And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 1 Corinthians 15:14

Do you believe in the resurrection? May seem like a basic question but there are some “Christians” who don’t believe in a physical resurrection.  As Paul teachers, here without the Resurrection, Christianity is pointless. All our hope is through Jesus Christ, the firstborn from the dead (Colossians 1:18)

and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood Revelation 1:5

Jesus makes it very clear here, he is the firstborn of the dead. Meaning he died for the wages of our sins and God the Father, has raised him from the dead to live and reign forevermore.

Because Jesus has conquered the grave, we can live forevermore through him. This is why the “Resurrection” is so important. If Christ has not been raised from the dead, then what hope would any of us have for the future? Because of the Resurrection we can have hope and confidence for eternity.

and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 1 Corinthians 15:17

Paul goes on to see if Christ has not been Resurrected, then we are still not redeemed for our sins. Remember the wages of sin is death, so by Jesus overcoming death, he has overcome all of our sins and the grave. If Christ had not been Resurrected, then the crucifixion would have been pointless.

So as we move into “Easter” season, remember we can live because Jesus live forevermore!

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

As we move into the Passover/Easter season, we once again reflect on who Jesus is and what he has done for us. This prophecy by Isaiah was foretold over 700 years before Christ was born. Jesus wasn’t murdered by accident, God had a plan for our salvation and Jesus came to fulfill it

Jesus was wounded for our transgressions or sins. All the punishment that Jesus endured was because of you! Think about that, if you ever feel like nobody loves you, guess what somebody really does. God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten Son (John 3:16) he took the punishment of the cross for yours and my sins. We must never forget the love of salvation and mercy that was given to us.

The word “chastisement” means penalty. Jesus took the penalty for our sins which is death.  Jesus never knew any sin yet took on the sins for the world, so we may have eternal life. Many people mocked him and blamed him for his punishment. But the crucifixion of Chrst is our fault! Jesus had to endure this to save our lives, remember that awesome love that was demonstrated for you!

Jesus is the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6) and through the blood of Christ you can now live in peace knowing that he has washed your sins away “white as snow” Those who have rejected “The Lamb of God’ are condemned and will perish (John 3:17)

Lastly remember Jesus is “the Great Physician” (John 5) by his wounds or stripes we are healed! There is nothing more powerful than the blood of Christ. On the cross , he has defeated sin and death, and he can heal  any trap Satan has put over you in Jesus Name Amen

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.'” Exodus 3:14

When Moses asked God what his name is he said “ I AM WHO I AM”, this might sound confusing at first , but when you understand what God is truly saying here it makes perfect sense.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8

God again reveals himself to John in the book of Revelation, who is , who was, and who is to come” this is the same meaning as “I AM WHO I AM” meaning God is the beginning , the end , and the future.

God is:

• Omnipresent- God is everywhere
• Omnipotent- unlimited power
• Omniscient – knows everything

This is all summed up into the name “I AM WHO I AM”

Jesus used 7  metaphorical “I AM” statements. Notice the number 7 which is symbolic for completion

• I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE (John 6:35)
• I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD (John 8:12)
  I AM THE DOOR (John 10:7)
• I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD (John 10:11)
• I AM THE WAY, TRUTH, LIFE (John 14:6)
• I AM THE VINE (John 15)

The Jewish people knew exactly what Jesus was saying, he was displaying his “oneness” with the Father (God)

Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me. Isaiah 44:6

So next time you read or say the name “ I AM WHO I AM” Think about what God is revealing to us! He is the beginning, the end, and everlasting. Creator of the Heaven and The Earth who sent his only begotten Son to save us from our sins in Jesus Name Amen

and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood—Revelation 1:5

This is the only scripture in The Bible that shows God loves us in the present tense. Often we always read God loved us, but we also need to remember that God still loves us today and forever. Everything that God did, by sending his only Son to save us from our sins, what because he loves us!

“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

There is no greater friend than Jesus Christ, who displayed his love for you by laying down his life to save yours. Why did he do this? Notice in Revelation 1:5 “he released us from our sins by his blood” Jesus did it because he still loves us. The only way we could be redeemed for our sins , was by the blood of the “Lamb of God”

The firstborn of the dead, because Jesus conquered death we can also. He holds the keys to life and death. Why would he do this for us? Because before you were formed in the womb (Jeremiah 1:5), God knew you! God created you in his image for a purpose. Through Christ you are a Child of the Most High (Romans 8:15) in Jesus Name Amen!

The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! Genesis 3:4

Can you live without Jesus? Since the beginning of creation, Satan has planted the greatest deception in human history. The belief that we will still live without the blood of Christ. This is a deception that is was not only believed by Adam and Eve, but is also believed today. Many religions today have teachings of no death, such as Buddhism, which believes you will just be reincarnated over and over. Many new age teachings that all roads lead to Heaven, but as Jesus said “ I am the way , the truth, and the life. Nobody comes to the Father (God) except through me (John 14:6)

Has Satans deceptive ideas found its way into Christianity? Many Christians believe in the doctrine of “Hell” which people will be tortured for all eternity. Doesn’t that contradict the Word of God?

but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.'” Genesis 3:3

God told Adam and Eve if they ate from the forbidden tree they would die, not be cast into a eternal torture chamber somewhere. If they were kept alive to be tortured this would contradict Gods word.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

God is very clear the wages of sin is death not eternal torture. However, the good news (gospel) is there is eternal life through Jesus Christ! Don’t fall for the great deception of Satan, the wicked will be destroyed (Psalm 37:38)

Make Jesus (Yeshua) your Lord and Savior today, repent of your sins and be washed by the blood of Christ to inherit eternal life Amen