This is the sixth (and final) post in our series about the truth of Easter from Acts 2. Peter speaks clearly about the resurrection and why it is essential to Christianity. What we learn about the resurrection from Acts 2. To do so, each point will fill out the acronym “R.A.I.S.E.D.”

"R" Really Dead

"A" Always the Plan

"I" Impossible for death to hold him

"S" SCRIPTURE affirms the resurrection v.25

"E" EVERYBODY saw him 13:30

"D" DOMINION of Christ

Jesus is reigning. He is king. In order to reign as king he must be alive. Verse 34, “David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says 'The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool."

Imagine a kingdom where there was a king who reigned as a tyrant for many long years. He had no patience or mercy for anyone who crossed him or his decrees. For all the years that he reigned on the throne there was great fear of him which resulted in people doing whatever he said. But once he died the people no longer lived in fear. The people could go about in freedom-- he was no longer was reigning and able to exert authority over them. Death ends the reign of a king. But for Jesus, death actually ushered forth his reign because he rose from the dead. One day he will return and demonstrate his reign fully to all the earth for all eternity.

No picture of Jesus is correct without having him as presently alive. At the cross he conquered sin and death and his work was finished. He rose from the dead, appeared for a period of 40 days, ascended into heaven, and now is seated at the right hand of God and is going to return and finally judge all things. To be reigning means you are alive.

The death of Christ, accomplished by sinful men was human’s rejection to God’s provision of a Savior and basically said, “no, not him” we will kill him to keep him from being our king- we have no king but caesar. The resurrection is God’s resounding response that says, “Yes, I accept him and I chose him to make the payment of his death for sin and I crown him with glory. He is my chosen one, my only one to accomplish my good plan of redemption to glorify myself.

Jesus went before us into the grave and rose from the dead-- Because Jesus rose from the dead he now leads many sons to glory with him.

To end today, we could see another “d” at the end-- decision. The people who heard Peter asked in verse 37, “what shall we do?” His response: Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. In order to have God in us, God with us by the Spirit it was necessary that Christ rise from the dead and for someone to believe in him to receive new life. Do you believe in Jesus? Have you trusted in him and desire to follow him?

The resurrection changes everything-- it provides a way for sinful men and women to be shown that Jesus has conquered death and provides a way for us to have new life. May this Easter be the day where you start to follow this reigning Savior who has been “RAISED.”