How do you interpret the meaning of this sentence: "Christ lives."

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   Perspycaciousposted 10 years ago

   How do you interpret the meaning of this sentence:  "Christ lives."
   
   There seems to be an unnecessary religious debate that centers on the statement "Christ lives."
   I maintain that it is unnecessary due to the number of scriptures which (1) indicate that He does, (2) that He appeared to His disciples in a touchable body after His resurrection, and (3) the assertion attributed to Stephen that he saw Christ sitting on the right hand of God.
   There are others as well, and you can probably quote some of them, including Christ's statement that if His disciples had seen Him, they had also seen His Father.
   Given these considerations, what does the sentence mean to you?

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   Ericdierkerposted 10 years ago

   Demas,
   There is an evidence rule that allows a person to testify as to their own medical condition. Normally this would be reserved for "experts" with Phd's and MDs. But it is the human experience that we can competently testify in court to matters of our own health even though we do not have the medical expertise to actually diagnose and determine medical conditions.
   It is my thought that we can give testimony also about our spiritual status. Even though we do not have doctorates in theology or are ordained. I believe I am competent to testify that Jesus lives in me. I have never known it any other way. I feel His love and guidance and gentleness all about me. I am aware of His embrace and affection.
   So to me Jesus lives.
   I heard a grumpy old man once say: "my sister is dead to me". I perfectly well understood his meaning. And I get the feeling that he expressed. We understand this notion. So I say we also understand the notion that Jesus is alive to us who believe. He lives in our heart and minds and our every breath.
   The concept that Jesus is God tells us that He is omnipresent. This clearly entails that He is without end. He cannot die, God does not die.
   Allegations, assertions, testimony and the like about his physical existence after resurrection are of great importance to me. But I have never considered them to have to be accepted in order to know that Jesus lives.
   Maybe some cannot see, feel, smell or hear Him but I can and nobody can rightfully say that I cannot.

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   1. 68

      Perspycaciousposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Good statement of personal belief.  Shorter answers and comments are welcomed too.

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      connorjposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I was going to answer this; however, Eric has written an excellent answer that speaks so profoundly it is not necessary for me to contribute. Bravo!

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      Monique Kaibatposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Amen! Jesus Christ lives in us who believe in Him. We can feel His presence, experience the love of the Father, and feel His power and guidance through the divine intervention of the Holy Spirit .
      Emmanuel!

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   4. 61

      Rich kelleyposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      If a man dies and then lives there is hope for us, because that is what Christ the man, the Son of God did. God has not died for us but His Son Jesus did. Because He died and God raised Him from the dead we have hope in living as Christ after death.

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      Norine Williamsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      @Rich: What does "manifested in the flesh" mean?  I Timothy 3:16! 
      
      Can you explain this verse to me?

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   MizBejabbersposted 10 years ago

   I don't engage in meaningless scriptural debates with people as to whether "Christ Lives" or not. It is a spiritual belief older than Christianity that there is a Christ, he is, was, and always will be. The Christ is part of the Universe and unless the Universe is destroyed (I doubt that would be possible) Christ will always live in the heavens and in the hearts of people who allow him to.
   I use the gender word "him" because c. 2,000 years ago, Christ chose to walk this earth as a man. Our human bodies are male and female and although his body was transformed at resurrection, it became no longer flesh and blood but a spiritual body. When Christ returns, and I have faith that Christ will, what if the spirit chooses to return as a female? It is possible. I realize the idea of God having a daughter is repulsive to most men, but our Father/Mother God can do anything.

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   1. 68

      Perspycaciousposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Just some random thoughts:  (1) in the Garden outside the tomb Christ said "touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father; (2) later He told Thomas to touch Him and believe; (3) He also said He would send a Comforter to remind His disciples..

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   Rich kelleyposted 10 years ago

   I cannot think of a disciple of Christ having a problem with the phrase “Christ lives”. The below verses from Romans 6:10-11 speak to why Christ lived.
   
   “For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that HE LIVES, HE LIVES to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
   
   The below verse from Galatians 2:20 should speak to the results of Christ living in our lives.
   
   “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but CHRIST LIVES in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. “
   
   The statement “Christ Lives” brings to mind an old Bill Gaither song “Because He Lives”. The chorus verse is bellow.
   
   Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
   Because He lives, all fear is gone;
   Because I know He holds the future,
   And life is worth the living,
   Just because He lives!
   
   If we live our lives as though He does live, perhaps it will be the testimony that it should be.

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      Perspycaciousposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Another random thought:  at the last supper Jesus said "But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."  (Matthew 26:29)

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   Norine Williamsposted 10 years ago

   It means "precisely" what Jesus said in John 14:26 "But the Comforter, who is the Holy Spirit, whom THE FATHER WILL SEND "IN MY NAME (JESUS)," he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said unto you." 
   
   If Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would be sent IN HIS NAME (Jesus Christ), His Word  "confirms" that "Christ lives!"

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