favorite Christian holy days. For nearly two millennia these three have been the centerpiece of
biblical faith. Christmas highlights the Incarnation: the Son of God became human, was born
into the world, and dwelt among us. Good Friday is the day when we remember Christ's death
on the Cross for the forgiveness of our sins. Resurrection Sunday celebrates God raising His
Son, the crucified Messiah, from death to Resurrection life. They do not point to anything that
we humans have done, but entirely to what God has done in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Resurrection Sunday is a great and glorious day. Last Easter Sunday we celebrated with Chris-
tians throughout the whole world the historical reality that on the third day after Jesus Christ
was crucified, God raised Him from the dead. Christ was indeed victorious over sin and death.
was crucified, God raised Him from the dead. Christ was indeed victorious over sin and death.
Jesus, God in human flesh, really did walk among us 2000 years ago. He really did suffer and
die on the Cross for the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus really was raised from death to life. His
tomb really was empty! The Crucified and Risen Savior was seen by over 500 witnesses. His
death, burial, and resurrection fulfilled the promises that God had delivered to God's people cen-
turies before Jesus' birth in Bethlehem so very long ago.
turies before Jesus' birth in Bethlehem so very long ago.
Our salvation is securely anchored in what God did through the death, burial and resurrection
of His Son Jesus Christ nearly 2000 years ago. Saving faith is grounded in what God has done
in Jesus Christ: it is not based on anything we have done to earn our salvation. By grace we are
saved through faith. Yet the constant refrain I often hear from well-intentioned evangelical Chris-
tians focuses on such human activities as faithfully attending Bible-believing church services or
caring for the poor and needy. When we focus primarily on these good and proper Christian ac-
tivities, I find that the Cross and the Empty Tomb tend to be neglected. The Gospel of Jesus is
not about what we do; it is grounded in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God cre-
ated us to do good works, but they flow out of the Good Work that God has done through Jesus
for us and our salvation. The Cross of Christ and the Empty Tomb are the heart of the Gospel. We
put our trust in what God has done through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Blessings to you and yours,
in Jesus Christ: it is not based on anything we have done to earn our salvation. By grace we are
saved through faith. Yet the constant refrain I often hear from well-intentioned evangelical Chris-
tians focuses on such human activities as faithfully attending Bible-believing church services or
caring for the poor and needy. When we focus primarily on these good and proper Christian ac-
tivities, I find that the Cross and the Empty Tomb tend to be neglected. The Gospel of Jesus is
not about what we do; it is grounded in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God cre-
ated us to do good works, but they flow out of the Good Work that God has done through Jesus
for us and our salvation. The Cross of Christ and the Empty Tomb are the heart of the Gospel. We
put our trust in what God has done through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Blessings to you and yours,
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