Easter Sunday Sermon

The grave is NOT your “final resting place!” God says that every human being who has ever lived will live forever.  The only question is, “Where?” We are often comforted as a believer nears their physical death because “they (and we) know where they’re going!” How can we be so sure? Because the Bible tells us that THIS life is not all there is, and that those who believe in Jesus Christ will leave their earthly bodies and enter into the glory of His perfect presence in heaven. Having been raised to new spiritual life by the power of the Holy Spirit, we who believe are assured of eternal life as we live by faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross. And further, the Bible tells us that our bodies will be raised, following the example of Jesus’ physical resurrection. Celebrating Jesus’ resurrection points to the celebration of our own resurrection when Jesus returns to gather His Church to Himself at the Rapture! It is not a “day” we are celebrating, but an event that points ahead to our own resurrection. But what about those who don’t believe in Jesus, who don’t celebrate His resurrection, who may not even believe in life after death? God tells us that these, too, will live forever … in a different place … separated from God’s love and grace and peace. These, too, will have their bodies raised up and these, too, will stand before Jesus Christ when He returns in glory. Their destination, however, will be different. It is when you understand that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), and that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), that you rejoice in the rest of that verse: “ … BUT, the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord!”  Eternal life begins when you place your trust in Jesus’ death and resurrection, and reaches its climax when YOUR body is raised from the grave and made like His glorified body! NOW we’re ready to celebrate!! “HE IS RISEN!! HE IS RISEN INDEED!!”