song “He Arose!” so aptly says:

Up from the grave, He arose!  

With a mighty triumph o’er His foes.

He arose the Victor from the dark domain

And He lives forever with His saints to reign.

He arose! He arose!

Hallelujah! Christ arose! 

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most significant event in human history.  

It changed everything.  

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It is God’s exclamation point on the Gospel.  

It confirms the Words of Christ. It cements the deity of Christ.  

The resurrection proves God’s victory over four foes.

Consider four area’s of Resurrection Victory.

1. The Seal – Victory Over Civil Law

There was a seal placed on the grave of Jesus to keep people out. It was a warning of punishment to anyone who might tamper with the grave.

Matthew 27:62–66 

Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

During this era, graves were sealed by civil powers with clay embossed with Roman seal and secured with rope.  This seal represented the full force and power of the Roman empire.  

Heathen kings and governments have always been the enemy of God and His people. They rage against the Almighty.

Psalm 2:1–6 

Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

History records many Governments that have tried to stop the Gospel.

  • The Roman emperor Nero burned Christians. Nevertheless, Christianity flourished.
  • The Nazis burned Bibles, but the Bible remains the best-selling book in history.
  • Communism outlawed Christianity in many countries. Yet, there are over 200, million Christians in China alone.
  • Islamic states reject any form of Christianity under penalty of death.  However, one ex-Muslim leader says he is sure there are over 10,000 Muslims saved per day in the Middle East?

If it can’t stop Christianity, Civil law tries to manipulate or control it. Examine this historical excerpt about Hitler and the Bible.

“In May 1939, on the Furher’s command, a theological institute was founded in Eisenach with the purpose of contributing to “dejewification”. Its employees edited biblical texts, removing non-Aryan passages. Dozens of works printed by the institute were published in over 100 thousand copies of the new Holy Scripture. It was assumed that this work would become a standard household book amongst Germans. 

For a long time, almost nothing was known about Hitler’s Bible, since believers burnt almost every copy. However, a few copies were discovered in German churches at the end of the 1980s, but this was kept hidden from the general public at the time, writes Izvestia. 

German biblical archivist Hansjorg Buss has summarized the dubious achievements of Hitler’s myrmidons for Bild newspaper. 

“Germans with the Lord – the German book of faith”: the renewed version of the Holy Scripture contained 12 edited commandments instead of 10, as follows: 

1. Honor your Fuhrer and master.

2. Keep the blood pure and your honor holy. 

3.Honor God and believe in him wholeheartedly. 

4. Seek out the peace of God. 

5. Avoid all hypocrisy. 

6. Holy is your health and life. 

7. Holy is your well-being and honor. 

8. Holy is your truth and fidelity. 

9. Honor your father and mother — your children are your aid and your example. 

10. Maintain and multiply the heritage of your forefathers. 

11. Be ready to help and forgive. 

12. Joyously serve the people with work and sacrifice.” 

See more Here.

The Chinese government regulates churches. There are two “government-approved” church groups in China. Three-Self Patriotic Movement or China Christian Counsel are allowed.  

Unsanctioned churches in China meet in secret under penalty of imprisonment or worse.

Christian persecution has been steadily increasing in China. Most recently, a chinese church was demolished by government authorities.

Persecution watchdog ministry ChinaAid reported that Golden Lampstand Church in Linfen, Shanxi province, was bombed and completely demolished by authorities.

The church was completely paid for by the Christians who attended it, but has been under the control of the Chinese government since last year.

It is believed that top Chinese officials gave the orders to destroy the church.

This is not the first time Golden Lampstand Church has faced persecution, however. Several of the church’s leaders have been arrested in the past, for nothing more than serving the church. Additionally, when the church was being built back in 2009, church members who were camping at the construction site were awakened by government officials and severely beaten. What had been built of the church thus far was also destroyed at that time.”   

ChristianHeadlines.com 

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ displays His victory or civil government.

2. The Soldiers – Victory Over Human Will

The soldiers guarding the tomb of Jesus represented the best of human strength and power. They were part of the strongest military force on the earth. Yet, they were no match for God.

God cannot be contained by human will.  

People of all kinds have fought Christianity. Atheists, Agnostics, Deists, Spiritualists, New Age, etc., still fight against God and His Word.  

In this passage, men attempted to build a tower to Heaven. They intended to work their way to Heaven – to enter it by force rather than an invitation. The Almighty splintered them into various languages.

Genesis 11:1–9

And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

The sad story of Voltaire reminds us of the futility of fighting against God.

History tells of the renowned French atheist Voltaire, one of the most aggressive antagonists of Christianity. He wrote many things to undermine the church and once said of Jesus Christ, “Curse the wretch. In 20 years, Christianity will be no more. My single hand will destroy the edifice it took 12 apostles to rear.”

Needless to say, Voltaire was less than successful. And on his deathbed, a nurse who attended him was reported to have said, “For all the wealth in Europe, I would not see another atheist die.”

The physician, waiting up with Voltaire at his death, said that he cried out with utter desperation, “I am abandoned by God and man. I will give you half of what I am worth if you will give me six months of life. Then I shall go to hell, and you will go with me, oh, Christ, oh, Jesus Christ!”

The soldiers at the tomb of Christ were scared to death when the angels appeared! It’s easy to talk big until you meet God!

Matthew 28:1–5

In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

There is no fear if you come to God by faith!

Salvation cannot be obtained by human will.

John 1:12–13

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Only your personal faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ can save your soul from eternal damnation.

3. The Stone – Victory Over Natural Law

Many sepulchres in this area were graves carved out of limestone hills.

Two styles of gravestones were used to protect the graves. One type is a large disc resting in a groove. The other type was shaped like a cork you would find in a bottle. These stones were heavy and hard to move. They protected the graves from robbers.

The Romans and Pharisees placed a stone at the entrance of Christ’s tomb to make sure the body stayed inside. They had a rude awakening on resurrection morning!

Matthew 28:2 

And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

It would have been near impossible for one man to move the stone. But an angel did it effortlessly.  

Some would say that it is impossible for the dead to rise again. What is impossible with man is possible with God! God is not bound by the earthly laws of physics.

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The resurrection won the victory over death.

1 Corinthians 15:42–57

So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Victory over death through Jesus Christ! Have you been saved? Will you live forever through Christ’s eternal salvation?

Death, man’s greatest foe, was swallowed up in the victory of the resurrection.

God Almighty is not bound by the laws of science as we know them. He is the Creator of all. The resurrection proves His victory over the natural law.

4. The Serpent – Victor over Satan

The spiritual battle of the resurrection takes place outside of human view. However, we can see its effects.

This spiritual warfare begins in the Garden of Eden. Satan convinces Eve to sin. He hurts the creation that God loves.  

In the Genesis prophecy, we are told Satan will hurt the Saviour, but the Saviour will defeat the serpent.

Genesis 3:15 

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Christ was bruised on Calvary, but Satan was thoroughly defeated.

Hebrews 2:14–16 

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

Revelation foretells the final victory of Christ over the Wicked One.

Revelation 20:1–3 

And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

Satan is a defeated foe. Our Lord wins the battle of the ages. We are victorious in Christ!

The resurrection proves Christ’s victory of Satan.

Conclusion – Resurrection Victory

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most significant event in human history.  

It sealed our redemption and proved Christ victorious over the seal (civil law), the soldiers (human will), the stone (natural law), and the serpent (the Devil). 

Praise be to God, the resurrection changed everything!

Have you let it change you?