The Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Every year Christians gather for a 'special' Sunday service called Easter Sunday.  The roots of the chosen time of the year comes from a annual pagan celebration of fertility that the church wanted to "Christianize" and have their own in contrast.  It was very controversial in the church to celebrate the passion of Christ during that pagan holiday but the church remained unified and agreed on the season.  So now as culture and church blended we have Easter bunnies and colorful eggs in our Easter Sunday church services.  As society becomes more secular and the church blends more into the world the true meaning of the celebration of the passion of Christ is hidden behind the popularized pagan symbols. 

The church needs to refocus its attention away from fun loving cultural symbols and on the person and work of Jesus Christ during this season.  It needs to celebrate the meaning of the cross for all the world to see.  It is not Easter Sunday but Resurrection Sunday.  It is not about eggs symbolizing fertility but The Cross; Christ's death and resurrection.

This is what we celebrate in the week (Holy Week) leading up to and on Resurrection Sunday:

• Sunday before Resurrection day is the remembrance of Jesus Christ's entry into Jerusalem known as Palm Sunday.
• Thursday is remembrance of the Last Supper and the commission of Communion.
• Friday is the remembrance of Christ's crucifixion and death on the Cross known as Good Friday.
• Saturday is self reflection and rest and remembrance of Christ resting after finishing atonement.
• Sunday is the celebration of Christ's resurrection from the dead!

Statement of Faith: Jesus Christ

           The deity of the Lord Jesus Christ is essential.  He is God incarnate, God in human form, the expressed image of the Father, who, without ceasing to be God, became man in order that He might demonstrate who God is and provide the only way of salvation possible for all man (Matthew 1:21;John 1:18;Colossians 1:15).  He added human nature to His divine nature.  He is both human and divine;  therefore, He has two natures while remaining one person; not two. He is not part God and part man.  He is presently a man, one person, with two natures where one nature is wholly and fully God and the other wholly and fully man. (Phil. 2:5-11; Col. 2:9; 1 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 1:5-13; John 1:1-3, 14).

Essential truths of Christianity

1.  Jesus is God - John 1:1, 4, 10:30, 20:28 (also read Jesus Is God)

2.  Salvation by God's Grace alone - Eph 2:8-9 (also read The Amazing Grace of God)

3.  Salvation through Christ's Work alone - Acts 4:12; John 14:6

4.  Jesus' virgin birth, sinless life, bodily death, resurrection
on the 3rd day, and ascension to Heaven - 1 Corinthians 15:14; John 2:19-21 (also read Essentials of The Gospel)

5.  The true Gospel - 1 Corinthians 15:1-5; Galatians 1:8-9 (also read The Gospel Break Down)

6.  One God - Monotheism - Isaiah 43:10; 1 Cor 8:5-6

7.  The Trinity- Trinitarianism - Father, Son (Jesus), and Holy Spirit - Matt 28:19; 1 Cor 12:4-6 (also read The Triune God of Christianity)

8.  Salvation through Faith alone - Heb 11:1,6

Any changes or omissions of these truths are outside of Christian Orthodoxy can lead to heresies.  These 8 truths relate to saving faith , eternal life, and correctly understanding Holy Scripture.

Related Articles:

•  Rediscovering The Vastness of John 3:16
•  Evidence for the Crucifixion of Jesus
• The Son of God and sons of God
• Who Is Jesus Really? 
• Faith in Truth Comes From God
• Why The Bible is Divine: Miracles
• Why The Bible Is Divine: Christology
• Why The Bible is Divine: Prophecy
•  The Satisfaction of Christ Jesus
• The Virgin Birth 
• Jesus, The Son of God
• Jesus, The One Like a Son of Man
• By Christ's Work Alone
• God's Glory Alone
• The Triune God of Christianity
• Jesus Is God 
•   Born This Way
• Why "Good Friday" is so Good
• The Resurrection of Jesus Christ