This Sunday, like many years before it, children will wake up and go to get the Easter Baskets. Some day near this Sunday, families and Churches and community places will hold Easter egg hunts. I believe that these matters are a matter of Christian liberty (Similar to eating meat sacrificed to idols in 1 Corinthians 10). As long as it is not used as a gimmick that distracts from the Gospel or causes a brother to stumble, I believe it is okay to do these things. I am more concerned about churches that hide the Gospel than churches that hide Easter eggs. However, sadly, these events have become a distraction to the Gospel. These days, our culture thinks this Sunday is about Easter egg hunts, the Easter Bunny, chocolate eggs, or anything like that. Some people who call themselves pastors have resorted to gimmicks like dropping eggs out of helicopters or playing "Highway to Hell" during the service or some other shameful thing that blasphemes God, shows bad stewardship with what He has given us, or more. The modern culture has lost its focus on what the Gospel is, and those who claim to be in the Church are at the front of the line. Resurrection Sunday is not about Easter Egg hunts and gimmickry.

If Resurrection Sunday is not about all of these things, what is it about? Well, if you haven't guessed already, it is about Jesus Christ and His glorious death and resurrection that payed our debt. By nature, by birth, and by choice we are all fallen, sinful human beings. We are totally wicked and depraved. Some would defend themselves, calling themselves good people, but there is none good but God (Mark 10:18). If you have ever lied, you have broken God's law. Revelation 21:8 (ESV) says, "But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death." You may say that at least you've never committed adultery. But Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matthew 5:27-28, ESV). You may say that at least you haven't murdered anyone. However, God inspired the Apostle John to write, "Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him." (1 John 3:15, ESV). If anyone defended themself as a good person, they are also self-righteous, which is another violation of God's law, and every violation of God's law is a sin. Romans 6:23 (ESV) says, "For the wages of sin is death..." We will be judged by God, for, "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment..." (Hebrews 9:27, ESV). God will judge each and every one of us and on judgement day we will not be able to defend ourselves. God knows all, and he knows each of your secret sins. We will be without excuse, as, "... the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them."(Romans 2:15, ESV). If you reread Revelation 21:8, you will find that God has no light punishment for us. We will be sent to the Lake of Fire, Hell. According to Matthew 25:46, this is an eternal sentencing to Hell. Mark 9:43 calls the fire unquenchable. All men are deserving of Hell, and without our debt being payed we will all be sent to Hell.

However, someone has payed our debt. God Himself came to Earth in the person of Jesus Christ. He was fully God (John 8:58, Colossians 2:9) and fully man (1 Timothy 2:5). Throughout His life, He, "in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15, ESV). He never violated God's law and remained totally sinless in His thoughts, in His words, and in His actions. He has been actively obedient to God, and because of that He is a lamb who is without blemish or spot (1 Peter 1:19). One street evangelist often says, "He lived the perfect life for 33 years you and I couldn't live for 33 seconds." At the end of this life, he voluntarily went to the cross. He was tortured, mutilated, but this was not even the worst of it. On that cross, God's wrath was poured out on Jesus and Jesus Christ was forsaken by Him (Matthew 27:46). Isaiah 53:10 (ESV) says, "Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand." Jesus faced the full force of God's wrath for the sins of His people. On that cross, Jesus was killed and the wrath of God was appeased. Our penalty had been payed. If we repent of our sins and put our faith in Him, He will save you.

This is not the end, though. Jesus did not stay dead. On the third day after His death, Jesus Christ rose from the dead. He defeated sin and death forever. This is what Resurrection Sunday is about. It isn't about the gimmicks or about the games or anything else. It is about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is so much more beautiful than Steven Furtick's idea that it is about our lives. This is the beautiful Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is to be heard, obeyed, protected, and proclaimed.

Authors: Learning the Path - Blog

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