Don’t you just love Easter? I do. I have been struggling since Sunday to put into words, how I felt this particular Easter Sunday. This year Easter was more “real” to me than it’s ever been. I can’t say why that is, or if it’s simply because I am more in love with my Jesus this year than ever before. I caught a glimpse of what God did for us, giving his son, his precious innocent son, to suffer a horrible painful death for ME...for us...for you. It’s completely humbling.
Our Pastor showed a clip of “The Passion of the Christ” in the clip was the crowd shouting to release Barabbas and yelling to “Crucify” Jesus. Then the video went on to the whipping post, and it shows the beating and mocking of our sweet Jesus! There was one part that stood out, and our Pastor used it in his sermon: when Jesus prayed “My heart is ready”...WOW...that is TOTAL submission to God’s will, his heart was ready to suffer and die for God’s will, for our sins. I can’t say I have ever been that committed to God’s will in my life (I should be). How could I be so selfish as to think God owes me anything other than Calvary? He does not owe us anything. Oh, I believe God loves us and wants good things for us, and I know he gives us blessings in this life, because of that love for us. But who am I to get angry, when things don’t go my way, or when I feel things have happened to me unfairly? The cross is enough! If God never blesses me again with any worldly possessions, the promise of Heaven and living forever, worshiping the God that loved me so much He gave His son to a wicked world to use as a sacrifice, for ME, that is ENOUGH! Who am I, a sinner (saved by grace), to think God isn’t doing things the right way. Sometimes we think it isn’t fair when we don’t get things in our lives that we want or things we even feel that we need. Think of it this way how “fair” was it that Jesus was beaten and mocked, and hung on a cross? He was blameless, no sin was in him, but he CHOSE the cross! That wasn’t fair.
In essence the message Sunday was “Who are you Choosing Barabbas or Jesus.” If you choose to sin, when you know right, then you are releasing Barabbas and crucifying Jesus again. When you know beyond all doubt, something is a sin and you continue to do it, you are crucifying Jesus (and if you saw that clip you would never want to do that). Now, I know we all sin, and when we fall he is faithful to forgive us! But when you continue to walk in sin without care, that is when the bible says you nailing him to that cross again. Ever heard anyone use the argument “I will ask forgiveness later after I have had my fun” or “I can do this and God will forgive me, grace covers all”
Hebrews 6:4-6 (NIV)
4 What if some people fall away from the faith? It won't be possible to bring them back. It is true that they have seen the light. They have tasted the heavenly gift. They have shared in the Holy Spirit. 5 They have tasted the good things of God's word. They have tasted the powers of the age to come. 6 But they have fallen away from the faith. So it won't be possible to bring them back. They won't be able to turn away from their sins. They are losing everything. That's because they are nailing the Son of God to the cross all over again. They are bringing shame on him in front of everyone
Now let me be clear on this, I DO NOT believe this verse means if you have fallen there is no hope for you. I believe in grace; God’s Word is clear: “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us” (Ephesians 1:7-8).
I believe if you truly have a repentant heart, you can ask forgiveness and be forgiven!
Repent means “to feel regret about a sin or past actions and change your ways or habits.”
Jude 1:4 (NIV)
4For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
God knows your heart and he knows when you are truly repentant. This is not meant to condemn anyone. I stumbled across this article as I was looking for the exact verses for this post and it explains what I am trying to say. I lack the ability in my writing to make my point as clearly as Mr. Bosch does. I am not familiar with the man or his background of beliefs, but this article is exactly what I am trying to get across here.
I have completely left my original point.
Our Pastor showed a clip of “The Passion of the Christ” in the clip was the crowd shouting to release Barabbas and yelling to “Crucify” Jesus. Then the video went on to the whipping post, and it shows the beating and mocking of our sweet Jesus! There was one part that stood out, and our Pastor used it in his sermon: when Jesus prayed “My heart is ready”...WOW...that is TOTAL submission to God’s will, his heart was ready to suffer and die for God’s will, for our sins. I can’t say I have ever been that committed to God’s will in my life (I should be). How could I be so selfish as to think God owes me anything other than Calvary? He does not owe us anything. Oh, I believe God loves us and wants good things for us, and I know he gives us blessings in this life, because of that love for us. But who am I to get angry, when things don’t go my way, or when I feel things have happened to me unfairly? The cross is enough! If God never blesses me again with any worldly possessions, the promise of Heaven and living forever, worshiping the God that loved me so much He gave His son to a wicked world to use as a sacrifice, for ME, that is ENOUGH! Who am I, a sinner (saved by grace), to think God isn’t doing things the right way. Sometimes we think it isn’t fair when we don’t get things in our lives that we want or things we even feel that we need. Think of it this way how “fair” was it that Jesus was beaten and mocked, and hung on a cross? He was blameless, no sin was in him, but he CHOSE the cross! That wasn’t fair.
