“He has RIS-“

…I’m sure you’ve heard the news. But why is it so significant?

On Good Friday, it was made clear that the cost of our sin was great but our God was greater. Jesus endured the pain, and suffering, and separation from the Father that we were supposed to have went through.

As He was nailed to that rugged tree, a new, simple, and clear way to God was created. No longer did we have to sacrifice lambs in our place or try to be this impossible perfect person. When Jesus died for us, He covered the cost. His perfect life was traded for our broken one, giving our Holy God of supreme justice something worthy enough to pardon us.

Without the shedding of blood there could be no forgiveness of sin. Not because God is blood thirsty, but because He would be unjust if He forgave with no covering of the cost. And because He would be unholy if He allowed those full of sin in His presence.

So on Good Friday we give thanks to the sacrifice made in our place, but on Easter we rejoice that Jesus not only paid the price of our sin, but defeated death as well.

It’s not through any of our own works or actions that we can be saved from such a dreadful place known as hell. It is strictly through the grace and love of God that we can be made new and strictly though the power of the Risen Christ that we can be freed from the chains that Satan tries so desperately to keep us bound to. There is nothing that can stop our God.

So be ever so glad that Jesus did not stay in the grave. This means we serve a living God. A God who does not expect us to believe only in what He’s done in the past, but what He will do in our lives today and all He will do in the future. Death is something no one but our God can overcome. Find joy in the fact that we don’t ever need to be that strong, because Christ carried the weight for us.

So now I will say in overwhelming joy (and I hope you join me)…..

“HE HAS RISEN!”

April 4th, 2021