It's about lives. Our lives. It's about God's unconditional love for us. That love makes everything about our lives as believers new.
It's about forgiveness. God's forgiveness of our evil (yes, the e word!) natures. We are empowered to live our lives free from condemnation and bitterness, if we accept His forgiveness, which gives us the ability to forgive others.
It's about Jesus, and what He did for us. If you're a believer, you already know. If you're not, you can be.
"But God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Jesus the Anointed One died for us."
We don't have to make ourselves acceptable; in point of fact, we cannot. If we could, then Jesus' death was for no reason.
God accepts us the way we are, warts and all, because of what Jesus did. All we have to do is believe that.
Most Christian churches make a HUGE deal of the occasion, and it IS important to remember that we serve a risen Savior.
One difference between most churches and mine was (and is) that we remember His resurrection all the time - not just once a year.
His resurrection from death is the point.
As that other Paul put it, "just as one sin (disobedience to God) resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act (Jesus' punishment and execution for mankind's sins) resulted in justification and life for all people." (Romans 5:18) We have hope precisely because Jesus overcame sin and death, took our punishment in our place, and has granted life to us.
HE IS RISEN!
The cross is shown 'empty', because Jesus isn't there any more. That's the GOOD news! |
21 comments:
Nicely said sir . . . wishing you and your family a loving, peaceful and holy Easter!
Bill
Amen. May you and your wife and daughters have a glorious day.
eiaftinfo, thank you - and may yours be equally so.
Thanks, Brigid. I hope yours is, as well.
He is risen indeed, allelujah, allelujah.
Amen, and thank you.
BP, yes!
Stephen, you're welcome.
Well said sir, and Happy Easter to you and yours!
Rev. Paul,
Beautifully said!
He is risen.
Happy Easter to you and your beautiful family.
Thank you, NFO.
Sandy, thank you, too. Happy Easter to us all!
Happy Easter, Rev!
What was it the angels told the women who came to His grave and found to stone rolled away?
"He who you seek is not here"?
Yes, drjim - "...for he has risen, as he said."
Thank you Reverend.
You're welcome, Jenny. :)
He has risen indeed!
Hope you had a wonderful Easter Rev. We went to church (where I had the honor of doing the Call to Worship and the Opening Prayer), had a great service then dinner with some most beloved friends afterwards.
We did not look for the living among the dead!
Sarge, that's a great statement - proof of church-going, if not more. ;^) I'm glad your Resurrection Day was a good one.
And I hope you know that's a joke.
Happy Easter!
Rest assured Rev Paul, I get it. Bless you!
Thanks, DR, and the same to you & your lovely family.
I figured you would, Sarge, but it's tough to get that sly wink & tone of voice into writing. Heh.
3 churches had a squirrel problem. One tried traps, but the squirrels just sprang the traps, took the bait, and ran away. Another church tried hunting them, but there were just too many. Only the third church was successful. When the other 2 pastors asked what he did, the third pastor said, "It's simple, I baptized them, registered them, and gave them offering envelopes, and now I only see them for Christmas and Easter."
TCA ... I think I used to belong to the 3rd church. :^)
Post a Comment