Love God Greatly: RisenSample

The suffering of Christ enables us to be united with God. Through His suffering, we have life. Our flesh, our sinful nature, has been put to death in His death, and our spirit is alive through His resurrection. Though our circumstances on this earth may remain largely unchanged, we are spiritually renewed and guaranteed unity with God and eternal life.

The contrasting phrases at the end of 1 Peter 3:18 are meant to paint a vivid picture of our life before and after the resurrection of Christ. It is not meant to show the division between two parts of ourselves (body vs. spirit). Instead, this contrast is meant to show the difference between our earthly life and our heavenly life. Our earthly life began with our inheritance of sin nature, but our heavenly life will begin with the resurrected life of Christ.

Jesus, I praise You for the way You have allowed me to experience the joy of the resurrection in my life today. Help me to live out of the joy I have from being united with You. Amen.