The Corinthian church had started talking and thinking like Christ had NOT risen from the dead, but that even if he hadn't, the Christian life was still a good, and moral way of life, and that they would still be better off for having followed his commands.
But the apostle Paul thought differently:
Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. -1 Cor. 15:12-19
The resurrection of Christ is the final nail in the death's coffin! Jesus didn't just die for something he believed in, like a martyr; no, Christ died to take the full brunt of God's wrath for our sins, but then to show God's power and sovereignty, he rose from the dead, ensuring our final resurrection as well! He proved once and for all that death is no match for the power of God!
We're singing a new song to start the service this Sunday that focuses on the day of Christ's resurrection called "See What A Morning" that has a line in it that captures this thought:
And we are raised with him; death is dead! Love has won! Christ has conquered! And we shall reign with him, for he lives; Christ is risen from the dead!
Be sure to check out the video link for "See What A Morning" as it has the lyrics as well. It's a tremendous song, and you'll want to be prepared to sing it with the church body, I guarantee!
After a welcome and greeting time, we're gonna dig into the ol' hymnal and sing the hymn "He Lives" (not in the same style as the link just in case you were wondering...), and then "In Christ Alone" before Wayne Dell comes and reads the resurrection account out of John 20.
The scripture says that "...for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead." We all face a choice when faced with the resurrection of Christ: will we believe and surrender our lives to his Lordship? Or not?
We as believers have made the choice to surrender our lives and follow in the footsteps of our risen Savior, and so we'll corporately declare that together as we sing "Surrender."
Pastor Todd will come and teach us from the Word, and we'll respond to the truth the angel told the women at the tomb: "He is not here." If he's no longer in the tomb, where is he now? Pastor Todd will tell us where Scripture says he is, and what he is doing there on our behalf.
As a response, we'll close with the new song we did last week: "Before The Throne Of God Above" and leave with the ending lines reverberating in our minds:
One with himself I cannot die; my soul is purchased by his blood! My life is hid with Christ on high; with Christ, my Savior and my God!
Happy Easter! He is risen!
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