Hallelujah!

Resurrection Sunday.  Such an incredible day to celebrate.  I would like to be able to sit down and write an eloquent post on it, but I can't.  However, that doesn't mean that the significance of this event is consequently lost.  Please no!  Whether or not I continue to grow in my understanding of the fundamental necessity of the resurrection to my Christian faith, the truth remains: without the resurrection, there would be no salvation, there would be no hope, there would be no sanctification.  

Jesus is alive!  How does that affect my present circumstances?  How does that change my perspective of the future?  How does that impact my relationship with Him?   My mind cannot seem to sort out specific and detailed answers right now for these questions, but I rest in the certainty that Christ has conquered death and that He has "begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:3-5)

I am humbled that Christ loved me enough to die on the cross for my sins. I rejoice and praise Him that He had to rise from the dead and leave that tomb empty so that one day, we too may "also be in the likeness of his resurrection. (Romans 6:5)

Christ is risen! 

He is risen indeed! 

P.s. If you have not already done so recently, go read 1 Corinthians 15 for a solid case presented on why Christ had to rise again and why His resurrection is fundamental to our faith!  

To Live as They did...

So I've been doing a lot of thinking: as of the last few days, one of the things that has been giving me some "food for thought" has been the subject of faith. I have been reading through the book of Hebrews during my devotions, and one of the most well-known chapters of this book is the chapter on faith, chapter 11. Reading this chapter has made me ponder a little this fundamental aspect of the Christian life. Maybe I think too much in concise definitions and clear-cut distinctions, but I guess one question in particular comes to mind as I mull over the application of faith in my own life: "What is the difference between a life characterized by true faith, as in the examples of the great heroes we read about in Hebrews, and a life marked by repeated acts of what could be called 'leaps into the darkness'?"

My Bible had a note that helped me to begin to understand the difference:

"The essence of faith consists in receiving what God has revealed, and may be defined as that trust in the God of the Scriptures and in Jesus Christ whom He hath sent, which receives Him as Saviour and Lord, and impels to loving obedience and good works (John 1.12; Jas. 2.14-26)...."

Faith in the believer's life is such an incredible thing; a jewel with many facets. It would be really cool to do an in-depth study of it....

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

Low in the grave He lay...

Luke 24:5-7:

"And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them,

Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen:

remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, saying,

The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men,

and be crucified, and the third day rise again."

He is alive! He is no longer dead!

1 Corinthians 15:14, 17, 19:

"And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."

But He is alive: our faith is not in vain!

Not only is our faith now not in vain, but we now have the greatest reason of all to live and to have hope!

Hallelujah! What a Savior!!