Living with Resurrection Power in Our Lives

Reviewing Tim Keller’s Hope in Times of Fear Part 2/2

In Part 2/2 discover:

• How the resurrection gives us perspective to live life abundantly.

• How the resurrection has a material affect on our present-day circumstances as well as eternal implications.

• How the resurrection is hope for us personally, for our relationships, for justice in the world, in the face of suffering and our hope for the future.

• Two major areas of importance in which Christians are self-limiting their power and how the resurrection helps overcome this stronghold.

• Why the resurrection is a resource for confidence and hope in the face of fear.

• A video of Macky overcoming fears and learning to swim!

Share this post so we can begin conversations with others desiring to live life more abundantly.

If you missed Part 1/2, catch up here:

Do you have hope in or for this world?

Tim Keller is an expository preacher who, in my opinion, does two major things really well. One, he preaches so that we understand our true problem, the tension there is in solving the problem, and on how Jesus is the only we can live life abundantly and eternally. Secondly, while preaching Christ, the gospel, and application, Keller has a unique and phenomenal way of drawing out the human dynamic in a palatable way so that we have action steps to love God better and our neighbor better.

Keller writes “Hope in Times of Fear” during the COVID19 pandemic while facing a second diagnosis of cancer. He passed away one year ago, this week. This book has a great blend of practical application, academic insight, and cultural relevancy so that we can understand, “That the resurrection, the Great Reversal, brings us both the power and the pattern for living life now connected to God’s future new creation” (xxiii).

Resurrection Power

Keller says life without Christ is like speaking into a dead mic, the power is there, yet your voice doesn't carry and no one hears you despite how much you lean in to speak (118). However, with Resurrection Power, the mic is on you are spiritually alive, and your voice is amplified.

How do we live life with amplified Resurrection Power?

The resurrection gives us the power and perspective to live life with unfathomable hope. This translates into mental, bodily, and spiritual victory over the pains and corruption that remain before Christ’s Second Coming.

We too are risen with Christ and seated in the heavenly realm (Eph 1-3).

Keller explains that our allegiance to God’s Kingdom is not just a membership in a new religious society, but rather, it is being taken from one realm into another (heavenly) realm (118). We are now, united to Him, in the Spirit and with power. We share in His blessings and participate in His Kingdom come!¹ Jesus’ resurrection changes everything! And, this change in you will be evident when the mic is turned on… when Resurrection Power manifests itself.

Resurrection Transformation

We are new creations under new authority. The resurrection gives us a confident assurance of God’s love. When we understand how much we are loved it changes how we approach our time, temptations, treasures, and so. There is now a pleasure aimed towards pleasing God. Yet it is supplemented with a grace that destroys any guilt and condemnation. The Bible describes this worship, joy, and duty as obedience. Keller says, “We must instead see every act of obedience as a little death that leads us to new life – new self-understanding, new levels of trust in God, new growth in love, patience, humility, and self-control. And, most of all, new intimacy and communion with God.” (132) In Christ, there is freedom in obedience. This freedom under the law of Christ enables us to live life abundantly.²

We are saved saints who sometimes sin as opposed to sinners still succumbing to the former life of sin and shame.

Each death we die in our old selves is a small resurrection to new life in Christ with more self-understanding and intimacy with God (132).

The Resurrection and the Power to Change