Christ is risen

1 Corinthians 15:14 And if Christ be not risen, then [is] our preaching vain, and your faith [is] also vain.

Our faith is alive on the fact that Christ is risen from the dead. All other religions, their leaders are still dead. So what is so special about the resurrection? Let's look at important truths about Christ's death, burial and resurrection.

We were reconciled to God. Reconciliation is simply mending a relationship that was broken. God and man are no longer apart because sin the barrier to our fellowship was removed and nailed to the cross. 

We were redeemed. Redemption is buying back that which was lost. Redemption normally was used in buying back slaves from a slave market, purchasing goods which were originally yours but we're lost etc. Man was held captive by the devil after Adam committed sin and plunged the entire human race under sin and dominion of the devil. Jesus put on flesh and paid the price for our redemption, that is dying on our behalf and rescuing us from that which held us captive, the power of sin and death. Christ paid in full the price for our redemption and now we are free hallelujah. 

We were forgiven. Forgiveness is the putting away of bad feelings or anger you had towards someone for the hurts they did on you. God forgave man of his wrongs, past present and future. He's no longer angry at man, He's not in a bad mood because of sin. The debt was paid, the price paid. He sees the World through the eyes of his son Jesus. His judgement, wrath and anger is withheld from hurting man because Christ paid for our sins. 

We have a new hope. Our hope is that someday we shall also resurrect when Christ appears if he returns when we are dead physically. To those who will be alive they will simply join him in the clouds when he appears. The death of a believer is not the end of life but the beginning of a new life with the Lord. That's why Christians are not so sad when a fellow believer dies. We know that they are in a better place with the Lord in paradise. After the judgement they will rule together with Jesus in the new heaven and new earth forever. But to non believers, after death they descend to hell awaiting a second death where they will be thrown in the lake of fire. 

We are granted eternal life. Eternal life is to know God and Jesus Christ his son whom He sent. That knowing is an intimate relationship with God we wouldn't have if we had no Jesus. 

We are saved from sin and it's consequences death, poverty and disease. This is what is called salvation or deliverance. Sometimes nonbelievers ask what are you saved from? The answer is right there from sin and it's effects. God not only saved us from hell and eternal damnation, even in the present we can enjoy the effects sin brings and these are all the forms of death like stress, depression, disease, poverty, lack, nightmares, demonic attacks etc. God's salvation in our spirits extends to our souls and bodies. Our souls are being saved and bodies changed through renewal of our minds in accordance with the realities that are in our spirit man. 

We have been empowered by the Holy Spirit. Jesus did not simply save us from sin, He empowered us to live as new creatures by the giving us His Holy Spirit at the pentecost. If man was saved but not empowered, we would be weak, helpless and powerless. But the power to walk in the power of His resurrection is in us through the indwelling Holy Spirit. The indwelling Holy Spirit plugs us in to the universal body of Christ while the baptism of the holy spirit empowers us to do ministry. 

There's more. Happy Easter or resurrection Sunday.

EK