Two aspects of the Easter Story are the death of Christ for us and His resurrected life in us. His death is not an example for us to follow or a failure on His part. The word death in the Bible is not used for extinction, but for separation. Physical death separates our soul and spirit from the body. Spiritual death separates us from God because of our sins. Eternal death separates our body, soul and spirit from God forever in the Lake of Fire.

Accepting the death of Christ gives us eternal life and restores us to a relationship with God as if we never sinned. This is only possible through a sinless sacrifice that pays for our sins as if He committed them. He then gives us His perfect righteousness as if we earn it.

The death of Christ determines where we will spend eternity while the resurrected life of Christ in us determines how we live now. When we receive Christ, He provides His abundant life between now and the time we go to be with Him. His mercy gives forgiveness of our sins and His grace, if we apply it, prevents us from sinning.

The temptations of life can be divided into three areas: the world, the flesh and the devil. Jesus’ resurrection has overcome them all. The world tried to prevent it by sealing the tomb and posting a guard. Having His life in us however, allows us to live for Him in spite of a Godless society with its world view, values and peer pressure. Jesus rose again in defiance of the death of His earthly body. Even though our flesh, with its sin nature is strong, we can overcome any addictions, moral weakness or temptations of life through His power. Although he tried, even Satan could not stop the resurrection. The Lord gives us His strength to stand against the many attacks of the devil, who tries to defeat us, because “…greater is He that is in you, then he that is in the world.”

Jesus’ resurrection is the guarantee of our resurrection. He said, “…I go and prepare a place for you…” “I will come again, and receive you unto myself…” Heaven is a place without tears from sorrows, sickness or separations where we will be with our loved ones, who know the Lord, for eternity. Most importantly we will be with the One we have loved and served by faith. Our hope is not in the world, but in our risen Savior.

The power of the resurrected life in us comes out of Christ’s death on the cross for us. In the Bible, the cross is never referred to as a beam but as a tree, which is alive and gives life. His death takes care of our eternity by suffering for our sins. His resurrection takes care of this life by living His life through us.

STEVE CONWELL, pastor of Maranatha Baptist Church is heard mornings on WFLO and WVHL in “A Thought For Today.” His email address is SteveConwell@outlook.com.