because jesus rose...

And if Christ had not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ…And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” 
(1 Corinthians 15:14-16)

 One of my favorite weeks in the year is this week,what we call Holy Week. Every year, it becomes more and more apparent to me how much there is to rejoice in the days leading to one of the most tragic but most life transforming days in History: The death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For us who profess Christ as Lord and Savior, this historical event was more than just a spectacle. This event is what makes us who we are. It’s what we receive. It’s what we stand on. It’s how we are sanctified. And it’s what we are called to host fast to (1 Corinthians 15:1-2).
It’s the Gospel.

As we take the time to reflect this week, I want to encourage you to rejoice in these glorious truths of the resurrection of Jesus Christ that will celebrate on this coming Sunday. Because the truth is, if Christ had not resurrected, it would be as Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15: 14-16:

“And if Christ had not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ…And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” 

But ladies, we know that Christ was raised! (I Corinthians 15:20).

And because Jesus rose:

1. God was satisfied in the atonement

You see, Christ’s resurrection is evidence that God was satisfied with Christ’s perfect sacrifice. His wrath was satisfied in Christ so we didn’t have to bear it. And now we stand justified (Romans 3:24) and have peace with God (Romans 5:1). We no longer have to keep going back and forth in the battlefield of our minds about whether God accept us or is mad at us because when He sees us, He is satisfied. Why? Because He sees His Son, Jesus. Hold fast to this truth found in His word.

1. Our sins are forgiven

Hallelujah that “in Him, we have redemption through His blood, forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace…” (Ephesians 1:7). We are no longer a slave to sin but we are, by the Holy Spirit, slaves to righteousness. We are not condemned but free in Him from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:1-2). Shame no longer has bondage over us. We no longer have to run, cover and hide. We’ve been forgiven. We overcome. Hold fast to this truth found in His word.

1. We have real HOPE

This world sees hope as something intangible, a wish that isn’t grounded or rooted in anything but our own will. But in Christ, our HOPE is not elusive. It’s a PERSON! All that He is for us is HOPE. Our life isn’t based on wishful thinking rooted in our own understanding.  Christ is an anchor for our Hope and it is built on the promises He gives us in His word (1 Peter 3-6). This hope sustains us in a fickle world. In Christ, our hope is beyond this world, because if it was only in this world, we would be as Paul said, “all people most to be pitied.” (1 Corinthians 15:9). So, let us hold fast the confession of our Hope without wavering for He who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:23).

1. Jesus intercedes for us

How incredibly loving is it for Jesus to not only rise from the grave and defeat sin and death, but He’s helping us endure this walk of faith by interceding for us (Romans 8:34). Others pray for us and we pray for ourselves but one of the most encouraging truths to know is that Jesus, Himself, is interceding for us. So, it’s obvious that NOTHING can separate us from the love of Christ (Romans 8:35). When the enemy, the father of all lies, tries to make you believe otherwise, hold fast to this truth found in His Word.  

1. All authority has been given to Him and to us to make disciples

God has given all authority to Christ (Ephesians 1: 20-23) and because of that, when He commands us in Matthew 28: 19 to go and make disciples by preaching His Gospel, the authority of Christ that we carry has power to do what we can’t do—save.  Let’s preach the gospel with that authority found in Him. He promises that He with us always (vs. 20). Hold fast to this truth found in His word.  

1. We now can LIVE for Him

“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will ALSO give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Romans 8: 11). We have the Holy Spirit in us and because of that powerful truth, we are able to produce the fruit of the Spirit in every area of our life (Galatians 5:22) And the freedom we have in Christ will not be used for our own selfish gain but through love, to serve one another (Galatians 5:13). And while temptation is at every door, we can like Paul say confidently, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). Hold fast to this truth found in His word.  
 
Sisters, Jesus has Risen and He lives. May our lives continue to be deeply transformed by these truths. Receive it. Stand in it. Rejoice in it. And hold fast to it!
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The weekly devotionals seek to encourage you to dig deeper into Scripture as you take the time to daily read, meditate, and internalize the verses in the devotional, along with the passages provided below to give greater context. Take the time to read them throughout the week (repetition is important) and ask the Holy Spirit to help you grasp what God is showing you about Himself, about you, and how to live in light of these truths. 

Passages to read/memorize/meditate:Matthew 28: 19-20
1 Corinthians 15 (whole chapter! You will be blessed)
Romans 3:24
Romans 5:1
Romans 8:11/34-35
Ephesians 1:7
Ephesians 1:20-23
Galatians 2:20
Galatians 5:13
Galatians 5:22
Hebrews 10:23
1 Peter 3:3-6
Questions to reflect on:

1. Take time to go through each truth and ask, Do I believe this? If you don’t, ask the Lord to help you believe. If you do, reflect on how it is seen in how you live your life