The Power of His Resurrection

By Rev. Haniff Bacchus –

1 Corinthians 15:3-6
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:  And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

The Resurrection of Jesus is the key to our faith.
Resurrection has always taken our minds back to only One Person, Jesus Christ. He raised others back to life. They eventually died mortal deaths again. He came back never to die again. The witnesses saw Him alive and He ascended up into the Heavens. Those witnesses were martyred for their claims yet never recanted their story. Ever since, millions have testified of their encounter with Christ through His Holy Spirit and their lives have been changed for God. Even today, many are tortured and suffer martyrdom for their faith.

He lives to change our lives for God.
The Apostle Paul wrote our passage of Scripture in 1 Corinthians 15. He was not always a believer in Christ. Before conversion he was Saul, a persecutor of Christians. One day, he met the resurrected Christ on his journey to arrest Christians. The Acts of the Apostles describes his encounter with Jesus in chapter 9. He was a scholar of Hebrew Scripture. He began to understand how Jesus was described prophetically in the Old Testament. It was an exciting discovery, but it would cost him much to hold to the truth. Paul became an aggressive preacher of the gospel, suffering much and planting churches in Asia and Europe.
“Christ died for our sins … he was buried, and he rose again the third day according to the scriptures”

Calvary’s Cross provides Redemption for all.
The Cross of Christ is the bridge of love between a Holy God and sinful man. The Gospel of Luke chapter 23 documents Jesus was crucified between two thieves. His cross is the story of Redemption. His Blood paid for our sins. Love held Him to the Cross. Now we can be forgiven and know God loves us. One thief railed on Him “If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.” That was a cross of Rebellion. Many today still reject Christ or are self-seeking. The other thief represented a cross of Repentance when he cried “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” Millions have repented of their sins trusting in the finished work of Jesus on the Cross to pay for their sins. The good news is their lives are wonderfully transformed to the glory of God forever.
The Resurrection is our hope of eternal life.

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the single most important event in human history. Billy Graham once said, “There is more evidence that Jesus rose from the dead than there is that Julius Caesar ever lived or that Alexander the Great died at the age of thirty-three.”
A woman wrote J. Vernon McGee: “Our preacher said that on Easter Jesus just swooned on the cross and that the disciples nursed him back to health. What do you think?” McGee replied, “Dear Sister, beat your preacher with a leather whip for thirty-nine heavy strokes. Nail him to a cross. Hang him in the sun for six hours. Run a spear through his heart. Embalm him. Put him in an airless tomb for three days. Then see what happens.”
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ gives hope beyond the grave. Death has always been a terror to mankind. The sadness of losing a loved one or the fear of death is indescribable. The great news is there is One who defeated death and He promised eternal life to all who trust in Him. He said in John 14:1-3 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
C.S.Lewis wrote in his book Mere Christianity: “A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic – on a level with a man who says he is a poached egg – or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is the Son of God; or else a mad man or something worse…but let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”

Was there ever a demonstration of so great love?

My friend, God was never obligated to show us favor, but He did. God did not demand from us payment or punishment for our sins; He paid the price for us. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) God loves you. Everyone should celebrate the eternal victory Christ won for us. His salvation crosses every boundary and is for “whosoever will.”
COME TO CALVARY
You are invited to worship with us at Calvary Assembly of God on Good Friday March 29 at 7 AM and 7:30 PM. Easter Sunday worship services are 8 AM and 11 AM. Our special Easter Sunday Presentation starts at 5:30 PM.
Rev. Haniff Bacchus
Senior Pastor. Calvary Assembly of   God
102-07 Rockaway Blvd.Ozone Park, NY 11417
Tel: 718-659-4500
www.calvaryozone.org