John MacArthur: The Resurrection Gospel

Don Green: The Gospel of Resurrection

Book Review: Body of Proof by Jeremiah Johnston

The Good News of the Gospel is that Jesus lived a perfect life on our behalf and died for our sins on our behalf then was raised to life on the third day. We see the Bible saying Jesus was raised for our justification (Romans 4:25) and if the Resurrection never happened, our faith is in vain and we are still in our sins (1 Corinthians 15:14, 17). 

Many have tried to make the Resurrection a fairy tale but have been unsuccessful. There are Christians who believe that Jesus died from them but was never raised. Can we believe that Jesus was raised from the dead? The answer that is yes. Jeremiah J. Johnston's latest book takes a look at the Resurrection and seven reasons why it is true. The book is titled, Body of Proof. 

The book begins with looking at if the Resurrection was a made-up story, which is it clearly not. Then Johnston looks at the different theories about how Jesus survived the Crucifixion which is possible for Him to be alive during the time of the Apostles. I really love the theory that Jesus passed out while on the cross and then was revived while in the tomb than somehow moved a big rock while He was in the shape He was, which is called the Swoon Theory. 

Then Johnston goes into the seven best reasons to believe that the Resurrection happened as the subtitle of the book suggests. He said the best reasons not biblical reasons. Not saying Johnston went against the Bible, but to say these are the best reasons is almost saying these make sense to me and they should to you. I will say some of these reasons have a lot of Biblical support but there is one where I scratched my head at because there was only verse that supported Johnston's claim. More on that in a moment.

The seven reasons Johnston says we can believe in the Resurrection are:

1. Society is transformed everywhere Christianity is introduced and embraced.

2. Jesus called it.

3. Jesus demonstrated resurrection power.

4. No motivation to invent Jesus' resurrection narrative is evident.

5. Written and archeological sources overwhelmingly support the Gospel's resurrection narrative.

6. Only Jesus' resurrection convincingly explains the conversion of people not previously his followers.

7. Jesus' resurrection is the only basis for making sense of suffering.

For the most part, I think Johnston did a decent job in explaining his claims as to why we can believe in the Resurrection. However, the one claim which was the weakest was the first one, "Society is transformed everywhere Christianity is introduced and embraced." Why is this the weakest? It almost sounds like the Resurrection happened for the betterment of society. This is almost making a social gospel issue with the Resurrection.

Johnston pondered what would happen if Winston Churchill had given up and surrendered. Would Hitler have won World War II if the Resurrection never happened? Johnston continues to say that because of the Resurrection, Christians have had an impact of the world that improved ethics and morality in society. I don't doubt that Christians have had an effect on society but to say this is proof of the Resurrection sounds like Jesus came for society not sinners. As Darrell Harrison of the Just Thinking Podcast has said, "Jesus came to save sinners not society." 

This first reason is not called a Biblical reason, but a "best" reason along with the other six, which had good arguments.  The conclusions from reason one were weak and lacked a lot of Biblical evidence. Johnston does say John 3:16 is show us God loves humanity, which goes with his argument that the revelation of God's love was key to a change in society. Not a strong case and gave me a desire not to continue with the rest of the book.

I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.

We Believe the Resurrection because of the Bible

Andy Stanley continues to teach in his church that we believe in the Resurrection not because of what the Bible says. It is because of the ancient documents written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Stanley would go on to say that history tells us there was a Resurrection. Yes, that can be true but history will never proclaim why we must believe in the Resurrection nor why it matters that Jesus was raised from the dead. 

Why do we believe the Resurrection? It is not because of wishful thinking or what history tells us. It is not because of some legend or folklore that has been passed down from generation after generation. John Owen wrote:

Christ's death, and burial, and resurrection, are the things proposed unto us to be believed, and so the object of our faith. But the reason why we believe them is, because they are declared in the Scriptures. 

The Bible says:

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

The Scriptures declare that Jesus died, was buried, and was raised to life. The Scriptures are sufficient for knowing why Jesus rose from the dead. 

Justification in the Resurrection of Christ

The idea that sinners are in some sense of the word justified in the resurrection of Christ was stressed by some Antinomians, is taught by those Reformed theologians who believe in a justification from eternity, and is also held by some other Reformed scholars. This view is based on the following grounds:

By His atoning work Christ satisfied all the demands of the law for His people. In the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead the Father publicly declared that all the requirements of the law were met for all the elect and thereby justified them. But here too careful distinction is required. Even though it be true that there was an objective justification of Christ and of the whole body of Christ in His resurrection, this should not be confounded with the justification of the sinner of which Scripture speaks. It is not true that, when Christ rendered full satisfaction to the Father for all His people, their guilt naturally terminated. A penal debt is not like a pecuniary debt in this respect. Even after the payment of a ransom, the removal of guilt may depend on certain conditions, and does not follow as a matter of course. The elect are not personally justified in the Scriptural sense until they accept Christ by faith and thus appropriate His merits.

