He is Risen!

(4-8-2012)

"I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory.'

 'Where, O death, is your victory?
  Where, O death, is your sting?'

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." ~ 1 Corinthians 15:50-57

Happy Easter! We had a wonderful (and unique) service today to celebrate Easter. The service began with a processional where someone was playing "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipes followed by four ushers carrying in a casket. We quickly learned that the casket was empty, thus representing the empty tomb. Pastor Dan then gave a brief explanation and began his message, which was titled "The Death of Death." He went on to explain that most people fear death because of the unknown. However, in Jesus' death and resurrection, He put to death "death." Because we are saved by faith through grace, we no longer need to fear death. He can celebrate His resurrection and the fact that when it is our turn to be called home, there is no fear in death. Following the message, we then sang one of my favorite songs, "In Christ Alone," written by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend. The lyrics are as follows: 

"In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.

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.

No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow'r of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand."

(Source: http://www.gettymusic.com/hymns-inchristalone.aspx)