__The resurrection doesn't just change your standing with God.  
It changes everything.__   
Have you ever wondered why it's important that Jesus didn't just die on the cross but also rose again? In fifty brief chapters, Risen answers your questions and offers faith-filled meditations on the resurrection, taking these ancient truths and applying them to contemporary life. With compelling insight, Steven Mathewson shows not only why Jesus had to die but why his resurrection was necessary--and how our lives change when we understand and embrace this essential truth of the Christian faith.

Steven D. Mathewson (DMin, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary) is senior pastor of the Evangelical Free Church of Libertyville, Illinois. He is an adjunct faculty member at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Moody Bible Institute and also teaches in the Doctor of Ministry program at Denver Seminary. The author of The Art of Preaching Old Testament Narrative, which received the Christianity Today merit award and the Preaching magazine Book of the Year award, Mathewson lives in Illinois.

What would happen if believers truly grasped how the resurrection of Jesus changes not just their own standing with God, but that it changes everything? In the spirit of John Piper's Fifty Reasons Why Christ Came to Die, Steven D. Mathewson unpacks the New Testament Scriptures that speak of the reasons Jesus was raised from the dead.  
  
In fifty brief chapters, he offers readers faith-filled meditations on the primary passages on the resurrection, taking these ancient truths and applying them to contemporary life. With compelling insight, he shows why Jesus not only had to die, but why his resurrection was necessary and how our lives change when we understand and embrace this essential truth of the Christian faith.

Pastor offers fifty brief but powerful reflections on why Jesus was raised from the dead and how that can transform every aspect of your life.

Mathewson, Steven D.

Cover

Title Page

Copyright Page

Endorsements

Dedication

Foreword

Introduction

1 To Give Us Eternal Life

2 To Show His Power over Death

3 To Heal Us

4 To Receive the Blessings Promised to David

5 To Forgive Our Sins

6 To Elevate His Power and Authority

7 To Justify Sinners

8 To Give Us a New Way to Live

9 To Unite Us with Him in His Resurrection

10 To Make Us Fruitful

11 To Give Life to Our Mortal Bodies

12 To End Our Obligation to the Flesh

13 To Provide Us with Future Glory

14 To Set Creation Free from Its Bondage

15 To Adopt Us into God’s Family

16 To Intercede for Us at God’s Right Hand

17 To Fulfill the Scriptures

18 To Make Our Faith and Preaching Worthwhile

19 To Guarantee Our Future Resurrection

20 To Destroy All Other Powers through His Reign

21 To Destroy the Enemy of Death

22 To Give Us a Reason to Endanger Our Lives

23 To Deliver Us from Self-Indulgence

24 To Give Us Heavenly, Imperishable Bodies

25 To Clothe Us with His Image

26 To Give Us Immortality

27 To Overcome the Power of the Law

28 To Make Serving the Lord Worthwhile

29 To Give Us Hope in Hard Times

30 To Give Us a Greater Purpose in Life

31 To Let Us Experience God’s Mighty Power

32 To Display God’s Amazing Grace

33 To Bring Victory into Our Intimacy with Him

34 To Make Us Full in Him

35 To Reorient Our Desires

36 To Let Us Appear with Him in Glory

37 To Enable Us to Kill Our Old Way of Life

38 To Rescue Us from Coming Wrath

39 To Serve as Our Eternal Shepherd

40 To Give Us New Birth into a Living Hope

41 To Glorify the Lamb of God

42 To Show That Death Does Not Stop Us from Living

43 To Confirm His Words about Being Raised to Life

44 To Continue the Mission of God

45 To Share His Presence with His Followers until His Return

46 To Teach More about the Kingdom of God

47 To Prove God’s Commitment to Justice

48 To Make Possible the Judgment of the Wicked

49 To Give Him Complete Supremacy

50 To Provide Life in the Unfiltered Presence of God

Conclusion

For Further Reading

An Eight-Week Small Group Bible Study

Acknowledgments

Notes

About the Author

Back Cover

What would happen if believers truly grasped how the resurrection of Jesus changes not just their own standing with God, but that it changes everything? In the spirit of John Piper'sFifty Reasons Why Christ Came to Die, Steven D. Mathewson unpacks the New Testament Scriptures that speak of the reasons Jesus was raised from the dead.  
  