In Romans 4:25 we read that Christ was "raised up for (dia, causal, on account of) our justification," that is, to effect our justification. Now it is undoubtedly true that dia with the accusative is causal here. At the same time it need not be retrospective, but can also be prospective and therefore mean "with a view to our justification," which is equivalent to saying, "in order that we may be justified." The retrospective interpretation would be in conflict with the immediately following context, which clearly shows (1) that Paul is not thinking of the objective justification of the whole body of Christ, but of the personal justification of sinners; and (2) that he conceives of this as taking place through faith.

In 2 Corinthians 5:19 we read: "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses." From this passage the inference is drawn that the objective reconciliation of the world in Christ involves the non-imputation of sin to the sinner. But this interpretation is not correct. The evident meaning of the apostle is: God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, as appears from the fact that He does not impute to men their sins, and that He has entrusted to His servants the word of reconciliation. Notice that me logizomenos (present tense) refers to what is constantly going on. This cannot be conceived as a part of the objective reconciliation, for then the following clause, "and having committed to us the word of reconciliation," would also have to be so interpreted, and this is quite impossible.

In connection with this matter it may be said that we can speak of a justification of the body of Christ as a whole in His resurrection, but this is purely objective and should not be confounded with the personal justification of the sinner.

Adapted from Louis Berkhof's Systematic Theology

Around The Web-April 12, 2019

Living for Jesus in a Digital World with Dave Jenkins from the Reasonable Theology podcast

Just Thinking podcast on the Resurrection of Jesus

Christ Our Ransom by Jared C Wilson

3 Reasons Christians Cannot Commit the Unforgivable Sin

Commitments of a Great Commission Church by H.B. Charles, Jr

When Churches Can’t Do Everything by Kevin DeYoung

Expiation and Propitiation by Michael Morales

Why We Need Systematic Theology by Joel R. Beeke and Paul M. Smalley

The Focus of Christianity is the Cross and the Empty Tomb

In everything Paul wrote—more than half of the New Testament letters are his—he says the good news is the front-page headline. “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3–4, italics mine). God says the gospel is the most important truth in his word. “First importance” (or “most important,” NLT), means that the gospel is the leading truth of the Bible; it’s at the head of the pack, the alpha truth, and all other biblical truths fall in line behind it. The gospel is the mama duck in our gaggle of doctrine. She leads, she guides, and all other doctrine looks to her, follows her, and keeps in step with her. To live a Christian life is to live “in step with the truth of the gospel” (Gal. 2:14) and to “let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Phil. 1:27).

The Christian life is formed by the glories of the gospel—it’s patterned and powered by the gospel of grace in all of life, for the rest of life. The gospel is the center of the Bible, and it ought to be the center of our lives, homes, churches, ministries, spiritual disciplines, songs, parenting, marriages, jobs—everything. The focal point of the Christian life is one cross and one empty tomb. Without the gospel, we lack the proper understanding of any doctrine, and especially a robust knowing of God himself. “The gospel,” Michael Bird, author and systematic theologian, says, “is the nexus into the reality of the God who has revealed himself.” If we want to know the glory of God, his high-definition glory is found in the gospel of Jesus—for Jesus makes God known (John 1:18). The cross is our logo. It’s the power of our lives, because Christ is alive in us. Husbands and wives pattern their marriage after the gospel (Eph. 5:22–33). Christian interaction is gospel-driven. Humility is possible for us proud people because of Jesus at work in us (Phil. 2:1–11).

The gospel is the message of the church. Christians are made strong because of the gospel. Bird is right: “We need a gospel-driven theology in order to yield a gospel-soaked piety and a gospel-acting church.” It’s all gospel. All the time. A gospel party don’t stop. The gospel, the news of the eternal Son of God dying in our place for our sins, is not only the center of the Bible; it’s also the center of history. In God’s gospel, he is reconciling all things unto himself for the praise of his glory. Nothing compares to the glory of the gospel in giving glory to God—and God will never get tired of the gospel; it’s the soundtrack of the heavenly places (Rev. 5:1–14). The angels, who have seen things we can’t even fathom, looked at the bloody cross and the empty tomb with sheer excitement. Peter tells us, "Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look." (1 Peter 1:10–12)

Do you long to look into the gospel? When you hear the gospel preached, do you perk up? I can relate to being bored by a lecture on some theological abstraction from a land far, far away, but not by the gospel; the wildness of the gospel vaporizes yawning and boredom. There is a shock-and-awe that comes with the gospel. God loves the gospel. The angels are giddy over it. If you don’t quite get the fireworks of the gospel, preach the gospel to yourself. Like Paul prayed for the Ephesians, pray "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places." (Eph. 1:17–20)

Adapted from Gospel Formed: Living a Grace-Addicted, Truth-Filled, Jesus-Exalting Life by J.A. Medders

What If Christ Did Not Rise From The Dead?

