Easter Words - "Death"

“For this perishable part of us must put on the imperishable nature, and this mortal part of us, this nature that is capable of dying, must put on immortality – freedom from death. And when this perishable puts on the imperishable and this that was capable of dying puts on freedom from death, then Death is swallowed up, it is utterly vanquished forever, in and unto victory. O death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting? But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory, making us conquerors through our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Corinthians 15:53-55,57) (Amp.). Jesus Christ’s death on the cross was the most significant death in all of history. There have been more books written about His death, more sermons preached, more songs sung, and more enactments than all commemorations ever given. His death has affected the life and after-life of all mankind, some for good, and some for eternal sorrow and torment (those who refused to believe in His death as payment for their eternal security). This belief in Christ’s shed blood became the crux and the crossroads of the Christian faith, for the Jew and all peoples. Death comes to all, but no king, dictator, deliverer, or no person of a notable life ever rose from the dead. Their death was final. But because Jesus Christ rose from the dead and now lives, to the Christian there is no “grim reaper,” just angels to usher us into the Father’s and the Son’s presence (Colossians 1:22). There is only the hope of all the joys of heaven to come. There is hope in the fact that the tears, sorrows disappointments and sin of this world will be forever gone. There is hope after death of forever living with Jesus, the Son, the Father, and our loved ones and friends who died before us. To a Christian, death, and all that goes with it, is utterly vanquished forever. It is “swallowed up in victory, so there is no sting.” Jesus’ death became the pivotal point from “the Law” to “grace,” from sacrifice of a lamb for our sins, to the eternal sacrifice of “The Lamb” (John 1:29). Jesus’ death meant we are free from the demands of the Law. Jesus’ death meant we can live in the power, gifts, joys and in His spiritual Kingdom NOW. Jesus’ death meant because of His resurrection and ascension to the Father, He sent His Holy Spirit to live with, and in, us forever, to empower, teach and lead us into all righteousness (right living). Believers can shout, “Hallelujah!” for the death of Jesus, His resurrection and that He now sits at the right hand of the Father God to intercede for us! And Can It Be (Charles Wesley) And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior’s blood? Died He for me, who caused His pain? For me, who Him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be that Thou, my God, should die for me? http://lightfrommywindow.blogspot.com

Easter Words - Death

Easter Words – “Death” “Death is swallowed up and utterly vanquished forever in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? Now sin is the sting of death, and sin exercises its power upon the soul through the abuse of the Law. But thanks be to God, Who makes us conquerors through our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Cor.15:54b-57(Amp.). Jesus’ death on the cross, with all of its ramifications, was the most significant death in all of history. To a Christian there is no “grim reaper” in death, just angels to usher us into the Father’s presence, and to forever be with Him (Luke 16:22). There have been more books written about Jesus’ death, more sermons preached, more songs sung and more enactments than all commemorations ever given. Jesus’ death, and all it meant for the eternal salvation of all mankind who would believe in His shed blood, became the crux of the Christian faith and he crossroads for the Jews (Rom.1:16). Jesus’ death became the pivotal point which turned the “Law” to “Grace,” from sacrifice of a lamb to the eternal sacrifice of “The Lamb” (John 1:29). Jesus’ death meant we could live forever. It meant we are free from the curse and demands of the “Law.” Jesus’ death meant because of His going back to the Father He sent His Holy Spirit to live in and with us. Jesus’ death meant we can now live in the power, gifts and joys of His spiritual kingdom. To a Christian there is hope after death; hope of all the joys of heaven – no tears, no sickness, no sorrows, no disappointments, nor sin. And, just think, we will be forever with the Lord and those who have gone before us. So Death, where is your victory; for because of the power of the cross your victory has been swallowed up, and your sting has been healed? So why should those of us who are in Christ fear you? We should just give all praise to Jesus Who took the “sting” out of death for us! Face To Face (Carrie E. Breck) What rejoicing in His presence, when are banished grief and pain, When the crooked ways are straightened and the dark things shall be plain. Face to face I shall behold Him, far beyond the starry sky; Face to face, in all His glory, I shall see Him by and by!