A job offer often includes a list of benefits—paid time off, retirement plans, health insurance—reminders that an employee receives more than just a paycheck. In a similar way, the Heidelberg Catechism offers us a powerful reminder in Q&A 45 of the “benefits” we receive through the resurrection of Jesus.

The resurrection isn’t just an amazing historical event. It’s an ongoing reality that transforms our lives today and guarantees our hope for tomorrow. The Catechism highlights three specific benefits from the resurrection of Christ, rooted in Scripture and rich in meaning:

1. Righteousness: We Are Made Right with God

“First, by His resurrection He has overcome death, so that He might make us share in the righteousness He obtained for us by His death.”

This benefit, reflected in verses such as Romans 4:25, 1 Corinthians 15:16–20, and 1 Peter 1:3–5, reminds us that the resurrection is proof that Jesus’s death was accepted by God as a substitute for our sins.

Christ’s death wasn’t merely the execution of an innocent man; it was an act of divine justice and mercy. And the resurrection is the receipt—the confirmation that God accepted His sacrifice. Through faith, we don’t just get a “clean slate”; we receive Christ’s righteousness. We are declared not just innocent, but righteous in God’s sight.

Without the resurrection, we could not be sure of this. But with it, we can stand in assurance: we are right with God because of Jesus.

2. Renewal: We Are Raised to New Life

“Second, by His power we too are already raised to a new life.”

Scripture passages like Romans 6:5–11, Ephesians 2:4–6, and Colossians 3:1–4 teach us that Christ’s resurrection is not only about what happens after death, but also about how we live right now.

Because Jesus lives, we live differently. His resurrection power brings new life to us. We’re no longer bound by sin; instead, we’re empowered to walk in obedience, holiness, and joy. This spiritual resurrection is not something we earn. It’s a gift of grace that reflects the transformation already taking place within us.

Just as Jesus walked out of the tomb, we too walk out of our old ways—alive in Christ, renewed by His Spirit.

3. Resurrection: We Have Hope for Our Future

“Third, Christ’s resurrection is a sure pledge to us of our blessed resurrection.”

This third benefit speaks to our eternal future. As seen in Romans 8:11, 1 Corinthians 15:12–23, and Philippians 3:20–21, Christ’s resurrection is the guarantee that we, too, will be raised from the dead.

Easter isn’t just about what happened to Jesus—it’s a preview of what will happen to us. The same power that raised Jesus will one day raise our bodies in glory, transforming us to be like Him. We won’t be disembodied spirits in the afterlife—we will be resurrected, just as He was.

Our hope is not in this broken world, but in a coming resurrection, anchored in Christ’s victory over death.

Don’t Forget These Benefits—They Last Forever!

Unlike earthly benefit packages—which can change, shrink, or disappear—the benefits of Jesus’s resurrection are eternal. They don’t depend on economic conditions or human effort. They are secured by Christ Himself:

  • We are righteous—fully accepted by God.
  • We are renewed—living now with purpose and power.
  • We are promised resurrection—a glorious future ahead.

All of this is ours through faith in Jesus. So let’s not just celebrate the resurrection as a past event. Let’s live in the present power and future promise of it every day.

📖 Questions about the Bible or theology?
 Email Pastor Benedith Ojo at 📧 info@totalgospelnetwork.org.

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