11 Really Great Reasons to give yourself to Jesus!

The Overflow of Easter: A Whole Theology of Resurrection in One Chapter

April 24, 2011  by John Piper       Topics:  The Resurrection of Christ

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/the-overflow-of-easter-a-whole-theology-of-resurrection-in-one-chapter

If you haven't accepted Jesus in your heart, if you're on the fence, or if you're the "lukewarm Christian", here are 11 really powerful reasons to accept Him today. Easter is a time of new beginnings. Start it with Jesus in your heart. I promise, you won't be sorry!!   

He is risen! And O the overflow of that single event. It was the cosmic Yes! from God the Father that the death had done all it was meant to do. And it was the beginning of the eternal existence of the God-Man in a glorious new body in which he would finally reign on the earth forever. And so much more.
  
There is a whole theology of the resurrection and its achievements in 1 Corinthians 15. Here’s a summary. Let each of these sink in. Savor each one. Then start your new week (the rest of your life) abounding in the work God calls you to “knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

1. Christ died for us and rose again.
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and . . . He was buried, and . . . He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

2. He verified his resurrection by large public appearances.
After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:6)

3. Because Christ has risen, we are not still in our sins.
If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. (1 Corinthians 15:17)

4. Because Christ has risen, our afflicted lives are not pitiable.
If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. (1 Corinthians 15:19)

5. We who trust Christ will be raised from the dead at Christ's second coming.
For as in Adam all [his posterity] die, so also in Christ all will [his posterity] be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming. (1 Corinthians 15:22-23)

6. Christ now reigns invincibly over the universe.
For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death. (1 Corinthians 15:25-26)

7. Our resurrection body will be imperishable, glorious, powerful, and spiritual.
[Our resurrection body] is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. (1 Corinthians 15:42-44)

8. Living or dead, we shall be given new bodies in an instant at Christ's coming.
Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)

9. Death now has no sting and will be swallowed up in victory.
But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory. Death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:54-55)

10. Christ suffered for sin and satisfied the law for us.
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:56-57)

11. Therefore, do huge amounts of Christ-exalting work because none of it is in vain.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58)
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John Piper (@JohnPiper) is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is author of more than 50 books.

Good Morning Girls Devotional Week 2 "Why Easter Matters"

This is the reading for Thurs, 4/10/14. It is from Colossians 1:21-23: This includes you who were once so far away from God. You were his enemies and hated him and were separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions, yet now he has brought you back as his friends. He has done this through the death on the cross of his own human body, and now as a result Christ has brought you into the very presence of God, and you are standing there before him with nothing left against you—nothing left that he could even chide you for; the only condition is that you fully believe the Truth, standing in it steadfast and firm, strong in the Lord, convinced of the Good News that Jesus died for you, and never shifting from trusting him to save you. This is the wonderful news that came to each of you and is now spreading all over the world. And I, Paul, have the joy of telling it to others.

S: Colossians 1:21-22
This includes you who were once so far away from God. You were his enemies and hated him and were separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions, yet now he has brought you back as his friends. He has done this through the death on the cross of his own human body, and now as a result Christ has brought you into the very presence of God, and you are standing there before him with nothing left against you—nothing left that he could even chide you for.

O: Once, when you weren't a believer in Christ, you walked in sin. But now that you are a believer, Christ has brought you into His fold as a friend. His death on the cross was His way of showing you how much He loves you and how your sins are wiped clean. You can come to the Lord with a clean slate, all your sins forgiven.

A: When I decided that I wanted Jesus as my savior I was given a "do over"! I got to start again! I could put my past behind me. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!"

When I feel like I will never measure up, when I feel like I am not good enough, I have to remember that Jesus died for me so that my sins could be forgiven. All that came before has been wiped clean. I am a new creation! I'm not given a free pass to sin, but I do not have to hang onto the guilt or the pain of it. 

P: Lord Jesus, You gave Your life for me so that I can be forgiven of my sins. I need to remember that. I am never not good enough or not worthy enough. I am loved by You. Forgive whatever sinful nature is still within me. Help me to follow You completely. In Your Holy Name I ask this. Amen.
  


 

Good Morning Girls Devotional Week 1 "Why Easter Matters"

This is the reading for Thursday, 4/3. I have been using "The Message" version of the bible as it seems easier to understand. If you have noticed the red print, I have been using that when Christ is speaking. You will see a few versions of bibles where Christs' dialogue is in red. 

READ: Luke 22:17-22

Taking the cup, he blessed it, then said, “Take this and pass it among you. As for me, I’ll not drink wine again until the kingdom of God arrives.” Taking bread, he blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, given for you. Eat it in my memory.” He did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant written in my blood, blood poured out for you."

S: Luke 22:19-20

Taking bread, he blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, given for you. Eat it in my memory.” He did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant written in my blood, blood poured out for you."

O: I was raised Roman Catholic. These verses are the same ones that were read every Sunday before Communion. That is because the bread and wine are symbolic of Jesus' sacrifice for us. We are being reminded of that Last Supper that Christ shared with his disciples. He wanted a way for His disciples to remember Him. 

A: Once a month we have communion at our church. It is usually the first Sunday of the month. We have a tray with broken Mahtza crackers and small cups filled with grape juice. We take the communion together all at once. We are reminded that these are symbolic of the body and blood of Christ.

The catechism is ingrained in me. I bow my head and recite, silently, the prayers from ages ago. "Lord, I am not worthy to receive You, but only say the word and I shall be healed." As well as "Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world. Have mercy on us." (repeat), then "Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world. Grant us peace." This is my way of remembering my Catholic teaching and also as a way of honoring Jesus Christ. 

P: Lord Jesus, each time we take communion, we are reminded of the sacrifice You made for us. It is more than bread and wine. It is Your body and Your blood which was shed for our sins. It is a sacrifice with which we will never be worthy of. Help us to be contrite and humble when we take communion. Cleanse us of our sins. "May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name,for our good, and the good of all his Church." Amen.

Easter Bible Study "Why Easter Matters" Week 1

We are starting a new bible study. This one is about why Easter matters. We will learn about why this day is so important to us. Blessings to you all for the week. 

The reading for today is from the Book of John. There will be no SOAP for this reading. This will start tomorrow.

John 1:9-12: The one who is the True Light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He came into the very world He created, but the world didn’t recognize Him. He came to His own people, and even they rejected Him. But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God.