Resurrection Day

1 Corinthians 15:1–8 (CSB)

1 Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel I preached to you, which you received, on which you have taken your stand 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold to the message I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. 6 Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one born at the wrong time, he also appeared to me.

Today is

what has come to be known as Easter Sunday.

For many reasons, most Christians don’t regard it by this name.

We as born again believers aptly call it, “Resurrection Sunday”

Why do we call it resurrection Sunday?

because this is the day Jesus claimed victory from death for you and me.

So, like Christmas, It should be celebrated. But I say, Resurrection Sunday is a more important day than Christmas.

Jesus was born, so we celebrate Christmas,

Jesus died, and we celebrate Good Friday

But, Jesus was resurrected on this day from death.

On Christmas,

we give gifts to each other in tradition but,

On This Holy Day, Jesus gave US a gift. He gave us eternal life. Thats right! ETERNAL LIFE

John 14:19 (CSB)

19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you will live too.

It seems people are confused about the importance of this day.

Most people know it’s revered but have no clue why?

Well, Let me tell you this, it has nothing to do with Rabbits, decorated eggs or candy.

This is what the world wants you to focus on. This is done so to distract you from the importance of this day.

This is the day we celebrate VICTORY!

The enemies of God don’t want you to glorify your victory!

Cancer doesn’t send a postcard thanking you for giving it a good fight. It wants you to believe you are still able to lose.

Banks don’t come to you as you are evicted from your house, and say, “You put up a good fight”

This is why when Jesus, King of Glory & the Universe, gives to you a gift

wrapped and delivered by blood-stained nails, from on top of a wooden stick of death, the world wants you to focus instead on a sugar drops and an Easter bunny to Keep you bound up in the chains of sin, addiction, and Moral Bankruptcy

I am reminded

of many who have said to me that they try to be a good person, And hopefully, that will get them into heaven.

Many Hollywood movies are made on this ridiculous premise.

It also reminds me of how many, “see” the resurrection of Jesus and instead of concerning themselves with salvation,

they try to become a “Better person”

As if this somehow qualifies one to get into heaven

Friends, I have news for you,

Jesus did not come to this earth, die on the cross, and rise from the dead so that bad people can be good,

No, He came so that dead people can live!

He died for us so that we may be able to be reconciled with Him.

He paid our sin debt in full with His very own blood

So that you and I, and whoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life!

It's through the blood He spilled, that paid for us

and it's through His Glorious resurrection, that we have someplace to Go.

“Because He lives, we live also,”

John 14:1–3 (CSB)

1 “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also.

Jesus did not allow himself to be crucified so that you may be good.

He died so that you may live!

John 3:16–18 (CSB)

d16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.

Let me put it this way.

Imagine you were captured as a prisoner of War

And the enemy had you locked away in a prison awaiting your execution.

Then Jesus came by and swung open the doors of death for you patted you on the back and said, “Go, your free” go home! “I fought the enemy for you, and he lost!

That’s basically what happened.

You see when man sinned in the garden of Eden, God put man out and removed him from the tree of life.

Ever since then, you, me & all of our ancestors all the way back to Adam were Eternally Separated from God.

Yes, throughout the Bible and History

God has moved His hands in our lives, but understand something.

We were condemned to die on this earth, along with eternal separation from God

But thanks to Jesus’ death & His resurrection,

We are now reconciled with Him again through belief in Jesus

We are no longer slaves to death, but Victorious in the battle

Even though we never had to fight it.

Every year around Thanksgiving,

The President of the United States of America

Pardons a Turkey.

That Turkey is chosen from among others that are doomed to Die,

To ultimately end up on some family's festive dinner table for the holiday.

The Turkey that the president chooses, is allowed to escape imminent death.

Well, folks, we are those turkeys, and Jesus chose you

That is what resurrection day is all about.

It should be celebrated every day

Every time you ask for forgiveness, we should celebrate the resurrection

In Closing,

Let me remind you all that without the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, there is no

Eternal Life,

No, reuniting with loved ones who have already passed on before us,

No wiping away of all our tears,

No new Jerusalem,

No forgiveness of sins

As Paul said

No Slide for this

1 Corinthians 15:13–19 (CSB)

13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is in vain, and so is your faith. 15 Moreover, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified wrongly about God that he raised up Christ—whom he did not raise up, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18 Those, then, who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished. 19 If we have put our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone.

But then he goes on to say this in the very next verse

1 Corinthians 15:20 (CSB)

20 But as it is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

And Amen to that!

Don’t forget communion service to follow.