Two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ made the ultimate sacrifice to bear the penalty of our sins and to die in our place. Three days later, He was raised from the dead by the power of God to be our glorified Lord.

Just what did happen when Jesus died on the Cross and then rose from the dead on the third day? We know that He died for our sins and purchased our salvation, but what does all this mean?  What relevance does Christ’s death and resurrection hold for us today?

The Scriptures explain that Jesus was not the only one who died on the Cross, and He was not the only one who was raised from the dead that same Easter Morning.

Romans 6:3-5 (AMP) says:

Are you ignorant of the fact that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were baptized with Him by the baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, so we too might habitually live and behave in newness of life. For if we have become one with Him by sharing a death like His, we shall also be one with Him in sharing His resurrection by a new life lived for God.

When we receive Jesus into our life as Lord, the Scriptures call this being “baptized into Christ Jesus.” In being baptized into Jesus, we share in the same death as His. Heaven has it recorded that we died right alongside Jesus on the Cross. But that is not all. If we have become one with Jesus in sharing a death like His, we have also been raised from the dead with Him. God both raised up the Lord Jesus and has also raised us up by His power. (1 Cor. 6:14)

Romans 8:11 (NLT) explains, “The same Spirit, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as He raised Christ from the dead, He will also give life to your mortal body by the same Spirit living within you.”

The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead now dwells in you. What does it mean to have the same Spirit of Christ living in us? It means living a life well-pleasing to God, and living a life of victory through His mighty power. Second Corinthians 4:13-14 relates that since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus.

When we trust God and depend upon Him, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead will also bring life to every situation we face and to every problem we encounter. The same Spirit which enabled Christ to live a holy life and a life devoted to God lives in you now to enable you to live holy and fully devoted to God.

If we have been raised with Christ by believing on Him as our Lord, we have a responsibility to live like Him in all we do.

Colossians 3.1-3 (AMP) urges us, “If then you have been raised with Christ to a new life, thus sharing in His resurrection from the dead, aim at and seek the rich, eternal treasures that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth. For as far as this world is concerned you have died, and your new, real life is hidden with Christ in God.”

Since you have been raised with Christ and have received His Spirit to live within you, seek and aim at the rich, eternal treasures which are in heaven, where Christ resides. Keep your mind set on Jesus and seek to be like Him in all you do.

You can do it. You have been raised to new life by God’s power, and you have been given the very same Spirit of Christ!