Of necessity, the likeness of His death is followed by the likeness of His resurrection. To speak alone of the likeness of His death – of bearing the cross, and of self-denial – gives a one-sided view of following Christ. It is only the power of His resurrection that gives us strength to go on from that likeness of His death, which we at one receive by faith, to that conformity to His death, which comes as the growth of the inner life. Being dead with Christ refers to the death of the old life of sin and worldliness. Risen with Christ refers to the new life through which the Holy Spirit expels the old. To the Christian who earnestly desires to walk as Christ did, the knowledge of this likeness of His resurrection is indispensable. Let us see if we do not here get the answer to the question as to where we must find strength to live in the world as Christ did.

Oh, that through the Holy Spirit God might reveal to us the glory of the life in the likeness of Christ’s resurrection! In it, we find the secret of power for a life of conformity to Him. To most Christians this is a mystery, and therefore their life is full of sin and weakness and defeat. They believe in Christ’s resurrection as the sufficient proof of their justification. They think that He had to rise again to continue His work in heaven as Mediator. But, they have no idea that He rose again, so that His glorious resurrection life might now be the very power of their daily life. Hence, their hopelessness when they hear of following Jesus fully, and be perfectly conformed to His image.

They cannot imagine how a sinner can be required to act as Christ would have acted in all things. They do not know Christ in the power of His resurrection, or the mighty power with which His life now works in those who are willing to count all things but loss for His sake (see Phil. 3:8; Eph. 1:19-20). Come, all you who are weary of a life unlike Jesus, and long to walk always in His footsteps. You will begin to see that there is, in the Scriptures, a better life for you than you have thus far known. Come and let me try to show you the unspeakable treasure that is yours in your likeness to Christ in His resurrection. Let me ask three questions.

The first question is: Are you ready to surrender your life to the rule of Jesus and His resurrection life? I do not doubt that the contemplation of Christ’s example has convinced you of sin in more than one point. In seeking your own will and glory in stead of God’s, in ambition, pride, selfishness, and want of love towards man, you have seen how far you are from the obedience, humility, and love of Jesus. And now it is the question of whether or not, in view of all these things which you have acknowledged as sin, you are willing to say: If Jesus will take possession of my life, then I resign all right or wish ever to have the least to do with my own will. I give my life, with all I have and am entirely to Him, always to do what He through His Word and Spirit commands me. If He will live and rule in me, I promise unbounded and hearty obedience.

Faith is needed for such a surrender. Therefore, the second question is: Are you prepared to believe that Jesus will take possession of the life entrusted to Him, and that He will rule and keep it? When the believer entrusts his entire spiritual and temporal life completely to Christ, then he learns to correctly understand Paul’s words: “I am dead; I live no more: Christ liveth in me” (Gal. 2:20). Dead with Christ and risen again, the living Christ in His resurrection life takes possession of and rules my new life. He Himself will, from day to day and hour to hour, see to it and ensure that I live as one who is risen with Him. He does it through the Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of His risen life. The Holy Spirit is in us, and will, if we trust Jesus for it, continually maintain the presence and power of the risen Lord within us. We need not fear that we never can succeed in leading such a holy life as becomes those who are temples of the living God. We are indeed not able. But, the living Jesus, who is the resurrection, has shown His power over all our enemies. He Himself, who so love us, will work it in us. He gives us the Holy Spirit as our power, and He will perform His work in us with divine faithfulness if we only trust Him. Christ Himself is our life.

And now comes the third question: Are you ready to use this resurrection life for the purpose for which God gave it to Him, and gives it to you, as a power of blessing to the lost? All desires after the resurrection life will fail if we are only seeking our own perfection and happiness. God raised up and exalted Jesus to give repentance and remission of sins. He always lives to pray for sinners. Yield yourself to receive His resurrection life with the same aim. Give yourself wholly to working and praying for the perishing. Then, you will become a fit vessel and instrument in which the resurrection life can dwell and work out its glorious purposes.

Brethren, your calling is to live like Christ! To this end you have already been made one with Him in the likeness of His resurrection. The only question is now whether or not you desire the full experience of His resurrection life, whether or not you are willing to surrender your whole life so that He may manifest resurrection power in every part of it. I beg you, do not draw back. Offer yourself unreservedly to Him, with all your weakness and unfaithfulness. Believe that as His resurrection was a wonder above all thought and expectation, so He as the Risen One will still work in you exceedingly abundantly above all you could think or desire.

Oh brethren, who have not yet experienced the resurrection life, who are troubled and weary because you are called to walk like Christ and cannot do it, come and taste the blessedness of giving your whole life to the Risen Saviour in the assurance that He will live it for you.

Prayer: “O Lord, my soul adores You as the Prince of life! On the cross, You conquered each one of my enemies – the devil, the flesh, the world, and sin. As Conqueror, You rose to manifest and maintain the power of Your risen life in Your people. You made them one with yourself in the likeness of Your resurrection. Now, You will live in them, and show forth in their earthly life the power of Your heavenly life. Praised be Your name for this wonderful grace. Blessed Lord, I come at Your invitation to offer and surrender my life and all it implies, to You. Too long have I striven in my own strength to live like You, and not succeeded. The more I sought to walk like You, the deeper was my disappointment. I have heard of Your disciples who tell how blessed it is to cast all care and responsibility for their life on You. Lord Jesus, I do believe in You! Be pleased to make Yourself known to me as my life. You alone can do it and I trust You for it. And so, my resurrection life will be like Your own – a continual source of light and blessing to all who are needing You. Amen.”