Iron Rose Sister Ministries

Written by Beliza Kočev, Brazil Coordinator with Iron Rose Sister Ministries

In 2023 I had the opportunity to meet sisters from several African countries who were in Angola for a church event. I, along with two more sisters, represented Iron Rose Sister Ministries, developing activities and classes. In one of the classes, we talked about the temple in Jerusalem and the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies (Ex. 26:33). When we taught about the death of Jesus and about how at that moment the temple veil was torn (Mt. 27:51), we illustrated this by tearing a piece of fabric apart while we narrated what happened, and their reaction surprised me…

They were so excited! They started to celebrate! You know when it’s the tournament final and everyone celebrates when their team wins? That was the scene that I was witnessing! Those women were celebrating that the death of Jesus gave us direct access to God. The price for sin was paid.

This is how we should all celebrate, knowing that Jesus conquered death when He was resurrected! Jesus’ resurrection is the most important fact of Christianity (1 Co. 15:14). The resurrection is the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Old Testament, the manifestation of the things Jesus had announced to His disciples, and the confirmation that He is the Son of God.

I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. (Php. 3:10-11 NIV)

Paul was in prison when he wrote the letter to the Philippians—in prison as punishment for preaching the gospel. And even though in some moments he likely didn’t expect to survive, he invested his time in captivity writing much of what today we know as the New Testament. Even amid his difficulties, Paul shared his great desire to know Jesus and experience the power that raised our Savior out of the tomb.

The resurrection of Christ brings us hope. The evil and pain of this world are small compared to His power. And not only small, but temporary. 1 Corinthians 6:14 says, “By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.” If we want the hope of resurrection, we cannot live as if Jesus had not been resurrected—as if we were on the losing side.

Reading Romans 6 we understand that just like Jesus died and was resurrected, it is God’s will that we die to sin and live for Christ. By following Him, Jesus gives us the opportunity to resurrect to a new life; not only eternal life when we leave this earth, but starting now to enjoy communion with God and the power of the Holy Spirit to help us overcome sin.

Imagine the life of those who saw Jesus die and later resurrect. Their lives completely changed. Faith is the certainty of what we don’t see, and the resurrection of Jesus changed our lives even though we were not eyewitnesses.

The power that took down death is the same power that takes down the power of sin in our lives. May our desire be like that of Paul: to know Christ deeply and feel within us the power of His resurrection.

Written by Abby Ramirez, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in João Pessoa, Brazil

Every Sunday when we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, we meditate deeply on the sacrifice that He made for us on the cross. When we take the bread and the wine, we remember all the pain and suffering that Christ went through. His death brings us sadness, but we stay in this state of emotion for only a few moments because our Lord RESURRECTED. He defeated death and saved us. His return to life brings us immense joy and peace. His death testifies to His love and His resurrection testifies to His power.

For us, Jesus Christ’s resurrection should be of utmost importance, even more to be celebrated than His death. It’s a fact that Jesus died and His body was resurrected on the third day. Let’s consider together what this event means for us.

In Philippians 3:10 (NIV), Paul writes about the power of Jesus’ resurrection, “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.”

Paul had different personal experiences with our Lord Jesus in his life of mission. The apostle lived to preach the gospel, and his understanding of the resurrection was deep. In this verse, Paul expresses his desire to know Jesus. To know our Lord goes beyond knowing about His historical life and teachings. To thoroughly know Jesus means to believe in the power of His resurrection.

Jesus defeated death, and this lets us experience the power of this sacrifice by participating in His suffering. Romans 6:5 says, “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.”

If we believe the gospel, we will put Him on in baptism, buried in the water, and resurrected to eternal life, knowing that our life will not end with death, but we will be resurrected like Him in a glorified body when He returns.

Jesus says in John 11:25-26, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” The resurrection of Jesus powerfully demonstrates His divinity. He defeated death and showed His supernatural power. This event shows us that Christ is God.

His resurrection has the power to defeat death, which is the price of sin. When Jesus was raised from the dead, He defeated Satan and gave us the same power. Now we are no longer slaves to sin, rather we are more than conquerors in Jesus Christ.

But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. (Ro. 6:17-18)

His resurrection has the power to bless all nations without any kind of discrimination. Jews, Gentiles, and all people have access to salvation through Christ. His resurrection fulfills God’s perfect plan. The resurrection sealed the gospel and God concluded His plan of salvation for humanity.

In His wisdom, He planned it this way from the beginning and fulfilled it perfectly.

His resurrection has the power to justify us. It was the proof that the sacrifice of the cross was fulfilled and accepted. We were bought with the blood of Christ and the debt of our sin was paid in full. His resurrection has the power to give us life, which means that all of us who belong to Jesus Christ will receive the same resurrection.

Romans 6:8 says, “Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.” His resurrection has the power to comfort. It promises that our loved ones who have already died in Christ will live with Him.

Our Jesus was resurrected! He is alive! How many times a day do we remember this extraordinary fact? Do we understand the power of the resurrection of our Lord? Many Christians are still trapped in the grave without the hope of the resurrection, or only focused on the cross and the suffering. It’s good to remember and reflect on the death of our Lord Jesus, but we must not forget that He was raised. Let’s remember this important truth and consider what the power of the resurrection means for us.

Let’s tell others that Jesus defeated death. His body did not remain in the grave. Therefore, our faith should be based in this great truth of the resurrection. His resurrection was seen and testified by many. The resurrection of Christ gives meaning to our Christian life, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:14, “And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.”

Let us rejoice in His resurrection!