Christ Is Risen, So We Might Live
April 20, 2025 · 2:01:12 · Watch on YouTube ↗
Summary
The Easter service opens with the joyful greeting, Christ is risen, He is risen indeed. Reading John 20:19-20, the pastor recalls how the risen Jesus stood among His frightened disciples behind locked doors, spoke peace (shalom), and showed them His wounded hands and side. The same living Lord wants to fill our hearts with that Easter joy and light today.
The main message asks a question few of us ever consider: what if Christ had not risen? Scripture answers that our faith would be empty, we would be deceived, and we would still be carrying every sin we ever committed - tens of thousands of them across a lifetime. But the wages of sin is death, and no one can buy their own freedom, so God sent His Son to die for our sins and rise for our justification.
To share in His resurrection we must first die - to self, to sin, to the world - so we can walk in newness of life (Romans 6). A life unchanged from its old worldly pattern shows we have not yet truly risen. The closing word turns to hope: like the neatly folded grave cloth that quietly promised Jesus would return, and like a freed prisoner crying out, Mom, I am alive, the risen Christ is coming back for His people. Maranatha - be ready.
Key Points
- Christ is truly risen, and because He lives, everyone who believes is raised with Him into new life.
- If Christ had not risen, our faith would be in vain and our sins would remain unforgiven.
- The wages of sin is death; we cannot redeem ourselves, so God sent His Son in our place.
- Resurrection begins with death: dying to self, sin, and the world in order to live for God.
- A life that looks no different from the world is a sign we have not yet truly risen.
- Bring every sin, every broken relationship, and every burden to the risen Christ for healing.
- Jesus will return for His people, just as He promised, so live ready and watching.
Devotional
Pause today and ask honestly: what would my life be if Christ had not risen? Every sin I ever committed would still be mine to carry, and my faith would be a hope that reaches only to the ceiling. But He did rise, and He calls me to die with Him to my old self so I can walk in a genuinely new life. Bring Him whatever is breaking your heart, for the One who conquered death is alive and near. Then lift your eyes, because the same Jesus who rose is coming back for you.
“There is one grave in all the world that reads: He is not here, He is risen.”
“To rise again you first have to die - to yourself, to sin, to this world.”
“He folded the grave cloth like a promise: the work is not finished, I will return.”
