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Category: Resurrection (Page 12 of 12)

Living The Resurrection Life

April 13, 2009 / / 0 Comments

Resurrection Life“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.” ~Romans 6:4

The Resurrection is at the heart of every sermon preached in Acts. The reality of the Resurrection is the cornerstone and the proof of the divine goodness of the Kingdom of God. The apostles preached the Resurrection boldly and joyfully even at the cost of their very lives.

The Resurrection of Jesus is so strong.

It’s what turned Mary’s sorrow to joy. It changed the disciples’ fear into courage. It moved Thomas from doubt to assurance. It transforms the Church from an attitude of somber reflection to rejoicing celebration. It’s so powerful. It’s our hope. It’s our trumpet call. It’s the imperative force behind our Christian mission.

And if we embrace the Resurrection, if we claim the promise of the Resurrection as our own, then it will radically impact the way we live. When we understand that the glory of the Resurrection and eternal life with the Father is what awaits us after death, then we have no problem risking our lives or our well-being or our reputations or our popularity for the Gospel.

As owners of the Resurrection promise, death is not tragic. Our attitude is, “You can kill me, but you can’t hurt me.”

Graydon Snyder, in a commentary on 1 Corinthians he wrote in 1992, says living a Resurrection life means no longer insisting on “protection and security of the individual, institutions, and country.”

The life of the Spirit, with its hope in the Resurrection, does not, indeed cannot, dwell on the preservation of the flesh — personhood, institutions, nations. Rather, the corporate life of the Christian becomes one of risk. A Christian hospital can accept more welfare patients than economically advisable because it knows God’s love for the poor does not depend on its continued existance. Christians can call for total disarmament in the midst of a war because they know the future of the world does not depend on the survival of their nation. A Christian can risk his or her life because a Christian knows this life is not the end.

I’d add that a Christian Church can take bolder risks in evangelizing its neighborhoods, bolder risks in giving to children’s homes and homeless shelters, bolder risks in denying self and sacrificing self, knowing that the salvation of the world and the salvation of my soul is in the powerful and loving hands of our God who promises the Resurrection.

The power of the Resurrection and its promises is what causes us to say ‘yes’ to bold, risky Kingdom propositions instead of ‘no.’ It’s what gives us our confidence and courage. It’s what obliterates our timidity.

The Resurrection life doesn’t begin at our death. It begins right now!

Peace,

Allan

Risen With Him

April 10, 2009 / / 0 Comments

RisenWithHimThis Easter Sunday we’re planning to join the majority of God’s Church in celebrating the Resurrection. This central doctrine, this fundamental Truth, this focal point of our preaching and teaching, this historical fact in which we find our hope and courage, our strength and our assurance, is the proof of our salvation from God. It’s in the Resurrection that sin is defeated, death is conquered, and eternal life is guaranteed. The reality of God’s promises are all manifest in the Resurrection. Our Holy Scriptures tell us clearly and unapologeticaly that without the Resurrection our preaching is useless and so is our faith. Without the Resurrection, we’re without hope. Everything rides on the Resurrection.

Our baptism is what connects us to that Resurrection. Going into and coming up out of that watery grave in faith is what ties us to Jesus’ Resurrection and what gives us the power of God’s Holy Spirit that raised Jesus on that first Sunday morning.

I’m afraid that we have many, many more songs in our Christian sacred song canon about the crucifixion of Jesus than we do his Resurrection. Why is that? A lot of our songs mention his coming out of the grave in a second or third verse here and there. But how many of our songs are actually centered around this foundational Christian doctrine? I know we have “Low in the Grave He Lay” (up from the grave he arose), but not too many others. In fact, I can’t think of another song other than “Resurrection” (#241 in Songs of Faith and Praise) that is primarily centered on the Resurrection.

There was a time in the early centuries of Christ’s Church that people would wait until Easter Sunday to be baptized. That was the preferred day for baptisms. The connection with Jesus’ Resurrection was important, the symbolism there was huge. Living a resurrected life in Christ. Living as a new creature. Being alive in Jesus. Baptism, as the entrance rite into the Church, has much more to do with Resurrection than crucifixion. So everything about the Church’s worship and life had more to do with the Resurrection than the crucifixion. (Even the table. Especially the table. But that’s another blog. Or forty.)

