Easter is a remembrance and celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is recorded in the four Gospels: Matthew 28: 1-16, Mark 16:1-20, Luke 24:1-12 and John 20:1-29. Also, remember again this principle in a study of the Bible, anything that is repeated two or more times, demands attention.
The facts of the resurrection are very clear as recorded in 1st Corinthians 15:3,4:
” For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance (1) that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, (2) that He was buried, (3) that He was raised on the 3rd day according to the scriptures.”
The significance of the resurrection is also very clear: 1st Corinthians 15:17 ,20:
1. ” And if Christ has not been raised (1) your faith is futile; (2) you are still in your sins.”
2 ” But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead,
3. the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
Easter is also a remembrance and celebration of the believer’s resurrection.
1. The believer is made alive in Christ (Ephesians 2: 4-5)
“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions………”
2. The believer is made a new person in Christ. (2nd Corinthians 5:17)
” Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
Nature itself has, since the beginning of time, prepared people for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. God has put within the heart of every person a desire for a new life-— a resurrection to a new and better life. Unlike nature which experiences a new birth each year you and I must choose to participate in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and this is necessary only one time.
John 1:12,13 “But as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.“
Once you are born again you cannot be unborn!
If this makes sense to you, I encourage you to seek out a Christian friend or go to your pastor and make this simple request: I want to be born again.