The Weekly Focal Point - March 26
Without the historic and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have no hope. The Bible contends that without the veracity of this single event recorded in the four biographies of Christ, we’d be wise to walk away from this entire movement we call Christianity. In the New Testament we are told that if we have no proof of Christ being the forerunner of our own life after death, then we certainly shouldn’t be submitting our lives to his directives. Instead, we ought to “live it up” (1Cor.15:32), do what we want and perhaps begin looking for some other “lord” for our lives who hasn’t lied to us. If the Jesus the Bible posits as the King of Life, the One we are to trust as we face our own mortality, if he himself is a permanent victim of the grave then he does not deserve our allegiance, our obedience, or even our attention. Remember when the critics pressed in on the fledgling church, those who preached a risen Christ continued to point to the facts.
They reminded the skeptics that all these events, most notably the bodily resurrection of Christ wasn’t some surreptitious story foisted on members of a clandestine club (2Pt.1:16). The events were out in the open, witnessed by multitudes. The accounts could be researched and verified. They were events that “were not done in a corner” (Ac.26:26). And because that young church knew for certain that Christ rose from the dead, verifying his message and validating his promises, they were not only ready to live for him, but they were willing to risk their own lives to get that message out! As we celebrate his resurrection, I pray that we are ready to do the same!
- Pastor Mike
MARCH OFFER
It’s popular for people to say that “death is simply a part of life.” But the truth is, nothing could be more antithetical to life than death. From a biblical perspective, the only thing “natural” about death is that all of nature has been unwillingly made subject to it. The Bible reveals that God’s creation was not initially designed to undergo physical death. Death was the disciplinary response to the rebellion of our archetypal parents. Adam and Eve’s sin—and ours—remind us why death is the sentence we each must bear.
But there is good news. Christ has come to conquer death! At His first coming, He won the war. At His second coming, He will depose our enemy forever. In this wonderful book for children of all ages, this special 25th anniversary edition of The Tale of Three Trees by Angela Elwell Hunt tells the story of Christ’s life, death and resurrection from a unique and poignant perspective. I invite you to request a copy when you give a donation of any amount.
Request Hand in Hand by Randy Alcorn with your donation this month.
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