He is Risen!

The Heart of the Christian Faith is the Resurrection! The Christian faith is based upon an event and that event is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As Paul said in his letter to the Philippians, "All I want is to know Christ and to experience the power of his resurrection." (Phil. 3:10) Why was the resurrection so important to Paul. Because he knew that everything hinged on the fact and the power of this event. Paul understood the following facts very well.

Through his death on the cross, Jesus defeated sin. Through his resurrection, Jesus defeated death.

"Death is swallowed up in victory.

O death, where is your victory?

O death, where is your sting?...

But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Paul, 1 Corinthians 15:54-57) I am so glad to know that not only are my sins are forgiven, but that I no longer have to fear death. Both have been defeated by Christ!

The resurrection also proves that God is in control. The Romans along with the Jewish leaders and the Devil himself thought they had silenced Jesus through his crucifixion and death. But God always has the last word. God is always in control. The resurrection means that God's mighty power is always available to you and to me as well. Bad things and problems do not have the last word in our lives. With Christ as our Risen Savior, God has the last word. No matter what...

"I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead ... (Ephesians 1:19-20).

And the resurrection means that God always keeps his promises. In Luke 24 5-7, we read these words about the resurrection event. The women who arrived that first Easter morning to discover an empty tomb were met by two angels who said these words to them:

"Why are you looking among the dead for one who is alive? He isn't here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day."

Jesus predicted his own death and resurrection! He promised he would rise again! This is great news for you and me, because it means that we can rely on all the promises God made to us in the Bible. The promises are many and the two most important ones are these: through the cross of Christ, we are forgiven of our sins and invited into a relationship with God the Father through His Son, Jesus! And through the resurrection of Christ, we are granted the power to live victorious in this life and to live forever with our Lord in heaven in the life to come!

Have an exciting and Happy Easter as you celebrate our risen Savior!