He Is Risen
He Is Risen
“He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”
Matthew 28:6
Today is an important day - our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has risen from the dead. Without the resurrection, so many people would have no faith at all. So much in our Christian religion hinges on the resurrection. And so much in the Christian relationship hinges on Jesus Christ. Without the resurrection who knows where our relationship with Him would be.
Over the past few weeks I have watched many different pastors and evangelists place an importance on different parts of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Some have said that the death was the most important part because it symbolized His sacrifice for our sins. Others have said the burial was the most important part because it showed that Jesus was human. And others have said that the resurrection is by far the most important part because it shows that he was God in the flesh, that death would not stop Him and that He did what He promised He would do - He has risen!
The Christian faith started here. People were already following and watching and learning from Jesus Christ. They believed in Him and the miracles they were seeing. They learned from His teachings of love, patience and kindness. But now, after the resurrection, they began to have faith. They knew of Satan and of the Father. The knew good from bad. They knew evil from holy.
Aside from what they already knew, faith came along. Faith is the most important part of your relationship with God. It is the most important part of the Christian relationship.
Faith is why you believe in God.
I struggled for years with faith. I believed there was a God, but I didn’t know Him. I didn’t have faith because I didn’t have trust because I didn’t have a relationship with Him.
It was that simple for me. I could tell people that I believed in God, I even went to church and owned a Bible. But I was lacking faith. And because I lacked faith, I didn’t have a relationship.
The other things, going to church, praying, dressing up, owning and reading a Bible, we’re not faith - they were things. And Faith definitely isn’t a thing.
Faith is believing in something you can’t see or have no knowledge or experience of. It’s is completely different than trust.
I really struggled with faith, I may have said that before.
I now have a relationship with Jesus Christ which is based on my faith in Him. I believe Him to be real. I believe Him to be our Lord and Savior. These aren’t empty words, I truly do believe these things. I believe in enteral salvation through my faith and trust in Jesus.
Why? Because I believe the Bible to be true. I believe that the words of the Bible were written by people that God inspired. I believe God sent Jesus in the form of man and that Jesus lived and walked among us and that He also died for our sins. He was then buried and resurrected to strengthen our faith in God.
The Bible is complex and there is way more to this story than I can ever write.
The point is this, my faith is based on something I have not seen, encouraged by things that I have read and strengthened by prayer that has been answered.
My faith is not your faith. My faith is based on what I have seen God doing in my life and in other lives. My faith is because I believe on God.
As Christians we waiver every day. Our strength is challenged as believers. We doubt on Occassion. We question frequently. We sin. We repent. We pray. We repeat.
But one absolute thing is for certain - without doubt or hesitation - on this day, Jesus Christ has risen!!!!!!
Happy Easter.
“And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Matthew 28:7-10; 18-20