We celebrated Easter a few weeks ago, which of course, is the celebration, not of the death of Jesus Christ, but of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Of the spiritual leaders in Jesus’ time on earth, the group called the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. The Pharisees did, but I can imagine that the teaching of both camps was pretty rampant at that time. The ministry of Paul was of course, Christ Crucified, buried and rose on the third day. But in one of the churches he helped found, the church at Corinth, there were some who came possibly from that line of thinking that there was no resurrection. Let’s see how Paul dealt with this thinking: “Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say, ‘There is no resurrection of the dead?’ But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is without foundation, and so is your faith. In addition, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified about God that He raised up Christ – whom He did not raise up if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Therefore, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished. If we have put our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone. But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 The very foundation of our faith is built on the fact of the resurrection. Jesus defeated death, and with it, those who put their faith in Him, will also join Him in the resurrection of the dead, when we pass this earth. I came to the faith close to forty years ago, because I witnessed the senseless death of my brother. I reviewed how our life was so dysfunctional, and then to have my brother survive Vietnam, then have it taken for no good reason, made me start to think, that there had to be more than just this life. Otherwise why live at all, because it is too painful at times, and just a faulty existence that seemed to have no further meaning. It wasn’t until, in my searching, I humbled myself and put my faith in Christ, that I knew there was a whole new existence. It wasn’t taught my men, but the Holy Spirit given to me revealed it to me that Christ died for me. Not only did He die for my sins, but He was raised from the dead to life everlasting, and I knew that this was what life was all about. It’s about life, Spiritual life, everlasting, way beyond this earth, this craziness, and all it has. It’s about a new life, found in Christ, all because He willingly went to the cross to pay the penalty for my sinfulness, and then showed the world it doesn’t have to end here.
Please consider Christ!
Pastor Andy
Barnabas Man 