He Went Out Conquering and to Conquer – Feast of the Resurrection Sermon
In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, One God. Amen.
May the blessing of the Father who calls us and His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ who saves us, and the Holy Spirit who sanctifies and transforms us be with us all, that we may hear His word and bear fruit—thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold. Amen.
Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!
Today, we celebrate not merely an event of the past, but the unshakable victory of Christ that fills all time and transforms all creation.
Indeed, as it is written, “He went out conquering and to conquer” (Revelation 6:2).
The Resurrection is the Feast of Victory—victory over death, over sin, over the devil, and over the fallen world.
Victory Over Death
Death entered the world through sin. God had warned Adam:
“In the day that you eat of it, you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:17)
But through disobedience, Adam plucked for himself and all humanity the bitter fruit of death.
As St. Paul teaches:
“Death spread to all men, because all sinned.” (Romans 5:12)
Death reigned over mankind like a dark tyrant. We were, as Scripture says,
“Dead in trespasses.” (Ephesians 2:1)
Yet Christ, by His death and resurrection, trampled down death by death. As we chant in the Paschal hymn:
“By His death, He trampled death, and to those in the tombs, He granted eternal life.”
St. Athanasius boldly proclaims:
“By dying, He slew death.” (On the Incarnation, 27)
And St. Cyril of Alexandria teaches:
“He was made a curse for us that He might undo the curse, and by death destroy death.” (Commentary on John, Book 12)
Thus, death no longer holds dominion over the believer. We cry out with St. Paul:
“O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55)
As we pray in the Litany of the Departed:
“For there is no death for Your servants, but a departure.”
Victory Over Sin
The sting of death is sin. Sin separates man from the Source of life, light, and holiness. Without Christ, man stumbled in darkness, enslaved to passions he could not overcome.
St. Paul laments:
“I am carnal, sold under sin.” (Romans 7:14)
But Christ, the Sinless One, bore our sins upon the Cross and shattered the chains of our bondage. As it is written:
“He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” (Hebrews 9:26)
St. John Chrysostom reminds us:
“He took upon Himself our curse and became sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” (Homilies on 2 Corinthians)
Through His Resurrection, the power of sin is broken.
As St. Paul teaches:
“The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2)
Yet sin still separates man from God. Repentance is the bridge that returns us to life.
As the father declared in the parable:
“For this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” (Luke 15:24)
Victory Over the Devil
The devil, through envy and deceit, entrapped mankind in the Fall.
But the Son of God appeared to destroy the works of the devil.
As St. John writes:
“For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8)
Christ accepted temptation and triumphed. He crushed Satan’s power, fulfilling the ancient prophecy:
“He shall bruise your head.” (Genesis 3:15)
St. Irenaeus explains:
“He fought and conquered: for He was made man to contend with the devil, and by His obedience, He rescued what was lost by disobedience.” (Against Heresies, Book 5)
Our Lord’s glorious Resurrection crowned this victory—Satan’s reign has been broken forever.
Victory Over the World
This world lies under the sway of the evil one (1 John 5:19). It dazzles with false promises but perishes with fleeting pleasures.
Yet Christ’s Resurrection grants us true peace—not as the world gives.
As the Lord said:
“In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
St. Augustine reminds us:
“The Resurrection of Christ is our hope. It is a victory not only over death, but over the fears and attachments of this passing world.” (Sermon 231)
Therefore, we are in the world but not of the world. We have been lifted up with Christ:
As St. Paul writes:
“Raised up together, and made to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:6)
Conclusion: Let Us Rejoice!
Let us rejoice and be glad in the Lord!
Today, we stand not as captives but as conquerors in Christ.
Let us rejoice, for by His Cross and Resurrection, Christ has given us:
- Victory over death — so we may live eternally.
- Victory over sin — so we may walk in holiness.
- Victory over the devil — so we may stand fearless.
- Victory over the world — so we may cling to the eternal.
Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!
May the Lord bless us, transform our hearts and minds, that our homes may stand on the Rock, our hands serve in the harvest, and our hearts long for Heaven. Amen.