He Lives!

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." - John 15:5

And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. - Colossians 1:18

     Jesus is the vine and He is the Head of the church. We are the branches and the body. Branches cannot survive if the vine is dead. Our bodies would be useless without the head. In the same way, we are nothing without a living Savior. If Christ had died on that cross and then stayed in the grave, our redemption would not be complete. 1 Corinthians 15:14 sums it up nicely: And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Don't bother preaching the Gospel. If Christ did not roll the stone away then there is no Gospel. Don't bother going to church or witnessing or trying to live a righteous life, if Christ is dead you're just wasting your time. Our foundation lies in the resurrection. Everything we believe is useless if those ladies find a body and not empty grave clothes. What separates Christianity from religions around the world? We serve a living God. We trust our salvation to One who is alive and active this very moment. We have our power and being from a God Who is real, not some man whose bones have turned to dust in a sarcophagus. Easter is the day we choose to remember the miracle of Christ's resurrection. It is an amazing time to reflect and be thankful for all our Lord has done. The truth of the matter is that Christians celebrate this miracle every day. Associating yourself with the name Christian is a celebration of the resurrection. Without this monumental day, we have nothing. Let us remember the unfathomable sacrifice and love of our Savior. Let us remember that without His life we have no life of our own. Let us remember that it is through Christ, and Christ alone, that we have redemption, joy, true love, forgiveness, and life forevermore.

In Christ Alone

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

Hallelujah! He lives! Happy Easter, everyone.