Dear Friends, March 2024 - Easter the 31st
In I Corinthians 15:1-10b; 12-22, Paul speaks of the resurrection of Christ and the resurrection of the dead:
Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you - unless you have come to believe in vain. For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain.
Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised Christ - whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have died in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ. (End of Scripture)
Although we are still in the Season of Lent, Easter is fast approaching. I pray that your Lenten Disciplines have been rewarding for you and your walk with the Lord has been powerful. What Paul writes above (bolded and underlined) has been around for a long time. The words bolded and underlined struck a new cord for me this year. The word, futile, basically means pointless or hopeless. So, let’s rephrase Paul’s sentence. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is pointless or hopeless and you are still in your sins. Now, let’s reword the same sentence with words that mean the opposite of futile. But, if Christ has been raised, your faith is useful, hopeful and successful, and you are not in your sins.
Generation after generation of believers down through the centuries have come to believe in the Resurrection of the Lord and because they have come to trust and walk by faith, their lives are caught up with the Promised Holy Spirit - giving them power and a new life (forgiveness of sins). Let us proclaim to the world that, “Christ has been raised, your faith, my faith, is useful, hopeful and successful and your sins and my sins have been forgiven”. This becomes the Resurrection Promise. May we continue to witness to our faith, during Lent, during Easter, and beyond. Have a Blessed Easter! Pastor Jean
In I Corinthians 15:1-10b; 12-22, Paul speaks of the resurrection of Christ and the resurrection of the dead:
Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you - unless you have come to believe in vain. For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain.
Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised Christ - whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have died in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ. (End of Scripture)
Although we are still in the Season of Lent, Easter is fast approaching. I pray that your Lenten Disciplines have been rewarding for you and your walk with the Lord has been powerful. What Paul writes above (bolded and underlined) has been around for a long time. The words bolded and underlined struck a new cord for me this year. The word, futile, basically means pointless or hopeless. So, let’s rephrase Paul’s sentence. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is pointless or hopeless and you are still in your sins. Now, let’s reword the same sentence with words that mean the opposite of futile. But, if Christ has been raised, your faith is useful, hopeful and successful, and you are not in your sins.
Generation after generation of believers down through the centuries have come to believe in the Resurrection of the Lord and because they have come to trust and walk by faith, their lives are caught up with the Promised Holy Spirit - giving them power and a new life (forgiveness of sins). Let us proclaim to the world that, “Christ has been raised, your faith, my faith, is useful, hopeful and successful and your sins and my sins have been forgiven”. This becomes the Resurrection Promise. May we continue to witness to our faith, during Lent, during Easter, and beyond. Have a Blessed Easter! Pastor Jean