‘But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. ‘ 1 Corinthians 15:12-21
The Christian faith hinges on the resurrection of Jesus. If it weren’t for Jesus rising from the grave, our faith, as Paul puts it, would be “futile” and something to be “pitied.”
Jesus is referenced as the “man of suffering” in Isaiah 53:
‘He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. ‘ Isaiah 53:3-6
He was born of a virgin. He lived the perfect life. And He brought the truth with, but we didn’t want to hear it.
It was our sin that hung Him on that cross. He paid the ultimate price, which we couldn’t pay ourselves. He willingly carried His cross to His death—a death He freely accepted.
‘My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other. ‘ John 15:12-17
He laid down His life for the sins of the world.
‘He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. ‘ 1 John 2:2
The verse above is so profound I can hardly fathom the depth of God’s love for this world. It is God’s will that everyone come to the saving grace that He has provided through the death of Jesus on the cross. But He won’t force it one us.
The only ones who receive the forgiveness of sins are those whose hearts come to know God’s saving grace through the death of Jesus and only through Jesus.
‘Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ‘ John 14:6
So what do we do with all of this?
‘And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. ‘ Philippians 2:8-11
I believe God’s grace goes to places I couldn’t imagine. As long as we are breathing, we can call on the name of the Lord. The promise is simple:
‘for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” ‘ Romans 10:13
Understand this will change everything. He will come into your life and start to change you. My Pastor, Kevin Whitacre, from LifePoint Church in Chicopee, MA, would say, “He accepts us how we are, but He loves us too much to keep us there.”
This is your invitation. Call on the name of the Lord.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus.
Thank You for Your faithfulness.
Thank You for Your grace, mercy, and forgiveness.
I pray for those around me; I pray for their hearts and that You bring them to repentance. I pray that my life stands a witness to the change that You can make in the life of a believer.
I know Your will is being worked out, and I pray that You make me useful to Your ends.
In the glorious Name of Jesus Christ, I pray! Amen!! 🙏❤️
