The Resurrection

Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?  But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:  And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.   Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that that dead rise not.  For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:  And if Christ be not raised,  your faith is vain, ye are yet in your sins.  Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.  If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.  But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.  For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.   For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.  But every man in his own order:  Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.  Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father: when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.  For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.   I Corinthians 15:12-26

Without the resurrection:
1.  Preaching is vain.
2.  Our Faith is vain.
3.  Christ was a fake.
4.  Death would be the end.

Because of the resurrection:
1.  Preaching is not in vain.
2.  Our Faith has substance; it is not vain.
3.  Christ is alive, our sins are forgiven.
4.  Heaven is our home.

To the lost, The resurrection means an invitation.

(Notes from Sunday morning's message)

Thursday This ~N~ That: No Fooling; HE LIVES!

I can't help but feel victorious when I think of my Risen Saviour! I can't stop the Hope, the Peace, the Excitement that rises within me when I think of that morning that my Lord came out of that tomb! How wonderful, how blessed to serve the one and only true and living God!  Gives this little Baptist gal a spring in her step and a song in her heart! I also can't help but be saddened when I think of the price Jesus paid for my sins. I feel so ashamed and guilty that He suffered and died for me. He didn't do anything wrong, yet He was the one that was sentenced to death, mocked, spat upon, beaten beyond recognition...crucified.  This post may be a bit scattered; many scriptures and many songs come to my mind....so I'll just write while I think out loud, so to speak.  Worship and rejoice with me!

Matthew 17:22-23 And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: And they shall kill him, and the third day shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.

Matthew 20:17-19 And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.

Matthew 27:66  So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

Matthew 28:1-6  In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said, Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,

The emblem of suffering and shame;

And I love that old cross where the dearest and best

For a world of lost sinners was slain.

Oh, that old rugged cross,

so despised by the world,

Has a wondrous attraction for me;

For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above

To bear it to dark Calvary.

In the old rugged cross,

stained with blood so divine,

A wondrous beauty I see;

For twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died

To pardon and sanctify me.

Then came the morning

The night turned into day

The stone was rolled away, hope rose with the dawn

Then came the morning

Shadows vanished before the sun

Death had lost and life had won, for morning had come.

He lives! He lives!

Christ Jesus lives today.

He walks with me and talks with me

Along life's narrow way.

He lives! He lives!

Salvation to impart.

You ask me how I know He lives...

He lives within my heart.

Because He lives

I can face tomorrow.

Because He lives

All fear is gone.

Because I know

He holds the future.

And life is worth the living

Just Because He lives.