Raised With Christ

Each week, we celebrate the risen Savior on the first day of the week. We basically have 51 "little easters" each year. We gather for worship because Christ is risen. This week, we are preparing to gather on that one Lord's Day out of the year that has been marked off in the church's calendar to intentionally place our focus entirely upon the resurrection of Jesus. It isn't that this Lord's Day is more significant than others. It is that we are seeking to remind ourselves of the significance of the Lord's resurrection for us, and for all creation.
In light of that, we plan to break from our study through the book of John in order to consider Ephesians 2:1-7 (we will read Ephesians 2:1-10, and a few comments will be made on verses 8-10 as well). We will see that Christ's resurrection is not merely a historical event that we look back to for hope and assurance. It is that, but more than that, because we are united with Christ, when He is raised up, we are raised up in Him. The very fact that salvation is by grace alone is found in this reality, when we were dead, He raised us. We are given new life in Christ. As one commentator said, this is, "Salvation through resurrection."