If we are Christians, saved by grace and sure of our resurrection, why is it important that we remember the Easter message? This time of year is for Christians to celebrate what Jesus Christ did for everyone. We are to look freshly at scripture about Christ’s death, burial and resurrection.
As we look at the miracle Jesus performed when He was raised from the dead into life, resulting gifts from the Lord are revealed. Some we may remember; some we might not have noticed before. Blessings abound as we read.
Here is what the Bible says about Jesus’ saving gift.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 NIV “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,”
Paul is talking about the gospel. This is what Jesus did for us. The suffering, humiliation and separation from God His Father at the time of His death, could never be conceived by a human. Yet, He faced it willingly. This is His ultimate gift to us.
Regardless of any other thought but to thank, praise and glorify what He did could only mark our celebration. If Jesus never does another thing for us, His death and resurrection is more than enough.
But, there are other gifts included in our salvation. Here below are a few.
- Our Sin Debt is Paid
- We Have Eternal Life
- We Shall See God
- We Have the Holy Spirit
- Christ Intercedes for Us
- We Have Newness of Life
- We Have a Living Hope
- Conclusion
Our Sin Debt is Paid
Why did Christ die? Because God could not have a relationship with humans because of their sin.
Romans 3:23 NIV “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
We cannot compete with God’s righteousness on our own, we cannot even measure up. We cannot pay the debt ourselves.
Romans 3:23 NIV “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
God loves us so much, that He reconciled the problem by sending His Son, Jesus Christ to die in our place for our sin, so we can have fellowship with Him. When we accept His gift of salvation, our debt is paid.
We Have Eternal Life
John 3:16 NIV “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
When we become followers of Jesus Christ, we can have fellowship with God. We now can know God and have eternal life.
Titus 1:2 NIV “in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,”
We can have assurance of our salvation, because our God, who does not lie, fulfilled His promise of salvation in His Son, Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:9 NIV “God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
We also not only will fellowship with God in heaven, but now can talk to Him. This is His way for us to stay in step with Him.
We Shall See God
1 John 3:2 NIV “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”
What will it be like to see Jesus Christ? I’m not sure we can really comprehend how magnificent that will be. Our love will overcome us as we enjoy His presence. It is an aspect of our salvation we may not think of often. But it is promised to us and what wonderful gift it is.
We also will be like Him, perfect in every way. We can only imagine what it will be like. Remember, He gave His life blood for our sin, how awesome to know someone who loves us that much!
Revelation 22:4 NIV “They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.”
We will see Him and be marked as His.
We Have the Holy Spirit
Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”
When we come to know Jesus Christ as our Savior, we were given the gift of the Holy Spirit. Without His help, we cannot live for the Lord. We are dependent on Him to learn how to walk with Jesus Christ.
He also is a guarantee of our salvation until we are with the Lord. Our communication with the Holy Spirit is a way we can know our salvation is true, to the honor of God.
Jesus Christ Intercedes for Us
Romans 8:33-34 NIV “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”
God is the only one who can justify His chosen ones and no one condemns them. We have Jesus Christ at the right hand of God who takes our prayers and intercedes to God the Father for us.
Jesus Christ has created a way for our prayers to be presented to God in perfection. God then answers in His time and wisdom. What can be better than that?
We Have Newness of Life
Romans 6:4 NIV “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
When we accept Jesus as Savior, we symbolically share in His death and resurrection. Through this process, we go from death to life.
2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
What a fresh wonderful way to start our new life in Jesus Christ. We have access to the Holy Spirit who trains us in God’s righteousness.
When we fall back on our way of life, we can confess it and be restore to God’s way of righteousness.
We Have a Living Hope
1 Peter 1:3-4 NIV “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,“
“The nature of this salvation as a new birth according to the mercy of God evokes praise to God the Father, who is the source of salvation. The new birth is the work of the Holy Spirit . The Christian has a “living hope” because Jesus has been raised by the Father. This hope is further described in v.4 as an “inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.” The concept of inheritance is one of the major Bible themes and stresses family connection and gift. The inheritance “is kept” or reserved in heaven by God for his people.” Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament
Peter is overcome with a grateful spirit to God for our new birth in Jesus Christ. This new birth gives us a “living hope” because Jesus was not left in the grave, but was resurrected. This is proof He is the Son of God and is qualified to be our Savior.
Our hope and salvation is alive. It gives us life as we accept His gift of salvation.
Conclusion
Even though this time of year is designated for the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection, it should be on our minds continually in gratefulness for what He did for us.
There are many gifts from God given to us at the moment of salvation. Reviewing the scripture can refresh our spirit and remind us to share this gift with others.
This week, take one of these gifts a day and meditate on the scripture and what it means to you. Thank the Lord for His gift of salvation and the miracles it has brought to your life. How different has your life become from the power of knowing Jesus Christ as your Savior?
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