The Resurrection and Justification
“Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have been begotten into a living hope.”
A Reflection on March 20th's Entry from Day by Day by Grace by Bob Hoekstra
The mercy of God is abundant beyond measure, and in that mercy, He has given us new birth—a birth that ushers us into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is not mere optimism but an unshakable certainty rooted in the finished work of Christ. We have been justified, declared righteous before God, not by our efforts but through faith in Jesus. His resurrection sealed our redemption, proving that sin was conquered, death was defeated, and eternal life was secured.
This new birth is more than a legal standing—it is an entirely new life, one that is alive with hope, alive with purpose, and alive with the very power of Christ’s resurrection. Without this hope, people wander in either despair or empty dreams. But we have been begotten into a hope that is as alive as the risen Lord Himself, a hope that pulses with resurrection life, lifting us above every deadened place in our hearts and every circumstance that threatens to overwhelm us.
A Journal Entry in the Holy Spirit’s Voice Through Scripture
You were once bound in darkness, weighed down by the sentence of death. But now, you are alive. Not with a borrowed life, nor a temporary reprieve, but with My life—resurrection life. The old was crucified with Christ, and what remains is new, radiant with My righteousness. You stand justified, not because of what you have done, but because of what Christ has accomplished. Your sins are no longer remembered; your condemnation is no longer valid. You are clothed in the righteousness of the One who conquered the grave.
This is not a distant truth, reserved for some future day. Even now, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in you, sustaining you, empowering you, filling you with a hope that cannot fade. The weight of despair is not yours to carry, for I have lifted you up. The chains of uncertainty do not belong to you, for I have secured your place in My kingdom. You do not strive to be acceptable; you are already My beloved, seated in heavenly places with Christ.
Walk in this living hope. Let it define your days. Let it silence the voices that whisper fear and doubt. For My promises do not falter, and My word does not fail. The resurrection is not just an event—it is your reality, your inheritance, your very life. And in that life, you are free.
(Romans 6:4-5, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Ephesians 2:6, Colossians 3:1-4, 1 Peter 1:3, Romans 8:1, Hebrews 8:12, Philippians 3:10-11, John 11:25-26)
A Prayer of Confident Trust
Father, You have given me everything in Christ. I stand in the unshakable reality of my justification, not by my own doing, but by Your mercy and grace. The resurrection of Jesus is my assurance, my confidence, my life. I will not shrink back into fear or uncertainty, for You have called me into a living hope, one that breathes with the power of Christ Himself. Thank You for the unbreakable certainty of Your promises. Thank You for making me alive with Christ. I rest in You today, fully assured, fully at peace, and fully Yours. Amen.
Photo Intent: A sunrise breaking over a mountaintop, symbolizing resurrection and new life.