The celebration of Easter can easily be an event of ritual. But the event we celebrate is anything but! In fact, the story of Easter is the essential fact! It is the fact of "first importance" and involves the two most important events in all of human history, the death AND the resurrection from death of Jesus Christ.
"Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…" 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Christ died for our sins and "sin" is not a word we like to use in today’s society, but sin IS sin.
Sin is:
- Doing anything that God forbids
- Failing to do anything that God commands
To refrain and to obey are not human nature. It is that exact sin nature and sin action that has separated us from a Holy God. With that separation comes consequences… death. "For the wages of sin is death…" Romans 6:23
But God...
But God desired and willed that His creation be saved to Himself through His one and only Son. In Christ’s dying He:
- Revealed the justice of a Holy God
- Explained the love of a seeking God
- Paid the sinner's penalty in full
- Restored fallen man to relationship with God
John Piper expresses it this way, “His suffering absorbed all the judgment that guilty sinners deserved and purchased all the good that forgiven sinners enjoy.”
So we do not need a "lifestyle reformation", what we DO need is a soul-deep transformation.
So we do not need a "good example" or a "great teacher", what we DO need is a Deliver and Savior!
All of this was accomplished “According to the Scriptures…”. From Genesis thru Revelation, a river of blood flows that reminds us of the consequences of sin.
Genesis 3:21 “And the Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them…” The shedding of innocent blood was necessary to cover Adam & Eve.
Genesis 4:4 “And Abel…brought of the firstlings of his flock—and the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering”. The shedding of innocent blood was an acceptable sacrifice.
Exodus 12 “Take for yourselves lambs…and slay the Passover lamb…apply its blood to the lintel and doorposts of your house…”. The shedding of innocent blood was needed in order for death to pass over.
John 1:29 “Behold! The lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” The shedding of innocent blood would save an entire world.
Revelation 5 “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing” The resurrected Lamb will reign forever!
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…” 1 Corinthians 15:4
It is not enough that Jesus died and was raised from the dead however. Our being saved from sin depends on our belief in these facts. Jesus died, was buried and rose from the dead "according to the scriptures". Those same scriptures implore us to believe!
"But the Scripture has shut up all men under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe." Galatians 3:22
Do YOU believe? Will YOU believe?
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