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Easter is not Over

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“ 20  But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead…”  1 Corinthians 15:20 

Last week we considered what it means if Jesus Christ had not been raised from the dead. My intent was truly to be encouraging in helping us see how important the resurrection is.  Sadly we often only think about the resurrection around Easter.  Let me continue from last week and prod you to consider what is now and eternally true because Christ has been raised from the dead.

Nothing will ever be the same.  The tomb is empty and Jesus is alive!  Jesus Christ is the risen reigning ruling, radiant Savior who defeated death and sin and Satan for you and I if we believe.  It means that everything has been reversed. The world is turned inside out and upside down to serve Christ’s purposes, and that, that is good news. It means that all we talked about last time is not meaningless, pointless, or to be pitied.  It means that all that we do as Christians has meaning purpose and power. What are the consequences of that? Look back on verses 14-19. 

If Christ has been raised…

Our preaching is not it vain  The proclamation of the gospel is the only hope for people to be reconciled with God.  Declaring Jesus’ resurrection actually has power and strength, united with the Holy Spirit who would bring people to life through the same power that raised Christ from the dead.  Its not a sham, smoke and mirrors, but proclaiming freeing, liberating, and life-giving truth. It is not flapping our gums about nothing, but proclaiming bold and free the cure to death and sin. Preaching is no longer useless, but powerful.  Sharing the gospel with someone has the power to save them from their sins and change their life forever.

Our Faith is not useless Our faith has a foundation, something real and true.  Our faith has stability because it is based on fact and not feeling or what we work up in ourselves for God to be happy with us.  Our belief in Jesus Christ as our risen Savior becomes the most significant and wonderful thing about our life.  If Christ has been raised our faith is stable, secure and steadfast, come what may.

We are not liars about God  We are telling the truth about God.  We are crying out to the world with the only thing in the world that is true enough to change their lives from the inside out in a culture that tries to change themselves from the outside in.  We are not handing out advice or cute ideas, we are handing out the unchangeable God and Savior who was bodily, physically, historically and gloriously raised from the dead.

We are no longer in our sins  If we are believers in the Lord’s death and resurrection for us, sin has been defeated.  Its reign in our life has ended and we can say no to sin and yes to righteousness.  We can live new lives free from the tyranny and bondage from sin. We are assured full forgiveness because of what Jesus has done and assured complete acceptance because through Jesus we stand upright and cleansed before God no matter what our track record says.  Sin is conquered.

Those who died in Christ have not perished forever  Just like Jesus they will be resurrected to new life if they believed. Even after you die, a glorious reunion awaits you as you take your last breath.  If Christ has been raised, you and all those in who have died believing in Christ will be raised as well to sing the praises of God’s work through Jesus Christ throughout all of eternity.

We are not to be pitied above all men  We have not wasted our life. We’ve invested in a life that will come. All the good things you are doing are not in vain, your life is not pointless, your faith is not futile.  All of our teaching, preaching, suffering, sacrificing, witnessing, praying, giving, worshiping and working is not in vain but makes absolute sense and will absolutely be rewarded by our risen Savior. 

Consider this, If Christ has not been raised you better get everything in right now because life has no purpose. You better live for today for tomorrow might be the last day you can get everything in.  If Christ has been raised, however, you will be resurrected and one of two things will happen to you.  You will either be resurrected to live eternally in the welcoming presence of God because you have trusted Christ’s death and resurrection for you. Or you will be resurrected to live eternally in suffering and anguish and hell because you did not believe on Jesus for your salvation. You will face the righteous punishment of God for your sins.  He offers you that choice. Because Christ has been raised you have that choice. What will you do with it?  If you have trusted Christ as your Savior, will you live as if the resurrection actually happened? Christ has been raised and that still matters after Easter. It changes everything.

In Christ, My Only Hope, Pastor Steven


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