In fifty brief chapters, he offers readers faith-filled meditations on the primary passages on the resurrection, taking these ancient truths and applying them to contemporary life. With compelling insight, he shows why Jesus not only had to die, but why his resurrection was necessary and how our lives change when we understand and embrace this essential truth of the Christian faith.

Ideal Easter devotional with 50 short chapters putting the crucifixion back into perspective.

1\. To Give Us Eternal Life: John 11:25–27  
2\. To Show His Power over Death: Acts 2:24; Romans 6:9  
3\. To Heal Us: Acts 4:10  
4\. To Receive the Blessings Promised to David: Acts 13:34  
5\. To Forgive Our Sins: Acts 13:37–38; 1 Corinthians 15:17  
6\. To Elevate His Power and Authority: Romans 1:4  
7\. To Justify Sinners: Romans 4:23–25; Acts 13:39  
8\. To Give Us a New Way to Live: Romans 6:4, 8–11  
9\. To Unite Us with Him in His Resurrection: Romans 6:5–8  
10\. To Make Us Fruitful: Romans 7:4  
11\. To Give Life to Our Mortal Bodies: Romans 8:11  
12\. To End Our Obligation to the Flesh: Romans 8:12–13  
13\. To Provide Us with Future Glory: Romans 8:18  
14\. To Set Creation Free from Its Bondage: Romans 8:21–22  
15\. To Adopt Us into God’s Family: Romans 8:23  
16\. To Intercede for Us at God’s Right Hand: Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:23–25  
17\. To Fulfill the Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 15:4; Luke 24:44–47  
18\. To Make Our Faith and Preaching Worthwhile: 1 Corinthians 15:14–15  
19\. To Guarantee Our Future Resurrection: 1 Corinthians 15:20–23; 1 Thessalonians 4:14  
20\. To Destroy All Other Powers through His Reign: 1 Corinthians 15:24–27  
21\. To Destroy the Enemy of Death: 1 Corinthians 15:26, 54–57; Luke 20:36  
22\. To Give Us a Reason to Endanger Our Lives: 1 Corinthians 15:30–31  
23\. To Deliver Us from Self-Indulgence: 1 Corinthians 15:32  
24\. To Give Us Heavenly, Imperishable Bodies: 1 Corinthians 15:42–48   
25\. To Clothe Us with His Image: 1 Corinthians 15:49  
26\. To Give Us Immortality: 1 Corinthians 15:53  
27\. To Overcome the Power of the Law: 1 Corinthians 15:56–57  
28\. To Make Serving the Lord Worthwhile: 1 Corinthians 15:58  
29\. To Give Us Hope in Hard Times: 2 Corinthians 1:8–11  
30\. To Give Us a Greater Purpose in Life: 2 Corinthians 5:15  
31\. To Let Us Experience God’s Mighty Power: Ephesians 1:18–20  
32\. To Display God’s Amazing Grace: Ephesians 2:6–7  
33\. To Bring Victory into Our Intimacy with Him: Philippians 3:10–11  
34\. To Make Us Full in Him: Colossians 2:9–12  
35\. To Reorient Our Desires: Colossians 3:1–2  
36\. To Let Us Appear with Him in Glory: Colossians 3:4; Acts 1:11  
37\. To Enable Us to Kill Our Old Way of Life: Colossians 3:5–10  
38\. To Rescue Us from Coming Wrath: 1 Thessalonians 1:10  
39\. To Serve as Our Eternal Shepherd: Hebrews 13:20; Revelation 7:17  
40\. To Give Us New Birth into a Living Hope: 1 Peter 1:3; Acts 23:6; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–14  
41\. To Glorify the Lamb of God: 1 Peter 1:18–21; Acts 3:13–15  
42\. To Show That Death Does Not Stop Us from Living: Matthew 22:30–32; Romans 14:9  
43\. To Confirm His Words about Being Raised to Life: Matthew 28:5–7  
44\. To Continue the Mission of God: Matthew 28:18–20  
45\. To Share His Presence with His Followers until His Return: Matthew 28:20  
46\. To Teach More about the Kingdom of God: Acts 1:3  
47\. To Prove God’s Commitment to Justice: Acts 17:31  
48\. To Make Possible the Judgment of the Wicked: John 5:28–30; Acts 24:15; Revelation 20:11–15  
49\. To Give Him Complete Supremacy: Colossians 1:18; Revelation 1:4–5  
50\. To Provide Life in the Unfiltered Presence of God: Revelation 21:3–4, 22; 22:1  
  
Conclusion: A Final Question and a Tremendous Story  
For Further Reading  
An Eight-Week Small Group Bible Study

‘Risen’ is a daily devotional book that puts the crucifixion back into perspective – an absolutely incredible event that’s changed EVERYTHING.