We’re anticipating at least two baptisms here at Legacy this Sunday. We’re going to personally witness at least two resurrections. Up close. We’re going to see it. Two lives being raised from the dead to walk in newness of eternal life. How cool.

Dead unto sin, alive thru the Spirit,
Risen with Him from the gloom of the grave,
All things are new, and I am rejoicing
in his great love, his power to save.

Sin hath no more its cruel dominion,
Walking “in newness of life,” I am free –
Glorious life of Christ, my Redeemer,
which he so richly shareth with me.

Dead to the world, to voices that call me,
Living anew, obedient but free;
Dead to the joys that once did enthrall me –
Yet ’tis not I, Christ liveth in me.

He Is Not Here!

February 21, 2008 / / 4 Comments

ChurchOfTheHolySepulchre“Because I live, you also will live.” ~John 14:19

TopOfChurchIn the northwest corner of the city of Jerusalem stands the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the traditional burial place of Jesus. Very early Christian tradition, ancient writings, and archaeological evidence points to this being the location of the tomb where Jesus was laid after his crucifixion. I spent a couple of hours there a little over a year ago, milling around the inside of that massive building with probably 300 other people.

And we were all very quiet. We tiptoed. We whispered. There’s a true sense of awe in that place. Reverence. Holiness. A genuine feeling of sacredness. It’s consecrated. It’s highly significant. And it doesn’t take long to realize the glaring truth that overwhelms the impressive backdrop.

Jesus is not here.

InsideThe beautiful 900 year old paintings are here. But he is not here. The 800 year old church building is here. But he is not here. The 2000 year old tombs are here. But he is not here. The chapels and candles and altars and shrines and worshipers and pilgrims and disciples are all here. But he is not here.The rock and the tomb and the caves and the songs and the stories and the history; it’s all here. But he is not here.TombEntrance

I’ve been to Elvis’ grave. He’s there. I’ve been to Stevie Ray Vaughn’s grave. He’s there. John F. Kennedy. Abraham Lincoln. I’ve never been, but I’m certain Grant is still buried in Grant’s tomb.

I’ve been to Jesus’ tomb. And he’s not there.

And because of that, we have hope. And confidence. And courage.

Yesterday our dear brothers Ken Phillips and Sam Hughey both passed from this life to the next. Two great warriors for Christ. Two great soldiers of the cross. Two great followers of Jesus. Leaders. Examples. And as disciples of the King, they have died. Just like Jesus. This weekend they will be buried. Just like Jesus. And just like Jesus, they will be raised. And they will reign at the right hand of the heavenly Father in the eternal Kingdom of God forever and ever. Just like Jesus.

Obviously, I didn’t know either one of these brothers very well. Ken was the very first song leader for the Pipeline/Legacy church back in 1959. I heard from a couple of people last night that Ken taught so many of our boys—boys my age and older—how to lead singing and how to pray and read Scriptures publicly. Sam always had a huge smile on his face and a smart aleck comment on his lips. He was so funny. I remember clearly the day he brought his baptismal certificate to me on the 50th anniversary of his new birth in Christ. Both of these men were so happy all the time. And both encouraged me every single time I talked with them. Both of them told me more than a couple of times, “Just keep doing what you’re doing. Just preach the Bible.”

I was struck yesterday in both hospital rooms by the faith and confidence and courage exhibited by Opal and Bernice. Both of these strong Christian women faced the moment of death with tremendous faith, truly happy for their husbands, each at peace in the knowledge that her beloved is basking in the presence of God, confident that her husband will live. What an encouragement. What a testimony.

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15 that all who are in Christ will be made alive. Jesus goes before us. He leads us. And we follow. In his death. And in his resurrection.

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They’re beginning to lay the bricks around the new worship center. Perfect match.

               AnotherBrickInTheWall  Bricks

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CherokeeParksCherokee Parks was drafted #12 overall.

Peace,

Allan

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