When Christ burst from the tomb, nothing less than divine power was on display. The same is true in our salvation. So what are we to make of those who think conversion happens by free will—by some natural goodness in man? Listen! When corpses start climbing out of their graves by their own strength, then we can talk about sinners turning to Christ by their own power. When dead men resurrect themselves, then we'll believe in self-salvation.

It is not the sermon preached. It is not the Bible read. All life-giving power flows from the Holy Spirit alone.

And this power? Absolutely unstoppable. All the Roman soldiers, all the religious authorities could not keep Christ's body in that tomb. Death itself could not hold him in its chains. And this same irresistible power is unleashed in every believer raised to new life. No sin, no corruption, no demon in hell, no sinner on earth can stop the hand of God's grace when he determines to save someone. When the Almighty says, "You shall live," no human being can respond, "I will not."

Notice: the power that raised Christ was glorious. It brought honor to God and struck terror in the armies of darkness. So there is that same glory to God in every sinner's conversion. Your salvation magnifies him.

It was also eternal power. "Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more; death has no dominion over him." So we who are raised from spiritual death don't slip back into our old deadness, our old corruptions. We live for God. Because he lives, we live. We have died, and our life is hidden with Christ in God. Just as Christ was raised by the Father's glory, we now walk in newness of life.

Finally, see in this text the union between our new life and Jesus. The same power that raised the Head from death now pumps life through every member of his body. What a gift—to be made alive together with Christ!