Weekend Sermon -- Easter

 Christ Is Risen!

He Is Risen Indeed!

     Thank you for taking the time to read the message for Easter. I hope that you are all well.

     Today we celebrate the glorious resurrection of Jesus. Jesus was crucified and died for our sins on Good Friday. He was in the grave for three days, and on Easter Sunday morning, He rose bodily from the grave defeating death, hell and the grave once and for all. 

     For our Easter message today, I want us to focus on the fact that since Jesus has been raised from the dead, those of us who are in Christ will one day rise and receive a glorified body like unto the risen body of the Lord Jesus. 

     Those who pass away before the coming of the Lord go to be with Him in the place that He has prepared for us in Heaven. We know this because the Bible tells us to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. 

     The Bible also makes it clear that one day, we will receive a glorified body like the glorified body of the Lord Jesus when He rose from the grave. We read this is Philippians 3:21 that states, "Who shall change our vile body, that it might be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself."

     Because Jesus is risen, all believers will receive a glorified body that is free from the hardship and decay that is part of our current body. Paul tells us a lot about this in I Corinthians 15. Beginning at verse 50, Paul tells us that when Jesus returns in His Second Advent, those who are already with Him and those who are left on the earth will instantaneously receive a glorified body. Our new bodies, according to Paul, will never perish. They will never wear out. We will have a powerful body that is fashioned for us by the Lord so that we can live with Him forever when He comes to rule and reign upon the earth. 

     We know that since we will have a glorified body like the risen Lord that certain things are true. Those who knew Jesus recognized Him. So, we know that we will be able to recognize one another in the glorified state. Jesus' body was substantial. He was able to be touched by Mary and by Thomas. Ours will be as well. Jesus was able to go through material substances. We see this in John 20:19. His body was the same yet different. Ours will be that way as well because we will be transformed by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

     Jesus died on the cross and bore our sins so that our sins could be forgiven. Sin was dealt with on the cross, and the consequences of sin were dealt with at the resurrection. Death has been defeated. 

     Lets consider what all of this really means. Those who have put their faith and trust in the crucified and risen Lord do not need to fear death. When we die, we go immediately to be with Jesus. Those of us in Christ plagued by bodies that have caused us pain will one day receive a body of health and vitality freed from pain and illness. We never have to worry about anything harming us, and we need not worry about passing away. 

     Because Jesus Christ is risen, we shall rise. We will be reunited forever and forever with those whom we have loved on this earth. All creation shall be restored. 

     None of this is possible because of anything that anyone of us has done. It is only possible because of what the second Adam the Lord Jesus Christ has done for us. Through Adam, sin and death came. Through Jesus, we have redemption and eternal life. 

     You can have eternal life through Jesus. He has made it available to everyone everywhere. He calls on you to turn from sin and ask Him for forgiveness. Trust in Jesus as Savior and Lord believing in your heart that He has been raised from the dead, and you will be redeemed. I urge you to find new life in Jesus Christ today. Amen.

Prayer Requests

     I wanted to let you know that things are going better at work. I thank you for your prayers in this regard. 

     Let us all pray that many will come to know Jesus during this Easter season. Let us pray for those in Bangladesh and Turkmenistan for our prayer focus countries this week. 

     Keep praying for peace in the world. Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, Libya, Haiti, Sudan, Syria and Yemen all need our prayers right now. 

     Pray concerning the bridge collapse in Baltimore. Pray that God will comfort those who lost loved ones. Pray that shipping can be restored soon. 

     Next week, we will get back to our series on the names of God. I will post the verses on Monday. I will post the final installment of the Minor Prophets book midweek. May God bless you all.