THREE PERSPECTIVES

THREE PERSPECTIVES

This Sunday we celebrate and commemorate a day known as Easter; but better described as Resurrection Sunday. Easter is not about a date on the calendar. It is about God in the flesh receiving the first glorified body when He was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus rose from the dead, everything changed! The time of anticipating fulfillment of the promises and prophesies about Messiah's first coming had past. The time to experience the truth of redemption through the shed blood of Christ and victory over death by His resurrection began.

Christ’s resurrection is the immovable rock on which we stand to boldly proclaim the validity of the gospel message and the power and purpose of our faith!

• 1 Corinthians 15:13-14 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

But, since the time of Adam’s fall, past the moment of resurrection, and until the future restoration of all things; the combined influences of Satan, the world system, and the weakness of our flesh have led to a perversion of the purity of God’s plans and purposes. Therefore, what should be a solemn remembrance and glorious celebration of the greatest happening in human history, has for many become yet another shameful confirmation of the depravity of mankind.

There are essentially three perspectives concerning the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ:

- The Oblivious: Those who are Unaware
- The Obsessed: Those who are Unappreciative
- The Obedient: Those who are Unashamed

The Oblivious

• The oblivious don’t know about Christ. They have not heard the gospel message. They have no concept of a resurrected Savior and what that should mean for them personally.
• They don’t know the truth.
• To the oblivious, this Sunday is just another day with no special meaning.
• The oblivious are the reason for the Great Commission
• Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

The Obsessed

• The obsessed have heard about Christ. The gospel means nothing to them. The obsessed are more concerned with the preoccupations of the fallen world: the lust of the flesh; the lust of the eyes; and the pride of life.
• They have ignored the truth.
• To the obsessed, ‘Easter’ is just another reason to buy candy and gifts, dress up in their ‘Sunday Best’, eat a big meal and teach their children through example that nothing is sacred.
• The obsessed have turned their back on God
• Romans 1:24-25 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

The Obedient

• The obedient have, by the grace of God and the faith He gives, heard about Christ and accepted His free gift of salvation. The gospel means new life and a new lifestyle. The obedient are seeking the Savior daily and submitting to the transforming work of His Word and Spirit.
• They have experienced the truth.
• To the obedient, Easter is a glorious celebration of Christ’s resurrection, confirmation of Christ’s Deity, Christ’s defeat of death, and Christ as a living promise of eternal life for those who trust in Him!
• The obedient, through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, understand the significance of the resurrection
• Luke 24:44-48 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of these things.

Sadly, many claiming the name of Christ are not obedient to His call or His commands: they live a life that resembles the obsessed. Some are Christians but have not grown in their faith. Some believe they are Christians but are actually deceived. Some are just pretending to be something they are not.

Arrogance and pride should never be a part of the Christian’s celebration of Christ’s resurrection (or any other part of our lives). We aren’t perfect. We aren’t better than anyone else. Bet we are privileged to know Christ as Savior. And with that privilege comes great responsibility.

Please don’t misunderstand. I love the celebratory aspects of Easter. We serve a God who loves to see His children filled with the joy of celebration (God instituted many celebrations in the Old Testament). The point is, we should remember the significance of what we are celebrating and the source of our joy. We must maintain holiness, righteousness and dignity as we celebrate. And as we celebrate, we must pray for the lost!

Prayer

Father, I thank You for our risen Savior. I thank You for what the resurrection means to all who sincerely call You Lord. I thank You for those who will come to know the truth about the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through Your Holy Spirit, bring dignity and delight, reverence and rejoicing, solemnness and sincerity, piety and peace to our observances of Resurrection Sunday. I long for the day that I stand in Your presence in the glorified body promised in Your Word and demonstrated in Christ’s resurrection. All praise and glory and honor to You Lord. In Christ’s precious and eternal name I pray, Amen.

REPURPOSED

REPURPOSED

Have you ever heard of something being ‘repurposed’? Simply put, it is to find a new purpose for something. You take something that has been used for one purpose, alter it, and then use it for something totally different. 

A few simple examples would be: taking an old tire, tying a rope on it, hanging it from a tree limb and using it as a swing; or taking clothing or other fabric, cutting it into pieces, and making them into a quilt.  

Why would repurposing be the subject of a Christian devotion? Put very simply, God has repurposed us! He has taken us from our fallen, sinful state and remade us to suit His purposes!!!


Our Original Condition – Lost in our sin and battling against God.

• James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Why God Changes Us – Because he loves us.

• John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Our New Purpose – To bring glory to God in all we do and share His Truth with everyone.

• Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
• Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Let’s look at the process God uses to change us from sinners (slaves to Satan and the sin debt we could not pay) to saints (our sin debt has been paid by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and we have been set apart from the world and dedicated for use by God).



STEP 1: Regenerated (New Life - Saved) – When we are spiritually reborn, God gives us eternal life, a new nature, and righteousness that cannot be earned.

• Ephesians 2:4-5 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
• 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
• 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

STEP 2: Reprogramed (New Thinking - Sanctified) – Then God takes us through a process that changes the way we think and act.

• Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
• Colossians 3:9-10 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

STEP 3: Reproduced (New Purpose - Servants) – Now God can use us to fulfill His glorious plan. He uses us to share his love and make disciples.

• Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
• 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

Never forget: we are called to be obedient, to glorify Him, and to share His truth with others; but He is the one, by His grace, that changes hearts and gives eternal life. God uses us as tools in the process of repurposing others.

Not only does God change who we are and give us a new purpose, He also changes our eternal destination. Because of His free gift of salvation in Jesus Christ, we will spend eternity in Heaven with Him!!!


Prayer

Lord in Heaven, Your infinite grace, mercy, and love are beyond my comprehension. I could never adequately express my gratitude for all You have done, continue to do, and will do in my life. I pray that in Your strength, and according to Your Will, I will be a useable tool that brings glory and honor to your name and shares Your Holy Word with those who don’t know You. Thank You for saving me. Thank You changing me. Thank You for using me. I am Yours. Praise to Your Holy Name, forever. I offer my prayers in the glorious name of Jesus Christ. Amen.