What About The Joy of Easter?

THE JOY OF EASTER, John 11:25–26 “25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”

The resurrection of Christ proves the power of Christianity! Let’s take a look at these important steps to Easter: (1) Christ’s death pays for salvation; (2) Christ’s resurrection proves Christianity; (3) Dedication to Christ is practicing the teachings of the living Christ.

The greatest words in the Bible are: “He is risen!” If Christ is not risen, then: (1) Preaching is vain; (2) Faith is vain; (3) We are false witnesses; and (4) We are still in our sins.

1 Corinthians 15:13–15 “13 For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. 15 And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead............

“16 And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. 18 In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost!”

THE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION........“I am the resurrection and the life.”

Because of Jesus and His Resurrection we can live an Enjoyable life—John 10:10 tells us: “ The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. Christ came to give us enjoyable life.”..... If you do not enjoy life, then you do not know Christ in a personal way! Its a joy to serve and live for Christ.

Because of Jesus and His Resurrection we can live an Exciting life—John 15:11 says...... “11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! . Christ wants our joy to be full and to be complete. There is a challenge every day in serving Christ. We are challenged to overcome sin and live a successful Christian life......Are we?

Because of Jesus and His Resurrection we can have Eternal life—John 3:16. John 3:16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life.......

LISTEN TO WHAT JESUS SAYS HERE IN THE BOOK OF JOHN, CHAPTER 14 VERSES 1-6:

John 14:1–6 1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am...........

4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

GOD’S PLAN BECAUSE OF THE RESURRECTION.

Jesus says that ...“He that believeth in me WILL.........

We Will know..... the Importance of faith in me.—Romans 10:9 “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. “

We Will know..... the Influence of faith in me.— They went out and practiced what the Lord told them to do. Mark 16:20 “And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.”

We Will experience..... the Inspiration of faith in me.—John 14:19 “Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live...... Because He lives, we too may live forever!

We Will understand..... the Indifference (having faith or not having faith) of faith in me. Thomas had to see before he believed. This is not faith! Real faith believes before it sees! John 20:25 “They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”

BECAUSE OF THE RESURRECTION OUR SINS ARE PARDONED

We were Dead in sin—We are Born in sin. We remained in sin by our own choice. Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:1 “Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.”

We were Dead to Satan before the Resurrection of Christ. Satan has blinded man to the evils of Satan. 2 Corinthians 4:4 “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.” Christ came to open our eyes to the evils of Satan.

We were Dead to our self before Jesus’ Resurrection. Galatians 2:20 “ My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” Most all problems are caused by man’s selfish desires and ambitions. Christ came to set us free from ourselves as Paul spoke of in the above verse.

THE PEACE WE RECEIVE THROUGH THE RESURRECTION.

Let’s take a look at this Command—“And whosoever liveth and believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”

Faith in Jesus is demanded for our salvation.........

Acts 16:31–33 “31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” 32 And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. 33 Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized.”

So.....Our Faith =our salvation—Paul tells us in: Ephesians 2:8–9 “8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

Luke 18:8 “ I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”

Do you really believe Christ arose from the dead? The Bible says that the devils believe in Christ—James 2:19 “You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. ..........

However, they (Satan, Demons,) believe only with their minds. We must believe with our hearts as well—Paul tells us in: Romans 10:9–10 “9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved"

OK......A few weeks ago, we started FB Live by focusing on “RE DEDICATION.” WEEK 2, WE FOCUSED ON “FORGIVENESS.” WE HAVE FOCUSED ON THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST.........SO, WHAT DO WE DO NOW? WE ARE TOLD IN THE BOOK OF MATTHEW 28:16-20. THIS SCRIPTURE IS KNOWN AS THE GREAT COMMISSION:

Matthew 28:16–20 “16 Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! 18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

AMEN