Sunday April 16, 2006
By Rev. Wilfred Leeroy Kabs-Kanu
Christianity would not have meant anything to you or me if Christ had not resurrected. If Christ had remained in the grave, our faith would have been a worthless exercise. But as we celebrate Easter once again, we thank God for his profound goodness which is again manifested in the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ
The Apostle Paul , in one of his most important teachings was apt when he said : “”Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead,then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is vain and your faith is also vain… For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 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. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. [1 Corinthians 15:12-20]. The resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ showed that God was with him and was willing to fulfill his promise to redeem us through the sacrifices of Jesus Christ. And in this lies our hope and the strength and credibility of our faith : That if we have faith in Jesus Christ and die in the Lord, we shall live again. Death will have no power over us “And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.” [1 Corinthians 6:14]. This is clear demonstration of the fact that we are not serving a mediocre God. Rather, we are serving a God who is and will forver be the only power and the only supreme being in this world and the world after. But ther is even more.
By the same power and grace that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead, so is he going to raise us from the dead that we will be with him in eternity and enjoy life with him forever. Therefore you can see how significant Easter is to us, Christians, and to everyone else in the world.
The resurrection had been prophesied thousands of years before the coming of Christ :”I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. O Death, I will be your plagues! O Grave, I will be your destruction! Pity is hidden from My eyes.” [Hosea
13:14]. This is the miraculous power of the God we serve. And at EASTER we celebrate the fulfillment of this promise by God , who is always faithful .
13:14]. This is the miraculous power of the God we serve. And at EASTER we celebrate the fulfillment of this promise by God , who is always faithful .Jesus Christ died on the cross as a ransom for our sins. He gave his life for us so that our sin will be forgiven and so that sin shall have no more power over us. And God raised him from the dead to give us power over death and the grave, and the joy of life in eternal bliss with the Lord. “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” [Romans 8:11].
As we celebrate Easter, give your salvation thoughtful attention. Provision has already been made for your salvation.You do not have to pay a cent for it. Just believe in Jesus Christ and the sacrifice on the cross and you will saved by the God who never lies and eternal life will be your’s forever. Sin and death shall have no dominion over you anymore .
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