And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins
Ephesians 2:1
Dear Church and Friends,
Resurrection Sunday is coming. As of this writing we are 18 days away. Christ’s passion, cross, and resurrection abound with so much meaning. Without the resurrection of Christ there is no church. No coming of the Holy Spirit. No gospel to preach. No transforming power. No hope to hold on to and look forward to. Without this central event Jesus was proven to be just a man who died. He had great ideas and wonderful rhetoric, but nothing life changing or soul healing.
Of course, he was raised from the dead victorious over sin and the grave. This fact fills us with joy. Believers are a people born from the graveyard of failed lives, ruined relationships, corruption, and misery. Only Jesus could transform us, save us from sin and give us hope.
Consider today something found in Ephesians. “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-7).
Notice that just as God raised up Christ so He has raised us up! This is both a quickening of the future resurrection of our bodies and a present quickening of our souls. But O the wonder of where! in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. And as if that were not enough we are told that the resurrection of Christ lays out a future plan for the church, That in the ages to come.
Looking down through the eternal ages, God has a plan to continually celebrate the resurrection by showing us, the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. This coming celebration of the resurrection of Christ is just one in the eternity long celebration. The Father will lavish on the church grace (the exceeding riches of) and kindness provided by the Lord Jesus through his resurrection.
Meditate on his goodness toward you today, not because of you or anything you’ve done, but because of Christ Jesus. A goodness that will extend into the distant ages.
Music: Jericho – The Shout of Victory by Carman.
Prayer Requests: Please pray for the following.
- Wilma Simmons, Ekron, Ky. Wilma Simmons is a missionary serving through the Salem Baptist Association in Kentucky. “I am a missionary serving at Morgan Chapel in West Point, Ky. I work with the children’s program. I am profoundly deaf in one ear and completely deaf in the other. A hearing aid doesn’t help much. Please pray God will provide a solution to this problem so I can continue to serve.”
Consider supporting Creek Road Baptist Church through the Amazon Smile program. Use this link to select Creek Road Baptist Church as your designated charity. Once you have made this selection simply begin using Smile.Amazon.com (instead of using Amazon.com). No credits are available using just Amazon.com. Please contact the church office or Pastor Dave if you need help or have any questions.
Craig’s Catechism: The Third Part of Our Belief
- Question 272: What battle has the old man in himself? Answer: None at all against sin and wickedness.
- Question 273: In whom then is this battle? Answer: Only in the members of Christ and His church, through the presence of the Spirit.
All my best,
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Ephesians 2:5
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