Resurrection Horizons

Whether it’s smoke signals, the discovery of longitude, or the incredible precision necessary for space travel, human history has been defined and expanded in relation to horizons.

The epistle to the Romans begins with:

“The gospel… regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 1:2–4, NIV)

This is the Personhood of Jesus Christ—the mystery of perfect God and perfect Man. The word translated as “appointed” or “declared” is horízō, from which our word horizons is derived. It means to mark out, like a boundary line. It carries the image of a surveyor marking off a lot and declaring, “Here are the boundaries of this property—no question.” It’s a word of clarity, not ambiguity.

When we examine the horizons of the person and work of Jesus Christ, we find a perfect man, descended from King David—one who fully entered into all that it means to be human, in every way, yet without sin. This is why He could die in our place: God’s perfect sacrifice for sin.

In the resurrection from the dead, we discover the unlimited horizons of who He truly is—the Son of God, able to bring salvation to humanity and the promise of eternal life.

As exhilarating as it is to gaze at the endless horizons at sea, from the vantage point of a mountaintop, across the vast stretches of the Sonoran Desert at sunset, or—as experienced by a select few—from space back toward Earth, the Bible says to each of us:

“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”

This is how you will truly expand your horizons.