He is Risen

Speaker: Archbishop Loren Thomas Hines

April 13, 2023

in Spritual Growth

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Easter Sunday:
Readings: Exodus 14: 10-14; 21-25; 15:20, 21
Colossians 3:1-4
John 20:1-10

Today, we remember Easter Sunday, the time when Christ fulfilled His mission. The Words of Good Friday regarding the Cross are Words of Life. Man was set free and given new life. Christ paid a high price on the Cross. Because of love, He made this ultimate sacrifice.

In the Old Testament, when the Children of Israel were brought out of slavery from Egypt, they were confronted with the Red Sea. But God saved them. In the New Testament and on the Cross, one of the thieves asked Jesus that he be remembered in Paradise where Jesus was going. This was a criminal, but God forgave Him.

Today, we celebrate not only Easter but the Eucharist. Our commitment should not be confined to just a day. It should be lived in our lives all the time. Easter is the culmination- the finality of what He did on the Cross. Do we realize what He has done in giving us life?

1 Corinthians 15:26 “The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”

He has blessed us with so much. He took out the root of sin for us. There is now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus. This is not of our own doing but His. He came to identify with us. God is speaking to us today. He has set us free. What the Law could not do, Christ did it for us. The mind set on the flesh is death. The mind set on the Spirit is life. Christ’s last words on the cross: “Father, into Thy hands I commend my Spirit.” What God has promised to do, He will do. We must keep seeking that which is above. “The blood that Jesus shed for me way back on Calvary

The blood that gives me strength
From day to day
It will never lose its power
It reaches to the highest mountain
It flows to the lowest valley
The blood that gives me strength
From day to day
It will never lose its power.”

Everything pertaining to life is found in the Bible. If it isn’t there we get it from the Holy Spirit. The Garden was perfect. It was Paradise. Everything we ever needed was there. God is restoring Paradise. 2nd Timothy 1:10 “but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” Christ brought life and immortality to us. He holds our tomorrow. We need not fear about tomorrow. The Lord is my strength and my song. What is your song? It should be a song of praise, of thanksgiving that all things become good. Look at the Cross. How can Good Friday be good? There was not one word of complaint coming out of Christ’s mouth. He forgave. He has become our Salvation. I shall not die but live and tell of the works of the Lord.

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The Easter Candle is a symbol of our life. We are to let the light shine forever. What God has promised in the 7 Last Words, He will not fail to deliver. Christ forgave all on the Cross. We have no right to judge people. We must thank God, give Him all the praise, glory and honor. How blessed is our God!