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The worship song Resurrecting by Elevation Worship has become a powerful anthem in many churches, including my own. From the first time I heard it, the lyrics resonated deeply, sending my thoughts down an unexpected path, particularly the repeated phrase:
By Your spirit I will rise/ From the ashes of defeat/ The resurrected king/ Is resurrecting me/
In Your name I come alive/ To declare your victory/ The resurrected king/ Is resurrecting me
But what does it truly mean to declare that “the resurrected King is resurrecting me”? The concept of a “resurrected King” is, in many ways, foundational to Christian faith. We believe in Jesus Christ, his crucifixion, death, and glorious resurrection. This truth, that death could not hold Him, is a cornerstone of our belief. Christ’s resurrection was the ultimate victory, paving the way for humanity’s salvation and promising his eventual return.
However, the phrase takes on a new dimension when we consider the present tense: “is resurrecting me.” It’s not “will resurrect me” in the future; it’s happening now. This immediately raises a question: How can the resurrected King be resurrecting me in this very moment? I’m alive, aren’t I? This question lingered, refusing to be dismissed as mere catchy lyrics. There felt like a deeper truth embedded within this song, something worth exploring beyond a surface level appreciation. So, let’s delve into this idea, even at the risk of a bit of theological exploration, to understand what this powerful lyric might truly mean for us.
The Paradox of Life and Death: Spiritual Resurrection Explained
To understand how the “resurrected King is resurrecting me,” we must first consider the idea of being both alive and, in a sense, dead simultaneously. This may seem paradoxical. In a purely physical sense, this is impossible. However, if we broaden our understanding of “death” beyond the physical realm, a profound spiritual truth emerges.
The Bible offers insights into this concept. Romans 3:23 tells us, “…all have sinned…,” and Romans 6:23 continues, “For the wages of sin is death…” These verses highlight the consequence of sin – death. While redemption through Christ offers eternal life, the immediate impact of sin is a form of ongoing spiritual death. We are, in our sinful state, in a process of “dying.”
Furthermore, Jesus calls us in Luke 9:23 to “take up our cross daily and follow him.” This imagery of taking up a cross is inherently linked to death, mirroring Christ’s own sacrifice. This daily cross-bearing isn’t about physical death each day, but a different kind of dying. It suggests a dual reality: we are dying due to sin, and we are called to die daily in emulation of Christ. But what kind of death is this if it’s not physical?
Colossians 3: Unveiling the Nature of Spiritual Death and Resurrection
The Apostle Paul’s words in Colossians 3 offer a key to understanding. In Colossians 3:3, he declares, “you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” This is a powerful statement: “You have died.” Paul isn’t referring to physical death but a spiritual death that has already occurred for believers in Christ.
He then elaborates on what this means, starting in verse 5, urging believers to “put to death” various aspects of their earthly nature: “sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” This “deadness” is not a cessation of physical life, but a death to unholiness, to our sinful tendencies, to our “fleshly” desires.
And within this very act of dying to our old selves, we discover resurrection. God has provided the path to true life. While we are naturally inclined towards sin and its associated “death,” we are offered abundant life in Christ, who saves and redeems us. Psalm 16:11 proclaims, “You make known to me the path of life,” and John 6:48 echoes, “I am the bread of life.”
As we daily take up our cross, choosing to die to our impurities and selfish desires, we are simultaneously resurrected into a new life, a life aligned with God’s will. This is a daily resurrection into “fullness of joy,” “peace,” “patience,” “love,” “kindness,” “mercy,” and “grace” – the fruits of the Spirit. We are continually being resurrected into the loving embrace of our Savior. It’s in this sense that God’s mercies are indeed new every morning.
The Resurrected King: Our Source of Continuous Renewal
Therefore, to sing “the resurrected King is resurrecting me” is to acknowledge a profound daily reality. Jesus, through His resurrection power, is actively making a way for us to experience life to the fullest each and every day. This lyric is a powerful declaration of several key truths:
- Acknowledgement of Sin: It recognizes our inherent sinfulness and our constant need for salvation from sin and its deathly grip.
- Call to Holiness: It affirms the call for believers in Jesus to actively reject impurity and strive for holy living daily.
- God’s Relentless Love: It’s a cry that acknowledges God’s unwavering love and His tireless pursuit of a relationship with us, even amidst our imperfections.
- Victory Over Death: It’s a testament to God’s ultimate victory over death and all forms of “deadness,” assuring us that we are never beyond redemption.
- Foreshadowing of Eternal Life: It hints at the future resurrection from physical death into eternal life with God, drawing a parallel to the daily spiritual resurrection we experience now.
In essence, “the resurrected King is resurrecting me” is a powerful statement of faith, recognizing that through our daily dying to self and turning to Christ, we experience God’s life-giving power transforming us from the inside out. It’s about experiencing God’s love and resurrection power in our lives right now.
These reflections are just the beginning of a deeper understanding, and I intend to continue pondering these truths. I encourage you to do the same. What does “the resurrected king is resurrecting me” mean to you in your daily life?
-Daniel Debelak
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