What do we receive as the gift of God? Eternal life through Jesus Christ Redeemer and Lord.
Thanks and Praise are warrantedBible words about our redemption.

Atonement: The redemptive life and death of Jesus, bringing together lost man with his Holy God, by the offering once for all, sacrifice at Calvary.

Rom 5:6-11 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Reconciliation: To be united as one again, How? By the substitutionary Sacrifice of Jesus

IICor 5:18-21 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Propitiation: The satisfying of the requirements of a Holy God, fulfilling the law and appeasing his wrath, this Jesus did.

1st John 4:10-13 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

Resurrection: A rising from the dead. Jesus’s resurrection is for now, our rising from dead works to serve, the living God, and for eternity a new and glorified body as He has.

Rom 6:4-5 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

John 11:25,26 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die….

1st Peter 1:3, 8 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, … Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

Thank you Lord! for Your grace and mercy full and free! Titus3:5-7 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Phil 4:7

Easter Blessings
Pastor Mark

Christ Jesus lay in death’s strong bands,
For our offenses given;
But now at God’s right hand He stands,
And brings us life from Heaven.
Wherefore let us joyful be,
And sing to God right thankfully
Loud songs of Alleluia! Alleluia!

No son of man could conquer Death,
Such mischief sin had wrought us,
For innocence dwelt not on earth,
And therefore Death had brought us
Into thralldom from of old
And ever grew more strong and bold
And kept us in his bondage. Alleluia!

But Jesus Christ, God’s only Son,
To our low state descended,
The cause of Death He has undone,
His power forever ended,
Ruined all his right and claim
And left him nothing but the name,
His sting is lost forever. Alleluia!

It was a strange and dreadful strife
When life and death contended;
The victory remained with life;
The reign of death was ended.
Stripped of power, no more it reigns,
An empty form alone remains
Death’s sting is lost forever! Alleluia!

Here the true Paschal Lamb we see,
Whom God so freely gave us;
He died on the accursed tree�
So strong His love!�to save us.
See, His blood doth mark our door;
Faith points to it, Death passes over,
And Satan cannot harm us. Alleluia!

So let us keep the festival
Where to the Lord invites us;
Christ is Himself the joy of all,
The Sun that warms and lights us.
By His grace He doth impart
Eternal sunshine to the heart;
The night of sin is ended! Alleluia!

Then let us feast this Easter day
On the true Bread of Heaven;
The Word of grace hath purged away
The old and wicked leaven.
Christ alone our souls will feed;
He is our Meat and Drink indeed;
Faith lives upon no other! Alleluia!
Martin Luther’s Easter Hymn

As we near the Easter festival and we ponder the history of the world, the history of Israel, the history of the church, and our own personal history, we are well aware the world was and is marred by sin, Israel was and is marred by sin, the church was and is marred by sin, and each of us are marred by sin. Romans 3:10-12 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable there is none that doeth good, no, not one. ” With the Good Friday message is God’s love brought to a fallen world, the sin bearer, The Father’s beloved son, becoming sin for us that righteousness would be imputed unto those who have no offering to appease a Holy God. With the publican at the temple: “God be merciful to me a sinner” With Isaiah the prophet “Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts”. God working in the heart repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” Here the voice of the suffering saviour “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” Jesus shedding his precious blood to wash away all our sins. Martin Luther on the value of Christ’s blood. “One drop of Christ’s blood is worth more than heaven and earth.” My friend, leave your sins with Jesus, he has paid for them all. Martin Luther again, “Either your sin is with you, or lying on your shoulder, or it is lying on Christ, the Lamb of God. Now if it is lying on your back you are lost; but if is resting on Christ you are free, and you will be saved. Now choose what you want.” Easter morning is arriving the dark night is past, sin is finished, Satan destroyed, his power broken, death hath no more dominion over the children of grace. “The Sun of righteousness (Jesus) has risen with healing in his wings ” Martin Luther ” .. What does the resurrection advantage us? It has already brought us this: our hearts are enlightened and filled with joy, and we have passed from the darkness of sin, error and fear into the clear light.” Peter 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” Brothers, sisters, young and old together, lets walk the narrow way as light and salt to all those around us, living for Jesus a life that is true striving to please him in all that we do. II Corinthians 5:14,15 “For the Love of Christ constraineth us because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” Holy Father bless our Easter services, cause our ears to be attentive and our hearts receptive to your word, our only life (Jesus) in his name, Amen.