Grace For The Journey

Yesterday we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ – something we do every every week and not just once a year.  The world calls it “Easter Sunday,” but we call it “Resurrection Sunday.”  We believe it is the most significant event the world has ever known or heard about.   With over 6,000 years of human history, how is it possible to pick the single most-important event ever?  Beginning at the dawn of creation and continuing until now, mankind has consistently made discoveries, inventions, and technological advances of every kind.   We have seen the rise and fall of empires, the success and failures of geniuses, and how the impact one courageous person can have on the course of history.  Yet . . .

One solitary event stands above them all.

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is unique for many reasons, most notably because we could not be saved without it. His Resurrection is the guarantee for our eternal glory.

When we examine the summary of the Gospel given by the inspired New Testament authors, we see them consistently mentioning three things in every sermon: the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

It is declared clearly and concisely in the Bible where it says, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 – “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures …” 

The Gospel cannot exist without all three of those elements, yet Paul continues, “And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!” (verse 14)  This and many other passages make it very clear that the resurrection is of utmost importance event in the history of the world and has always been a central part of the Gospel.

So, why do so many preachers and evangelists skip over the Resurrection, choosing only to focus on it one Sunday out of the year?  And how much do you personally know about the Greatest Event in History?

In today’s blog I want to share some thoughts on the resurrection and why it is the greatest event in the history of the world!  We must never underestimate the importance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The world believes that Jesus died, but the world is not so sure that He arose from the dead.  Peter’s message at Pentecost emphasized the Resurrection.  In fact, it is emphasized throughout the Book of Acts. What is the significance of the Resurrection?

1) It proves that Jesus is God’s Son.  Jesus stated that He had authority to lay down His life and to take it up again (John 10:17-18).  If He didn’t, He would still be in the grave!

2) It verifies the truth of Scripture.  Both in the Old Testament and in the teaching of Jesus, His resurrection is clearly taught (see Psalms 16:10; 110:1).  If Jesus had not come out of the tomb, then these Scriptures would not be true.

3) It assures our own future resurrection.  Because Jesus died and rose again, we shall one day be raised to be like Him (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).  In fact, the entire structure of the Christian faith rests on the foundation of the Resurrection.  If we do away with His resurrection, we have no hope.

4) It is the proof of a future judgment.  The Bible declares in Acts 17:31, “Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man who He has ordained; whereof He has given assurance unto all men, in that He has raised Him from the dead.”

5) It is the basis for Christ’s heavenly priesthood.  Because He lives by the power of an endless life, He is able to save us “to the uttermost” (Hebrews 7:23-28).  He lives to intercede for us.

6) It gives power for Christian living.  We cannot live for God by our own strength.  It is only as His resurrection power works in and through us that we can do His will and glorify His name (see Romans 6:4).

7) It assures our future inheritance.

Because we have a living hope,

We can experience hopeful living.

A dead hope grows weaker and weaker before it eventually dies.  But because Jesus Christ is alive, we have a glorious future (see 1 Peter 1:3-5).

Whenever God’s people gather on the Lord’s Day they bear witness that Jesus is alive and that the church has received spiritual blessings.

I think the most wonderful thing about the resurrection

Is that you and I can come to know the risen Savior personally,

And in so doing we receive redemption,

Forgiveness, and a future eternal home in heaven.

Sadly, the message of the resurrection of our Lord is missing in a lot of sermons today! From the writings of one of the most beloved preachers in history, we discover that this is not a new problem.  Over a hundred and fifty years ago, Charles Spurgeon made this comment regarding the resurrection: “Reflecting, the other day, on the sad state of the churches at the present time, I was led to look back to apostolic times … the main difference I observed was in the subject of their preaching.  I was surprised when I discovered that the very staple of the preaching of the apostles was the resurrection of the dead! … I was surprised to find that I had not been copying the apostolic fashion half as nearly as I might have done.  The apostles, when they preached, always testified concerning the resurrection of Jesus and the consequent resurrection of the dead.  It appears that the Alpha and the Omega of their gospel was the testimony that Jesus Christ died and rose again from the dead according to the Scriptures.” Charles Haddon Spurgeon, February 17, 1856.

The resurrection should be the subject and substance that all our messages and lessons are built upon.  The resurrection of Jesus Christ provides the opportunity to embark and continually experience a journey and life of unshakable faith?  Jesus says in John 11:25-26, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.  And whosoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.”

Those of us who know the risen Christ personally, can learn to walk in fellowship with Him throughout our journey and grow in our love and appreciation for all He is and has done for us.  It is my prayer that you will make this most significant event seriously and consider the message of the resurrection for your life, receive Him as your Savior, and that you will learn to trust Him for His strength, comfort, joy and peace in the midst of life‘s troubles, disappointments, challenges, blessings and adventures.

This is God’s Word For Today … This Is Grace For The Journey

Rest and Rejoice in this eternal truth!

Pastor Terry 

Ephesians 4:7 – “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”

Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”