Read I Corinthians 15:12-20
"But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen either. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished (are lost). If we who are [abiding] in Christ have hope only in this life and that is all, then we are of all men the most pitiable.
But the fact is that Christ (the Messiah) is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep [in death]."
Below is a journal entry I wrote back in April 2007 - a few weeks prior to Resurrection (Easter) Sunday. As the title suggests, I'd finally grasped the BASIC comprehension of what this weekend's celebration truly means.
I think got it! I think I kinda get the whole "art & science" behind what Resurrection Sunday (Easter) means and what it represents. Okay, so Scripture explains that since Jesus rose from the dead; thereby “defeating death and the grave”, as it were....so would all who'd place their trust and confidence in His sacrifice for the removal of sin. How? Well, the very reason why Jesus was able to conquer the grave and defeat death in the first place was that He was without sin (2 Cor. 5:21)....which is what ultimately brings about death! You followin' me, so far? ;-) So, since Jesus committed no sin and was innocent of any transgression, the grave itself was literally obligated to give Him up because according to the divine law that God Himself had established since before time was time:
“…the wages of sin is (was) death…” ~ (Romans 6:23)
and
“The sting of death is sin…” ~ (1 Cor. 15:56)
SIN = DEATH. But JESUS HAD NO SIN!! See, where I'm goin'!? :-) He was SIN FREE! Sinless! So, technically, HE WAS INNOCENT...undeserving of the penalty of death! So, the grave, "legally", couldn't hold Him! That's so dope, to me. Even the grave had to obey!! Even death has to be subject to the law! And because of who Christ is, His pure royal blood was the ONLY acceptable sacrifice. Why? Well, the Torah (the laws & teachings given to Moses by God) made it clear that there would be no forgiveness of sin without the shedding of blood (Lev. 17:11). But Jesus had no sin for which to be punished and therefore was not obliged, as you and I are, to die. Again....death is the wage; the result; the effect of sin. However, since Jesus was the blameless, perfect; the unblemished Lamb of God - a holy offering who was capable and willing to pay the penalty for the sins of the world - His death would be eternally unique.
Fam, Christ’s death on the cross was a fulfillment of what the prophet Isaiah declared: that the sovereign God would be willing to lay the iniquity and sin of us all - of ALL humanity - on the shoulders of Messiah’s bleeding sacrificial body. (Isaiah 53:6) And that perfect, self-sacrificial love in action cannot be found in any other religion, philosophy or school of thought because none other than The Most High God Himself was able to demonstrate this: in His very Word made flesh, Y'shua HaMoshiach - Jesus The Messiah. So, because of what Christ did on behalf of the world via His death AND resurrection, those that trust in that sacrifice for the removal of sin and accept it as their own are now seen as righteous. Now, when The Most High sees us, He sees the righteousness and perfection of His Living Word; His only begotten Son, Jesus. Does that make sense? To be clear, it's NOT that we who've trusted in and believe on Christ's death & resurrection don't sin or aren't capable of sinning. Clearly we are! But rather our sin nature isn’t held against us because it's been covered; washed; expunged from the record. We are "legally" and POSITIONALLY perfect while still remaining blatantly and HUMANLY flawed. Our sin debt is paid in full by the precious blood of Christ Jesus. And it is out of gratitude and appreciative love that we honor our Savior's undeservedly free gift by actively and deliberately pursuing to be more and more like Him. Get me?;-)
Now, THAT'S the Good News, fam! THAT'S, literally, The Gospel and what this season is all about: that The Master of the universe would come wrapped in human flesh via His Word, Jesus Christ, to redeem a sin afflicted & inflicted world that was incapable of redeeming itself. He came as a man and lived as we do yet was without any sin. He willingly substituted Himself on the cross; suffered and died in our place for our sins AND sin nature. He died so that all who trust Him would have life. It was at that cross of Christ that God's holy justice AND relentless mercy kissed and converged. They were BOTH satisfied and our sin was paid for - signed, sealed & delivered - through the blood of Jesus. That, my fam, is the message and subsequent CELEBRATION of The Resurrection Sunday Holiday! The GREAT NEWS of the redemption through Christ by His defeating of death on the cross....proven by His resurrection. We win because HE ROSE!!!! HE LIVES! Christ is RISEN!!! And because He lives...we also shall live.
"....Because I live, you will live also." ~ Jesus
John 14:19
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"For if we are beside ourselves [mad, as some say], it is for God and concerns Him; if we are in our right mind, it is for your benefit." ~ 2 Corinthians 5:13 (Amplified Bible)
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