Here's a shocking statement. Dead people cannot make themselves alive. In fact, no one can bring something that is dead back to life - that is, no one but God. With him all things are possible. He proved it by resurrecting Jesus. This is what God does. He gives life to the dead. If we are dead, salvation can only mean received life. How else could we be saved?

The idea of resurrection seems far-fetched to many. It does today, and it did in the first century. Time and again the apostles were maligned for the unwavering conviction that God had indeed raised Jesus from the dead. The religious leaders arrested Peter and John for proclaiming the resurrection. The same happened to Paul. He did not let the unbelief of his accusers go unchallenged. In making his defense before King Agrippa, Paul asked, "Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?" (Acts 26:8).

I ask you to consider Paul's question as well.

Resurrection is the only means for you to have life. That's what God wants for you. It is his first priority. Nothing else can happen until you have been made alive spiritually. That's why Jesus came to earth.

A miracle of new life occurs every time someone turns to Christ by faith. It happens daily in every corner of the world. Someone dead in sin is born again of the Spirit and is raised to walk in the newness of life. That is the power of the gospel, the amazing grace God pours out on those who look to him for life.

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. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:4-9)