Good to Great! - Easter

I think it's funny that we call the day that Jesus was killed "Good" Friday. I mean, I know why it's good. But when we celebrate it we are always so somber. I'm actually quite happy that Jesus died for me. He took my punishment for me. There is nothing I can do within myself to earn eternal life and God knows that. No one in the world can ever measure up to God's perfect standard. So what does God do? He comes to earth and dies for me! If it were up to me, Good Friday would be called GREAT Friday and it would be a massive party!

Have you ever wrapped your minds around the fact that THE God of the entire Universe and all that is in it came down to Earth from Heaven just to give His life for you? He left the comfort and paradise of Heaven to be here with us... to walk in your shoes and to know what it fully means to be human and to face all the temptations that we face. Check this out in Hebrews 4:15 - "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin." So Jesus knows, in every way, what we go through each day. In EVERY WAY; yet He did not sin... He did not give in. Jesus is perfect and He is God and that more than qualifies Him to take our place and die for us so that we do not have to die an eternal Godless death in Hell. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice that God needed to satisfy His anger towards humanity.

Romans 5:9 - Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!

That is so exciting! God's anger is not against me anymore because of Christ's death. Praise the Lord! Now THAT is good!

Romans 5:10-11 also continue to say - 10For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

"...how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!" Jesus didn't stay dead! He lives today! He conquered death and Hell! When Mary, the mother of Jesus and the other Mary went to Jesus' grave to see Him, this is what the Angel said to them when they saw that the humongous stone was rolled away from the front of the grave: Matthew 28:5-6 - 5The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay."

When the Angel said, "...just as He said." he was saying that When Jesus is proving that who He said he is is exactly that; who He said He is! He is not only a man, born of a woman, but He is also God, conceived by God in Mary. Jesus said He would be raised from the dead after three days and HE WAS! Praise God! The tomb is empty and He is alive!

So, the question is now: Do you believe Jesus rose from the dead? And if you do, then you not only believe He was a good roll-model, but you also believe He is God and He is alive and continues to watch over us and guide us and love us. The the only logical choice is to accept His love and salvation by telling Him that you are sorry for your sin and that you want to have a personal relationship with Him and that you accept His forgiveness. Tell Him that you believe He was born and raised to die for you and that you want to live for Him. In faith, if you do that with all your heart, you will be saved! You will have salvation from God when you do this from the heart. He wants you as you are right now. Nothing you have done... NOTHING... can ever separate you from God's love and forgiveness if you accept it. It's all up to you to accept it because it's right there for you to reach.

Happy Easter everyone. We, at The Vine, pray that this Easter will be the turning point in your life that will define your eternal destiny for the Lord Jesus. He loves you - He's proved that by coming to us at Christmas, Dying for us on Good Friday and coming back from the dead on Easter! PRAISE THE LORD!

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- Bryan @ The Vine