What I Think About On Easter...

"Christ, the Lord, is risen today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply, Alleluia!"

It's hard to think of Easter without thinking of this amazing song of the season! Christ's atoning work on the cross has brought us life and this Wesleyan hymn captures it so perfectly.

"Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!"

What a cool way of saying...

5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:5-11)

The story of Easter demonstrates God's love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) But we praise God the story didn't end there!

"Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!"

Not only did He die for our sins but He was raised conquering death completely. And our hope is not only in a cool story...if it were we would be most in need of pity. (1 Corinthians 15:13-19) But in fact we, through Christ's finished work on the cross, have been "born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:3-5) Not only have our sins been forgiven, but we have been born again and we no longer live but it is Christ who lives in us. (Galatians 2:20)

Praise God for His abundant mercy and amazing grace that triumphs over sin, death, hell and the grave, and produces in us the righteousness of God so that we can stand called and commissioned to preach the gospel of reconciliation to all who will hear! (2 Corinthians 5:11-21)