Steven Matthewson, respected pastor and scholar, carefully unpacks why the resurrection is worth more than a yearly celebration; it deserves our every thought as the amazing foundation of Christian life. Written in 50 brief chapters, each focusing on a single impact the resurrection has on you. With theological clout and engaging narrative, this insightful book speaks directly into contemporary life.

An ideal post-Easter devotional (set against the backdrop of the Pentecost) or as an alternative devotional over Lent, ‘Risen’ will reconnect your daily life with the absolute power and far-reaching implications of the empty cross.

"Isn't it an odd thing--that the death of Jesus gets far more attention than the resurrection of Jesus? But Steven Mathewson, pastor and scholar, is doing something about it. He has prepared an extensive immersion, fifty days through the season of Pentecost, in prayer meditation on Jesus's resurrection. Join him on this Emmaus Road resurrection conversation."--Eugene Peterson, Professor Emeritus of Spiritual Theology, Regent College  
  
"I just love good books on the resurrection of Jesus Christ! But so few of these texts ever take the time to carefully unpack exactly why this event is so absolutely incredible, or how it grounds virtually everything in the Christian life. However, Steve Mathewson's volume Risen: 50 Reasons Why the Resurrection Changed Everything remedies all that. The minute I saw it, I thought that this is exactly what we need. In fact, in the middle of a busy day I immediately dropped everything and studied the entire book in just a couple of hours. It is a very enlightening and rewarding read! I recommend it without hesitation."--Gary R. Habermas, Distinguished Research Professor, Liberty University and Theological Seminary  
  
"Without the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, our faith would be futile. I'm so grateful to Steve Mathewson for surveying God's Word to find fifty reasons for great celebration that Jesus was indeed raised to life on the third day. These reflections will deepen your faith in the God who still performs miracles, especially saving sinners from the death we deserved."--Collin Hansen, editorial director, The Gospel Coalition; co-author, A God-Sized Vision: Revival Stories That Stretch and Stir  
  
"The resurrection of Jesus is God's signed receipt that the death of Jesus is full payment for our sins. Yet, it means much, much more. Steve Mathewson has written a book of reflections on that momentous event that will leave you shouting, 'Jesus Christ has risen and what a difference that makes!'"-- Haddon Robinson, Harold John Ockenga Professor of Preaching, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary; teacher on the Discover the Word radio program

"For too many Christians, resurrection is little more than a footnote to the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, merely confirming that at Calvary the debt of sin was paid in full. Steve Mathewson has done us a great favor with his series of fifty expositions to lead us into the magnificent depths of this essential doctrine. As you work slowly and carefully through the mediations, you will understand why the Church has always asserted that the resurrection of Jesus Christ changes everything!"--Gerry Breshears, professor of theology, Western Seminary (Portland); co-author of Vintage Jesus and Doctrine: What Christians Should Believe

"A thought-provoking, spirit-stimulating exploration of a stunning--but strangely undervalued--reality. Steve's book isn't just for Easter. It's for life."--Barry Cooper, author and presenter of Discipleship Explored; co-author of Christianity Explored

"The power and purposes of Christ are wonderfully declared on every page of this book. Each chapter thoughtfully evokes and invites you to worship Jesus."--Pamela MacRae, assistant professor, Pastoral Studies Department, Moody Bible Institute

The Good Book Stall

I devoured this book in just a few hours. However, the author's intention is that the fifty short chapters should be read at the rate of one reading a day. And he suggests that a good day to start would be on Easter Sunday. Anyone doing this will arrive at the last chapter on Pentecost Sunday. I plan to do this next Easter!

Steven has a real gift for making a complex subject easy to understand. As I read some of the chapters I felt that light-bulbs were clicking on in my mind. His enthusiasm for the subject lights up every page.

This is an important book, because for many people Jesus' Resurrection is just a footnote to His death on the Cross for our sins. But as you read these meditations you will clearly understand how the Resurrection changes everything and has a powerful impact on our lives now and throughout eternity. I can wholeheartedly recommend this book.

Risen

Risen [eBook]

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