He Is Risen: He lives!
“I know that He is living, whatever men may say
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer
And just the time I need Him He’s always near
He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ Jesus lives today
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life’s narrow way.”
This well-known hymn was written in the 1930s by a man named Alfred H. Ackley. Early one morning as he turned on the radio, he heard the voice of a false teacher claiming that the resurrection of Jesus held no value and that it made no difference if Christ rose from the dead or not. The voice on the radio said, “Good morning — It`s easter! You know, folks, it really doesn’t make any difference to me if Christ be risen or not…” Ackley became greatly frustrated as he listened. Throwing his radio across the room, Ackley shouted, “It`s a lie!” That same morning Ackley preached a sermon on the reality of Christ`s resurrection and later wrote the lyrics to the hymn called He Lives. Today, many believers still sing this hymn on Resurrection Sunday. These precious words are a reminder of the reality of the resurrection of my Savior. Christ`s resurrection is the source of the believers` hope, the focus of the Easter season, and worthy of being remembered every day not just once a year.
He is not here for He is Risen, as He said… Matthew 28:6
He Is Risen: Our Hope
The apostle Paul addresses the topic of the resurrection in I Corinthians chapter fifteen. He is answering some questions that the Corinthian church had concerning the resurrection. Thomas Constable writes that “The point of this section of verses was to present the gospel message, including the account of Jesus Christ’s resurrection, as what many reliable eyewitnesses saw—and all the apostles preached.” Paul reminds the Corinthians that the resurrection of Christ is a foundational and central doctrine of the Christian faith. As believers, our hope is entirely in Christ Jesus. He is the reason we can have a relationship with God. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).
“And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is useless; you are still in your sins. Furthermore, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished. For if only in this life we have hope in Christ, we should be pitied more than anyone. But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also came through a man. For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.”- 1 Corinthians 15.18-22.
He Is Risen: The Focus Of The Season
The Resurrection is foundational to the Christian faith because, as the apostle, Paul said, “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith is in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:14). What do you think of when you hear the word, Easter? Many think of chocolate, bunnies, and springtime but that’s not where our focus should be. Easter should be celebrated because the Son of God walked out of the tomb and defeated death. I was dead in my sins, unable to have a relationship with God, but Jesus made a way for me to have a relationship with Him. Jesus walked out of the tomb, making eternal life possible for all who trust in Christ`s finished work on the cross.
Jesus said, “I am the Resurrection and the life.” -John 11:25
He Is Risen: Remembering The Resurrection!
Remembering Jesus’s Resurrection should be something that I do daily. I should be thankful for the resurrection every day, not just once a year. Jesus Christ came to die in my place and rose from the dead so that I might live! As a believer, I must remind myself of the reality of God`s grace and mercy every day. Christ died for me. The very least I can do is live for Him out of a thankful heart for His kindness towards me.
“But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, because we have now been declared righteous by his blood, we will be saved through him from God’s wrath. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, since we have been reconciled, will we be saved by his life? Not only this, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.” Romans 5:8-11
Here at Ethnos360 Bible Institute, we are motivated by the love of Christ. He showed His love by laying down His life for us (Romans 5:8-10). Jesus lives, and we want to tell others about the reality of His resurrection! He is risen indeed! The first step in training with Ethnos360 is two years of chronological Bible teaching. Request your free information packet today!
References:
Morgan, Robert J. Then Sings My Soul: 150 of the World’s Greatest Hymn Stories. 2004. Bowker.
Expository Notes, Dr. Thomas L. Constable, Dallas Theological Seminary, 2017 edition. https://planobiblechapel.org/soniclight/.
