I know what you're thinking, it's not anywhere close to Easter right now. But this past week at seminary opened my eyes to some facts I was not aware of. As we studied church history and moved into the modern and post-modern age, the Resurrection of Christ was starting to become an optional belief for some Christians. What struck me even more was the fact that even some seminaries throughout the nation and the world had professors that didn't even believe the Resurrection actually took place. What?!?!?!? How can you claim to be a follower of Christ and not believe in the Resurrection? Apparently, some, citing reason and scientific provability, claim that its not essential to believe that the Resurrection actually happened.
Well, I stand here today in stark contrast declaring that it does matter, and there is no negotiating about it. Christ's resurrection from the grave is what completes our faith. Without His resurrection He would have been nothing more than another prophet with good ideas to live by. Without His Resurrection our faith would be nothing. But He was anything but another prophet, He was God in the flesh.
In 1 Corinthians 15:16–19, Paul writes " For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; ayou are still in your sins. Then those also who ahave fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are aof all men most to be pitied."
Jesus did not come just for this life, He came to save our souls our souls in the next. If He had not resurrected, we would have no hope. But praise be to God Almighty that Jesus Christ did rise from the dead. Before He was led to the Cross, Jesus said this about His life, "No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."
Yes, it sounds unbelievable that someone could have that kind of power. But we are talking about Almighty God. His ways are so beyond our comprehension that no amount of reason or science would ever be able to understand it. And that is why we call it faith. Those who belong to Christ Jesus know that He is alive and seated at the right hand of the Father. Why? Because He lives in every person who receives His gift of Salvation.
Finally, I think the Resurrection of Jesus is something we need to take a moment and think about. So often we sings songs about His sacrifice and dying on the Cross that I think the power of His Resurrection gets overlooked. When he died on that Cross, it was only the beginning. Unbeknownst to everyone, He went down into hell and 3 days later he rose out of it, leaving satan screaming in defeat as Christ had taken the keys of death. Then He rolled away the stone. And that is the ultimate victory that we as followers of Christ can trust in. Because when He took His life back up, death no longer had power over us. Eternal life awaits for those who confess Jesus is their Lord and Savior. The Christian faith is not the easy road and there will still be bumps and we may still trip and fall, but the difference is that through the power of Christ, we are able to get back up and continue on our journey towards becoming more like Him. Amen.
-Shane
Well, I stand here today in stark contrast declaring that it does matter, and there is no negotiating about it. Christ's resurrection from the grave is what completes our faith. Without His resurrection He would have been nothing more than another prophet with good ideas to live by. Without His Resurrection our faith would be nothing. But He was anything but another prophet, He was God in the flesh.
In 1 Corinthians 15:16–19, Paul writes " For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; ayou are still in your sins. Then those also who ahave fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are aof all men most to be pitied."
Jesus did not come just for this life, He came to save our souls our souls in the next. If He had not resurrected, we would have no hope. But praise be to God Almighty that Jesus Christ did rise from the dead. Before He was led to the Cross, Jesus said this about His life, "No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."
Yes, it sounds unbelievable that someone could have that kind of power. But we are talking about Almighty God. His ways are so beyond our comprehension that no amount of reason or science would ever be able to understand it. And that is why we call it faith. Those who belong to Christ Jesus know that He is alive and seated at the right hand of the Father. Why? Because He lives in every person who receives His gift of Salvation.
Finally, I think the Resurrection of Jesus is something we need to take a moment and think about. So often we sings songs about His sacrifice and dying on the Cross that I think the power of His Resurrection gets overlooked. When he died on that Cross, it was only the beginning. Unbeknownst to everyone, He went down into hell and 3 days later he rose out of it, leaving satan screaming in defeat as Christ had taken the keys of death. Then He rolled away the stone. And that is the ultimate victory that we as followers of Christ can trust in. Because when He took His life back up, death no longer had power over us. Eternal life awaits for those who confess Jesus is their Lord and Savior. The Christian faith is not the easy road and there will still be bumps and we may still trip and fall, but the difference is that through the power of Christ, we are able to get back up and continue on our journey towards becoming more like Him. Amen.
-Shane
