Submitted by Pastor Richard Boettner, Rock Port Baptist Church

As I am writing this week before Easter I look forward to this special time to remember what God has done for us through Jesus Christ. He gave us each a spirit through creation, and an opportunity to be reborn in spirit when we receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. If you have not done this, please consider that first and foremost and begin the journey!

Philippians 3:10 gives us a testimony that Paul wanted “to know Christ, through the power of His Resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings.”

To renew this Holy week and in the days that follow please find strength through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. There are several reasons this is important:

1) The resurrection witnesses to the immense power of God Himself. To believe in the resurrection is to believe in God. If God exists, and if He created the universe and has power over it, then He has power to raise the dead. If He does not have such power, He is not worthy of our faith and worship.

2) The resurrection of Jesus Christ is important in that it proves His sinless character and divine nature. The Scriptures said God’s “Holy One” would never see corruption (Psalm 16:10), and Jesus never saw corruption, even after He died (see Acts 13:32–37). It was on the basis of the resurrection of Christ that Paul preached, “Through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin.”

3) Jesus is “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). In other words, Jesus led the way in life after death. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is important as a testimony to the resurrection of human beings, which is a basic foundation of the Christian faith. Unlike other religions, Christianity has a Founder who transcends death and promises that His followers will do the same. Every other religion was founded by men or prophets whose end was the grave. As Christians, we know that God became man, died for our sins, and was resurrected the third day. The grave could not hold Him. He lives, and He sits today at the right hand of the Father in heaven.

4) The importance of the resurrection of Christ will have an impact on our service to the Lord now, in the present. Paul ends his discourse on resurrection with these words: “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Should you NOT be in a place of victory and strength, and experiencing suffering, please remember that the second part of Philippians 3:10 includes the “fellowship of His sufferings.” Through Jesus’ passion we can endure and persevere in times of trials. God does not waste our pain, but promises to renew it through character growth, through a greater ministry and service to others, through wisdom, and through eternal glory. Since Jesus has risen and passed into the heavens He has ongoing power through His Spirit to help us in any trial and in every trial.

He is never unaware of the difficulty I may be in, or never uncaring with the struggles I am facing. Consider the words of Hebrews 4:14-16:

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens ​– ​Jesus the Son of God ​– ​let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.”

Thanks for reading and studying with me for the OTSS column. I hope you have enjoyed a happy and blessed Easter season, and will not forget what Jesus did for us on the Cross. Please feel free to contact me with any comments or questions at rockportbaptistchurch.com.