Keith's Korner for April 2, 2012 - Easter
Keith’s Korner AKA Peachey’s Page
One cross + three nails = 4 given
Is that as good as it gets?
Did you know that, if forgiveness had not already been in place on God’s part there would never have been one cross and three nails? God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit on His part had already forgiven and was offering more in Jesus Christ. Jesus had already forgiven us from the cross when He prayed, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” If there was no forgiveness on the part of the Godhead, there would have never been any provision for salvation in Jesus.
So, what’s up with Easter?
Let’s not confuse Good Friday with Easter and get stuck in Friday. On Good Friday Jesus went to the cross to bear all our sins, failures and all that threatens to separate us from God and destroy us. If we stay there all we have is an offer of forgiveness with no way to receive it and move beyond a return to sin, failure and failing business as usual. Good Friday alone leaves us with Jesus as Victim. We need more and God provided more.
That’s where Easter comes in. On that first Easter morning Jesus went from Christ as VICTIM to Christ as VICTOR! On Good Friday Jesus took what we deserve and paid the price. Good Friday did nothing to make us better – nothing to keep us from returning to failing existences – nothing to change us in any real way – nothing to change our relationship to God.
But then came Easter! Jesus not only took on all our sin, failure and rebellion and their conse-quences, He DEFEATED it all and the consequences of them! On Easter JESUS WON! “But God proves His love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by His Blood, will we be saved through Him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His Life.
Salvation is much more than endless forgiveness for continual sin and failure. Salvation is forgiveness being accepted. Salvation is victory shared! Salvation is victory received and lived! Salvation is new life with new power – power direct from God to us!
Without the Resurrection Jesus would have been just a divine curve-breaker showing us just how bad off we are. With the Resurrection followed by Jesus ascending to Heaven and sending His Holy Spirit to live in each of us who personally receive Him into the lives entrusted to us, we are made new, we are forgiven and in the process of being empowered and grown into all that God has for us. When we personally receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, His victory is made to be our victory as well and He gives Himself and all His power to us to live a new life in Him.
This is why we can’t afford to stop with Jesus dying for our sins on Good Friday. We have to move on to Easter and victory and power and then on to Pentecost and receiving the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of Jesus Christ – into the lives entrusted to us so He can complete His purpose and plan and make His victory our victory – His holiness our holiness and His life-giving power ours.
Jesus dying for our sins in NOT as good as it gets. Jesus living through us sharing all He won for us in our place for all eternity is!
Cherish and appreciate Good Friday, but be sure to move on to Easter with Jesus Christ as your personal Savior AND Lord! Be saved by His LIFE!
Pastor Keith
