easter.

easter.

Letter E Whether it is called Easter or Resurrection Sunday, this is the day for Christians to celebrate the day when  Jesus was    resurrected  from the dead.

The tomb was empty.

Why is this significant?

God took the form of a man and dwelt among humanity to save us from the consequences of sin: eternal death and eternal separation from God.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

You don’t clean up before coming to God. He takes you as you are. He died for your sin before you were born.

You don’t have eternal life through doing good things. It is a gift.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The old covenant, the Law, could not save, only reveal to us what sin is.

The new covenant, Grace, saves, and wipes the slate clean.

Jesus took upon himself the sin of the world.  His death and resurrection broke the power of sin over our lives.

What does he want?

Our love.

Photo credit: Art4TheGlryOfGod / Foter / CC BY-ND
Photo credit: Art4TheGlryOfGod / Foter / CC BY-ND
angry?

angry?

Have you been confused by the way Christianity has been presented?

Have you felt disqualified because someone made you think God is angry with you?

For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us.

God is not angry.

He loved the world just the way it was when he took the wrath toward sin upon himself. The payment for sin is paid in full. And God chose Jesus to pay for it.

He loves you the way you are. Like an earthly father loves his child, God loves you even more so.

rafaela-blank-augusto-etges_l

If Jesus died for the whole world, why would only you be singled out for God’s anger? But wait? What anger?

God knew we would trip and fall many times throughout life. He picks us up just like a father picks up his child.

Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.

This is the love God has for you.

He just wants you to love him back.

~~~

Photo credit:  Lost Control / Foter / CC BY-SA

1 Thessalonians 5

forgive.

forgive.

It is not impossible to forgive someone.

The only way we can is because God has wired us for it.

After recognizing this, the next step is to realize that you do things wrong, too. When we understand and accept this fact we are more willing to forgive.

See, the problem is we don’t think we’re that bad. Or, we would never do what so-and-so did.

If we would see we’re all broken – all on an equal playing field – this paradigm would make us think differently. The Bible states to break one commandment is to break them all.  In God’s world, sin is sin.

It’s alright to be hurt. If you want to forgive, God will help you. Otherwise you will become bitter. And that will hurt even worse.