Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Why I celebrate

People ask why I celebrate the Resurrection. The main reason is that Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, is ALIVE No other religious leader who ever lived and died can make that claim. For that matter, every single leader or celebrity who has died remains buried. I worship the One that defeated the grave. Praise the Lord, and thank you Jesus!

But what to we boast of? We boast of an empty tomb because the One we love, the One we follow, the One we serve is no longer there.

Now, if Jesus Christ rose from the dead where is He? Scripture tells us precisely where He is. He is seated at the right had of God (Hebrews 10:12).

The Bible gives us more reasons to rejoice. In 1 John 2:1-2, Jesus Christ is our advocate. You see, when the Son of God saved me, He knew I wouldn't live a perfect life--He knew there would be times I would sin against Him. So he stands between me and the Father to present my case. This defense is based not only upon my confession and repentance for forgiveness of sin, but upon the fact that Jesus Christ Himself laid down His life and paid our sin-debt in full. When He went to the cross, He died a substitutionary, sacrificial death on our  behalf. So we can absolutely be confident that our sins are completely forgiven. Salvation has nothing to do with our behavior, but it has everything to do with the grace of God, the love of God, the goodness of God, the mercy of God, and the blood of Jesus Christ. Now that is cause for celebration!

Why else do we celebrate? Hebrews 9:27 says that "it is appointment for men to die once and after this comes judgment." Every single person will one day stand in the presence of Jesus Christ to give an account for his or her life. Scripture speaks of two specific things, the first being "unto life," which guarantees reward to every believer. (Revelation 20:6) The other is reserved for all people who have rejected to Lord Jesus, and is unto judgment and condemnation. It results in eternal separation from God, which the Bible calls the "second death" (Revelation 20:11-15).

One other reason we celebrat, is that the resurrection of Jesus Christ has given us a very definite purpose for being alive. He has saved us so that we could reflect His life in our work, our ways, our words, and our walk. Having created us for Himself, He desires that you and I walk in a holiness and righteousness before Him. We are to be Christ's representatives, pointing people to Him and reflecting His light to a dark world that desperately needs Him.

So why do we celebrate the Resurrection? Because it is all about assurance, confidence, and boldness. It's about where we are in life, where we are headed, and were we are going to end up--in the very presence of the living God instead of eternally separated from Him.

Revelation 21:27 says that no one can enter heaven except "those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life." How do you get your name inscribed in that book? By accepting the Lamb of God -- Jesus Christ--as your personal Saviour, based on the fact that he died on the cross, paying your sin-debt in full. Three days after He was buried, He rose again. Believe it....and CELEBRATE!!

If you want to know more. Please let me know. I am happy to share :)

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