I grew up the in a Southern Baptist Church where we often belted out the hymn made famous by The Gaither Brothers – “He Lives.” Alfred Ackley, an American pastor, wrote this hymn in 1933 after witnessing a Jewish student attending several evangelical meetings and asking, “Why should I worship a dead Jew?” The chorus goes like this:
He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ Jesus lives today He walks with me and talks with me Along life's narrow way He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Salvation to impart You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart
This is the GOOD NEWS of Easter - Jesus Christ's victory over death. His resurrection symbolizes the eternal life that is granted to all who believe in Him. The meaning of Easter also symbolizes the complete verification of all that Jesus preached and taught during His three-year ministry. If He had not risen from the dead, if He had merely died and not been resurrected, He would have been considered just another teacher or Rabbi; however, His resurrection changed all that and gave final and irrefutable proof that He was really the Son of God and that He had conquered death once and for all. If Jesus had not been resurrected, Christianity would be just another religion whose founder or Deity’s remains could be visited. There are no remains of Jesus. The tomb is empty because unlike any other Deity or human being, God raised Him from the dead, and the Son of God now sits at the Right Hand of God the Father in Heaven!!! Jesus paid for our sins once and for all, and all we have to do is accept His free gift of salvation by admitting we are sinners who do wrong, by asking for forgiveness, by believing that Jesus died on the cross and rose again as a payment for our sins, and by confessing and choosing to allow God to the be in charge of our lives. As Christians, we celebrate Easter to honor and recognize Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead and His glorious promises of eternal life for all who believe in Him. If you have never given your life to Christ, today is the day! None of us are promised tomorrow, and the life we are given on earth is for the sole purpose of bringing glory and honor to our Creator, Jesus Christ. We bring Him glory and honor when we accept His free gift of salvation and live a life serving and loving others in His image. Becoming a Christian is so simple – just pray this prayer but know that it’s not the words of the prayer that save but the repentance and the faith in Jesus in your heart that do, “Lord, I admit I am a sinner. I need and want Your forgiveness. I accept Your death as the penalty for my sin, and recognize that Your mercy and grace is a gift You offer to me because of Your great love, not based on anything I have done. Cleanse me and make me Your child. By faith I receive You into my heart as the Son of God and as Savior and Lord of my life. From now on, help me live for You, with You in control. In Your precious name, Amen”
If you ever need prayer or would like to learn more about a relationship with Jesus Christ, please do not hesitate to reach out to any of our Berry Financial Group team members. Happy Easter and remember, “HE LIVES!”
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