Thursday, April 21, 2011

April 21, 2011 … The Centrality of the Resurrection

Passage of the Day: Matthew 28: 5 – 6 … 5 The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay.

My Journal for Today: In these verses, we read of the fulcrum upon which all of human history rests … the redemption of our past and the hope of our future, all resting in one fact … that “HE IS RISEN!” As John MacArthur puts it in [b][i]Strength for Today[/i], “The fact of Jesus’ resurrection is the culmination of redemptive history and the essential basis of the Christian faith.”[/b] The Apostle Paul, inspired by God’s Spirit, recognized this fact when he wrote the following in [b]1st Cor. 15: 13 – 14[/b]…

SCRIPTURE: 1st Cor. 15: 13If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.

In the Old Testament (i.e., the Old Covenant), it was faith in the coming Messiah that led those prophets and saints into heaven, as with Abraham (Heb. 11: 19) or Daniel (Dan. 12: 1-5). However, now, in the New Covenant we must have faith in the risen Messiah, as the Lord, Jesus, preached and prophesied it (see Mark 8: 31).

Therefore, again, under the New Covenant, the resurrection of Jesus, which was given witness by over 500 people [see 1st Cor. 15: 6], led eleven of the remaining Apostles, as well as the Apostle Paul, to be martyred for their faith and their desire to spread the message of Jesus’ resurrection and the good news which was wrapped up in that event.

And finally, after the resurrection, as our Lord ascended into heaven to be re-glorified unto His place on God’s throne, He charged us all of His disciples to spread this resurrection good news. It was His GREAT COMMISSION; and if one memorizes and internalizes any of God’s word, this one passage ought to be right at the top of the list …

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 28: 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

What more need be said in devotion to this truth? He is risen; … He is risen indeed!

My Prayer Today: Yes, Lord, … that is my desire – for all to see You as risen. Amen

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