easter 2026

Restoring the save; save people sin too…Hebrew 6:4-6…For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put himto an open shame.

Freed in Christ…Roman 6:2-11God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Works of the Flesh…Galatian 5:16-21This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Fruit of the Spirit…Galatian 5:22-26 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Weak flesh…Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly isready, but the flesh is weak.

Take up your cross…Mark 8:34-38 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. 36For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Subdue your desire by dealing with idolatry…Colossian 3:4-5 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. He exhorts them to subdue their own desires 5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry there

losing you/receiving the blessing Matthew 10:39-41 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. 40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. 41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward

working to win, mortify… When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.5Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry

Transformation from the Spirit of Bondage…Roman 8:12-16 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

In Galatians 2:20, Paul declares, 'I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.' This profound statement echoes the reality of our sinful nature being put to death. Imagine a garden filled with thorny weeds; to nurture beautiful flowers, we must uproot the weeds. Similarly, through Christ’s crucifixion, we have the power to uproot our sinful nature and cultivate a life that reflects His love.

Picture a prisoner shackled by chains, unable to break free. These chains symbolize our sinful nature; we cannot escape them alone. But when we are crucified with Christ, the chains are shattered, and the prison doors burst open. With this newfound freedom, we can choose to walk away from the destructive lifestyle we once inhabited. It's a serious commitment, but essential to embrace the full power of Christ in overcoming our past.

Imagine a once-glamorous mansion, now reduced to ruins, its fine trappings forgotten. When we abandon our sinful ways and embrace being crucified with Christ, we demolish that old mansion within us. In its place, we can build a new life, one that reflects His grace and glory. Like a skilled architect, God designs a beautiful structure on the foundation of Christ's sacrifice. We are called to live in that new creation, abandoning the wreckage of our former selves.