In essence the message Sunday was “Who are you Choosing Barabbas or Jesus.” If you choose to sin, when you know right, then you are releasing Barabbas and crucifying Jesus again. When you know beyond all doubt, something is a sin and you continue to do it, you are crucifying Jesus (and if you saw that clip you would never want to do that). Now, I know we all sin, and when we fall he is faithful to forgive us! But when you continue to walk in sin without care, that is when the bible says you nailing him to that cross again. Ever heard anyone use the argument “I will ask forgiveness later after I have had my fun” or “I can do this and God will forgive me, grace covers all”
Hebrews 6:4-6 (NIV)
4 What if some people fall away from the faith? It won't be possible to bring them back. It is true that they have seen the light. They have tasted the heavenly gift. They have shared in the Holy Spirit. 5 They have tasted the good things of God's word. They have tasted the powers of the age to come. 6 But they have fallen away from the faith. So it won't be possible to bring them back. They won't be able to turn away from their sins. They are losing everything. That's because they are nailing the Son of God to the cross all over again. They are bringing shame on him in front of everyone
Now let me be clear on this, I DO NOT believe this verse means if you have fallen there is no hope for you. I believe in grace; God’s Word is clear: “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us” (Ephesians 1:7-8).
I believe if you truly have a repentant heart, you can ask forgiveness and be forgiven!
Repent means “to feel regret about a sin or past actions and change your ways or habits.”
Jude 1:4 (NIV)
4For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
God knows your heart and he knows when you are truly repentant. This is not meant to condemn anyone. I stumbled across this article as I was looking for the exact verses for this post and it explains what I am trying to say. I lack the ability in my writing to make my point as clearly as Mr. Bosch does. I am not familiar with the man or his background of beliefs, but this article is exactly what I am trying to get across here.
I have completely left my original point.
Easter Sunday.....
Sunday was such and awesome day! I love my church, and believe whole heartedly that I am going to encounter God’s presence every single time I walk through the doors! But there was something about this Easter Sunday morning, even the worship service seemed so saturated with the presence of God, more so than normal! I am not sure if that was because I was more open to receiving his presence Sunday morning than I have been in a long time; or if it was really that much different. I just felt so grateful and so humbled by the cross, but more importantly by the resurrection! That is really the most important part. Jesus didn’t stay in that tomb; he was raised from the dead and is alive today. Death couldn’t hold him, death can’t hold any of us that are Christians, and we will live eternally together with our Father in Heaven. That is the most exciting part! One of the worship songs we sang Sunday morning was “Marvelous Light” the words are so exciting, if you are a Christian.
Sin has lost its power;
death has lost its sting,
from the grave you’ve risen victoriously
Sunday was such and awesome day! I love my church, and believe whole heartedly that I am going to encounter God’s presence every single time I walk through the doors! But there was something about this Easter Sunday morning, even the worship service seemed so saturated with the presence of God, more so than normal! I am not sure if that was because I was more open to receiving his presence Sunday morning than I have been in a long time; or if it was really that much different. I just felt so grateful and so humbled by the cross, but more importantly by the resurrection! That is really the most important part. Jesus didn’t stay in that tomb; he was raised from the dead and is alive today. Death couldn’t hold him, death can’t hold any of us that are Christians, and we will live eternally together with our Father in Heaven. That is the most exciting part! One of the worship songs we sang Sunday morning was “Marvelous Light” the words are so exciting, if you are a Christian.
Sin has lost its power;
death has lost its sting,
from the grave you’ve risen victoriously
Easter was wonderful this year, and I have taken hold of the revelation of what Calvary and the Cross really are, and how undeserving I really am. My prayer is that God will give each of you a revelation of his amazing grace. It is such a wonderful comfort, in the midst of our many trials on this earth, to be a Child of the King!
Hallelujah!!!!!
Hallelujah!!!!!
1 COMMENTS:
Wonderful post. Easter was more real this year for me than it has ever been before...and I'm not sure why either.
I'm so thankful that I serve a Risen Savior!
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