When John saw Jesus, as he wrote in Revelation, he fell at his feet as though dead.

Jesus put his hand on him and said, “Fear not.”

There was good reason.

As Jesus explained, “I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I was dead and now look, I am alive for ever and ever.

And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”

The thing we fear most is death and judgment.

This had such a grip on our lives, that the writer of Hebrews wrote this fear held us in slavery.

In Christ, fear loses its grip.

He is alive forever.

With his key, he has opened the door and released us from the power of sin and death.

You are alive and free.

And that’s good news.

Categories: Jesus Christ Resurrection

Do you go through life expecting the worst?

I did for a long time.

And when the bad things happened, I thought it was punishment for one of my past sins.

But it’s different now.

I don’t live on edge wondering when punishment will fall.

That was all taken care of at the cross. Jesus’ finished work took away my sin once and for all.

And through his resurrection he gave me a brand new life, His life.

This is the truth that put my mind at rest.

This is the truth that replaced my fears and anxieties with hope.

Let me encourage you today. You don’t have to live expecting the worst.

Take a look at the cross and the resurrection.

It will put your mind at rest and fill your heart with hope.

Categories: Resurrection Salvation

Jesus was raised from the dead.

He is alive and he will never die again.

Which means death no longer has dominion over him.

That’s Jesus. But what about you?

Well here is your story as Paul writes it.

You have been baptized, or placed into Christ’s death, burial and resurrection through faith in him.

Which means your old man was crucified with Christ.

This is good news, because the one who has died has been set free from sin. Sin is no longer your master.

And since you have died with Christ, you will also live with him.

Death no longer has dominion over you.

Because he lives, you live.

So today, live in this truth. Count yourself dead to sin, and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Categories: Jesus Christ Jesus Christ Resurrection Hope

“Since then you have been raised with Christ…”

Now that should get your attention.

Paul is declaring a truth about you.

Christian, you have been raised with Christ. And it happened the moment you believed.

In the same way that God raised Jesus Christ physically 2000 years ago, he raised you raised spiritually to live a new life.

Now, since this is true, seek the things that are above where Christ is.

In other words, look to Jesus. He is now your life. And nothing in this world compares to Him. And while you are seeking the things above, set your mind there as well.

That’s where true joy and peace are experienced, You will never find them in the world

So don’t sell your self short. You have new life.

You’ve been raised with Christ.

Categories: Resurrection Jesus Christ Hope

The resurrection of Jesus Christ guarantees your eternal security. Because he lives forever, so will you.

But his resurrection also gives you a new way to live here and now.

In this new way of life, sin and death can no longer have their way with you.

As Paul wrote, “sin is no longer your master”. Your old self that was under sin’s control was crucified with Christ, dead and buried. So count yourself dead to sin and fully alive to God, living through the power of grace.

Say along with Paul, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Categories: Jesus Christ Resurrection Faith Hope Love

The evidence is overwhelming concerning the resurrection.

Jesus Christ is alive. He was raised from the dead just as he said.

And since Christ was raised, he cannot die again.

Paul put it this way, “death no longer has mastery over him” (Romans 6:9).

Now here is what that means to you. Because he lives forever, you, as a Christian, will live forever.

If you have ever wondered about your eternal security, these words from Hebrews should erase all doubt and fear:

“Because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them” (Hebrews 7:24-25).

Because Jesus lives, you have been saved completely.

Categories: Jesus Christ Resurrection Faith Hope Love

Most of you are familiar with the song, Because He Lives.

The lyrics, penned by Bill and Gloria Gaither, strike the chord of hope in every person who genuinely believes that Jesus Christ lives today.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, all fear is gone,
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living, just because He lives.

And the good news is that he lives in you! And that makes you eternally secure.

For many, the question of salvation weighs heavy on their hearts. They wonder, “Have I done enough? Or, been good enough?”

The answer to both questions is “No!”

But Jesus did enough through his death, burial and resurrection.

And he is alive forevermore. Because he lives, you live forever.

Categories: Jesus Christ Faith Hope Love Resurrection

The Gospel is the story of Jesus—his death, his burial, his resurrection, all in accordance with the Scriptures.

This story was passed on to Paul as of first importance. And that’s how he delivered it wherever he went.

This is important to note because the story of Jesus is not a secondary event in human history. No, his story is the lead, the most important of all.

And even today, 2000 years later, It stands far above every other story in importance and relevance.

And it is of first importance for you.

Think about it. What can the world offer you that compares to the life, forgiveness and freedom you have in Christ.

So today, aren’t you glad that when that message was preached to you, you received it and took your stand in Jesus?

Categories: Jesus Christ Resurrection Faith Hope Love

In college, most of my science professors denied the existence of God.

Or at least, they didn’t think he was relevant to the human story.

No, they were a part of a growing group of intellectuals that believed science could explain everything in our world.

Stephen Hawking summed up this mindset when he said, “One can’t prove that God doesn’t exist, but science makes God unnecessary. The laws of physics can explain the universe without the need for a creator.”

Here is the problem; they haven’t found the law of physics that can explain the resurrection of Jesus. To them it’s merely religious foolishness.

One day I hope they will see otherwise and will discover what you and I have discovered; that just as Christ was raised from the dead, you have been raised to walk in new life.

Categories: Resurrection Jesus Christ

My friend Rich passed away recently.

A rare lung disease along with an aggressive cancer took his life.

Before he died, I asked him if he was afraid.

In Rich like fashion, he said, “What do I have to be afraid of?”

He was ready to see Jesus.

And when he took his last breath, he did so with peace in his heart.

My friend is absent from the body now, and present with the Lord.

I will miss him. But I will always remember his final week. He faced his impending death with rock solid faith in Jesus and a hope that could not be shaken.

That’s the power of the Gospel.

I pray that it is bringing to you a rock solid faith and an unshakeable hope to you as you face the circumstances of your daily life.

Categories: Faith Jesus Christ Resurrection Heaven