Easter 2011

Pastor Todd Christopherson
Mid American Stock Car Series
April 24, 2011

Better name: Resurrection Sunday

What a great week to reflect on who we are, the need we have, who God is and the love He has for us!

I usually try to tie in a racing tidbit to the articles but this day I can not. On Friday we looked at the horror of Jesus’ death and we said it is Friday but Sunday is coming, thankfully! Now we look at it, the day we celebrate the empty tomb, the resurrection of the Savior but before we do that let’s think about the sentence I lead with.

Who we are - 1 Kings 8:46a "When they sin against you-for there is no one who does not sin and in the New Testament Romans 3:23 says, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, We see clearly in the Bible that we sin, that means simply to miss the mark of God, not meeting His standards which we will see below.

The need we have - Luke 5:31-32 31 Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." And in the Old Testament Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. Our need is for a Savior as in picture form we are on one side of a canyon and God on the other with NO bridge and NO way to cross over yet for one. We are isolated from God due to our sin and will be held accountable and have to take responsibility.

Who God is – God is perfect, holy, Creator, Father, Son and Spirit. He is too great and perfect to understand or comprehend. He is awesome and mighty. Volumes have been authored yet only a glimpse can be seen. Nehemiah 9:6 You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is in it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you. 1 Chronicles 16:10-11 10 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. 11 Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. Job 37:5 God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.

The love He has for us - Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. It is amazing to thank about a love that would drive Jesus to die on the cross for me who rebelled and strayed so far from Him.

Finally, the reason for the celebration of Easter and the victory HE HAS RISEN! Matthew 28:6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Luke 24:34 and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

See you at a track soon and have a great day racin’ in the SONshine,

Todd