Victory!

I hope you all had a wonderful Resurrection Sunday! Over the past few days, I have attended a few services centered around Christ's birth, death, and resurrection. There are two things that I want share based on what the Lord spoke through those pastors. 


Número Uno: I bring to you verses that were used during our Easter Service. 

"But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if

Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For is the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in yours sings. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of al people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep"

-- 1 Corinthians 15: 12-20 (ESV)

One thing that was very poignant with this sermon was the importance of the resurrection. Christ was born free of sin. He became sin, endured the wrath of God, and died because of that sin. He conquered sin, by being raised from the dead! In the same way that a raised flag denotes victory, our risen savior denotes a victory over sin! Here is some paraphrasing of a John MacArthur quote that was used:

"If Christ did not raise from the dead, then sin conquered Christ and still reigns over us. Nothing was brought. No hope, no salvation, no forgiveness, nothing."

"O death, where is your victory?

O death, where is your sting?"

-- 1 Corinth 15: 55 (ESV)

It's gone! Christ won! He was raised from the dead! There is our hope, our future, our everything! He's no longer in the burial chamber, he lives in us! He walks with us! He's CHRIST! 

"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

-- 1 Corinth 15: 57 (ESV)

Número dos: Basically some food for thought. I encourage you to meditate and pray over this. 

                      They are inspired by a service centered around the last supper and "doing this in remembrance of me (Jesus)"

1. What does the cross mean to you?

     2.  What has Christ conquered for you? 

     3.  What sin has Christ's blood washed over for you?

     4.  What sin in your life caused Jesus' body to be broken?

     5.  What has the Lord blessed you with? Family? Friends? 

Rejoice in the Lord! Rejoice for the greatest sacrifice made out of love for us! Every time we partake in communion we must remember not only why Christ had to die for us, but what we have been given as well!