April 9th, 2020 – Devotional With Pastor Dan
Have you ever wondered why we need the evidence of the resurrection of Jesus Christ as recorded in the New Testament, and just what significance it has for us? Think about these matters for a moment. Take a moment this morning and meditate on these Scriptures, and maybe share them or talk about them with those around you.
1. The resurrection is one of the major pieces of evidence that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Paul affirmed that Christ is that very One.….(Romans 1:4)…..“declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of Holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” His linage proved that He was born through the line of David, and His resurrection proved that He was the only begotten of the Father.
2. Jesus’ resurrection is assurance that we can have forgiveness from our sins. Scripture says,…..(1 Corinthians 15:17)…..“And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” The praise that we should have for the Lord should be abundant. Why? Because the fact that He rose from the grave means that the sacrifice of Himself at the cross was pleasing to the Father, and sufficient to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
3. The resurrection declares to us and the world that Jesus Christ IS ALIVE. Jesus said,…..(Revelation 1:17-18)…..“I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. Now, why is it important to the believer that Jesus is alive? Simple, as long as Jesus is alive, then so are we. Our eternal life depends on our Lord being alive.
4. Jesus’ resurrection proves that physical death is not the termination of our existence. Christ’s triumph over the grave is God’s pledge to us that we too shall be raised. This is why the Scripture tells us,….(1 Corinthians 15:20-23)…..But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. As a believer in Jesus Christ, are you exceedingly happy that the grave can’t hold you either? That the death of your body is not the end?
The resurrection of the Son of God should be a constant reminder to us of these wonderful biblical truths, and should be celebrated, not once-a-year, but every month, week, day, hour, minute of our life.