Grace Blog

No doubt everyone is aware that Easter Sunday is just a few days away. Because of God's grace many of us know Easter is about much more than chocolate bunnies and Reese's eggs (though Reese's eggs are hard to discount). The work Christ did (his life, death, burial, and resurrection) to make our redemption possible, is very likely to be on many of our minds as Sunday draws closer. In addition to re-reading the Gospel accounts of the Savior's willing death on the Cross and His triumphant resurrection from the grave, I would like to recommend a FREE resource that may aid in your understanding of what was taking place in those days. Right now chapter 9 from the book DOCTRINE is free online. This chapter is exceedingly helpful and faith-building as Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshears go into detail about the reality that God had raised His Son on the third day! Christ's payment for our sins had been accepted! Reading this short chapter would be a significant encouragement to you heading into Sunday's Easter service.

There is another reason I am eager to commend this to you. DOCTRINE is such a helpful book that Dan & I have chosen it to be one of the main texts we will be working through during the INVEST Course starting this fall for the men & women of Grace Bible Church. This important chapter will allow you to catch a glimpse of what's coming this fall. I will be providing much more detail about the INVEST course in the coming months.
  

The Resurrection: God Saves, Chapter 9; DOCTRINE: What Christians Should Believe

It is fascinating to watch our churches swell on Easter Sunday. I wonder if many feel some strange pull to be in church because they know deep in their soul that Easter is more significant than celebrating the Easter bunny? Maybe God’s Spirit is whispering hope to their heart—Jesus really is alive with the power to conquer sin and death. "Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Why not invite a friend to church this Easter and pray that God will open their eyes to see that hope is in Jesus? He is alive!

The good news that Jesus is alive and not dead is the most compelling part of the gospel story. Yet, I struggle with my own mortality. I don't know if men in general have this struggle, or if it is something unique to me. As a pastor, I feel particularly guilty for this - after all, a pastor should be able to face death with confidence. The only confidence I have for my own resurrection comes from reminding myself of Jesus' resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15.

It is much easier to have faith in Jesus as being the Son of God - God in the flesh, dying for my sin, than it is for me to really believe that I will be resurrectied someday. For some reason it is even easier for me to accept Jesus' resurrection than it is to trust Jesus with my own resurrection. However, I gain confidence in my own resurrection when I remind myself of the gospel. I read about Jesus' resurrection in the Gospels and hear Jesus' promise to Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he died, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die." I reread these verses often - maybe as often as once a month. So I will ask you what Jesus asked Martha, "Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26)

Some Christians prepare for Easter by celebrating Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday (February 22, 2012.) This year, we would like to suggest a book for you to read: Jesus, Keep Me Near The Cross edited by Nancy Guthrie. There is no better way to prepare for Easter (April 8) than to remind ourself of the passion and power of the foundation of the Gospel; and this little book will assist you in doing just that. Since the chapters are short, we recommend that you try reading one chapter a day, beginning on Ash Wednesday. Right now the book is 50% off at the Westminster book store. You can also order it through Amazon (a Kindle version is not available). There will also be a few copies that can be purchased in the church foyer.