Raised from the Dead

                               "A Christian cannot have a boring testimony.  Being raised from
                                the dead is not boring."  ---Unknown


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          Some Christians may have a more dramatic story to tell about their conversion
     than others, but every Christian has received a miracle from God -- being raised from
     spiritual death to new life in Jesus Christ.

          Every Christian was dead in sin before God changed his heart of stone into a heart
     of flesh, giving him the ability to repent and trust in Christ for salvation.


                               "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,
                                in which you used to live when you followed the ways of
                                this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the
                                spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
                                All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying
                                the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires
                                and thoughts.  Like the rest, we were by nature objects of
                                wrath.
                               "But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in
                                mercy, MADE US ALIVE WITH CHRIST even when we
                                were dead in transgressions -- it is by grace you have been
                                saved."
                                                                                      Ephesians 2:1-5


          Because of His love and mercy, God has granted His people the new birth and
     an inheritance of eternal life in Christ, that is not subject to decay and is divinely
     kept for us.


                                "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
                                 In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a liv-
                                 ing hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the
                                 dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil,
                                 or fade -- kept in heaven for you, who through faith are
                                 shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation
                                 that is ready to be revealed in the last time."
                                                                                         1 Peter 1:3-5


         
                                "And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is
                                 living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also
                                 give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives
                                 in you."
                                                                                  Romans 8:11

                             
                                "The resurrection of our bodies, is guaranteed to believers by
                                 the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit -- whose presence
                                 is evidenced by a Spirit-controlled life, which in turn pro-
                                 vides assurance that our resurrection is certain even now."
                                      NIV commentary on "give life to your mortal bodies"

                      
                                                                                                                                                       
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          Only those who have been raised from the dead spiritually (born again),
     will "see the kingdom of God."


                              "Jesus declared, 'I tell you the truth, no one can see the
                               kingdom of God unless he is born again."
                                                                              John 3:3


                             "You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must
                               be born again.  The wind blows wherever it pleases.
                               You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes
                               from or where it is going.  So it is with everyone born
                               of the Spirit."
                                                                             John 3:7-8


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           The new birth and salvation are miracles, that come from the Father, Son, and
     Holy Spirit.
           Everyone who has been born again has a wonderful story to tell.  Being
     raised from the dead is DEFINITELY not boring!