The Resurrection is the fundamental cornerstone of our faith. Many may think it was the crucifixion, which it is an important element in our gospel message. So the question is, what if Christ did not rise from the dead? Could Christianity continue if it was not true?

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 15 that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and was buried and was raised from the dead in accordance with the Scriptures. Jesus appeared to many after he was raised, then he ascended to heaven. The Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote the following:

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied (1 Corinthians 15:12-19).

There were people in Paul's day that said there was no resurrection. Paul challenged their beliefs with some simple logic. If there was no resurrection, all preaching, past and present, is in vain. It would be worthless to preach Christ because the Resurrection never happened. Paul went on to say we are making God look bad. We are lying about Him because we are proclaiming that He raised Christ. Since Christ is not raised, if the Resurrection never happened, then the dead are not raised. Believers one day will have a resurrected body when Jesus returns. If the Resurrection never happened, then our resurrection will never happen as well.

Next, Paul said, if Christ was not raised, we are still in our sins. Romans 4:25 says Christ was raised for our justification. The Resurrection sealed the deal for our redemption. If we are still in our sins, then why bother living for holiness and attending church. We might do good things hopefully that God will let us into heaven, but that is not good news when we have to work for our salvation. If Christ was not raised, then all who have gone before us are not in heaven with God, but are perishing in hell. Let that sink in.

Finally, if Christ was not raised, then we have no hope. We have no hope of a life free from sin one day. We have no hope that God has forgiven us. Since we have no hope, we should be pitied.

If the Resurrection never happened then all the preachers who we have sat under, lied to us. If they lied to us so did the preachers before them and the preachers before them. That also means our parents did as well and their parents. If the Resurrection is not true than the Bible is not true. If the Bible is not true, than the Apostles lied. That would also make Jesus a lunatic and not who He said He was. That means God deceived us which goes back to the question at the beginning in the garden, "Did God Really Say?" If Christ did not rise from the dead, Christianity is a scam and all its followers are suckers.

The Gospel tells us Christ was raised. There were eyewitnesses and people have experienced God's forgiveness. Their actions show that the Holy Spirit have regenerated them to love God and love others. The Holy Spirit gives us the power (not a superpower) to do the will of God. When we come to God for forgiveness, he is will forgive us (1 John 1:9).

Christ has been raised.

What Are The Proofs Of The Resurrection?

This video featuring Ted Cabal at Southern Seminary talks about the proof of the Resurrection:

Can We Believe In The Resurrection Apart From The Bible?

Last Sunday, Andy Stanley said during his sermon on how Christianity rests on the Resurrection, not the Bible with this statement (I am paraphrasing), "We start off our Easter service last year by saying believe not because the Bible, but because of eyewitness accounts." A few years ago, I wrote a post asking why is the Resurrection a big deal? In that post, I said three things:

1. Our faith would be worthless.

2. The Resurrection seals our justification.

3. The Resurrection gives us a living hope.

With Stanley's comments, some have wondered if the Resurrection is enough. What I mean is, can we rest our faith that Jesus rose from the dead outside the Bible? We have to be careful here because we don't want people to accuse us of worshipping the Bible or thinking we gain eternal life by having a Bible. The answer to the question, can we rest in believing the Resurrection without the Bible? No.

Yes, the Bible does say that if there was no resurrection, our faith is in vain and we are still in our sins 1 Corinthians 15:12-14. In the verse above, the Apostle Paul wrote:

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

Christ's death was the fulfillment of Scripture along with His Resurrection which means we can take God at His Word because He promised this would happen. Jesus told the disciples on the road to Emmaus starting with Moses followed by the Prophets that all Scripture was about Him (Luke 24:27). Later He appeared to the rest of the disciples where "he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, 'Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead'" (Luke 24:45-46). We see the Resurrection as the fulfillment of prophecy. How can we get prophecy if we did not have the Word of God?

What if Jesus appeared like He did to Paul? What if He did that today? Could that happen? It might. Was Paul converted at the moment Jesus showed Himself on the road to Damascus? It seem so because my Bible has a header for Acts 9, "The Conversion of Saul." I am most certain that Paul did have an encounter with the Risen Savior, however, he did not immediately go out and preach. After his sight was restored, the Bible said, "For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus" (Acts 9:19). It is most likely during that time he was being instructed in the claims of Christianity, in other words, he was being discipled by the disciples.

Probably one of the most convincing passages is Luke 16:19-31. This is a parable of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man ends up in Hell while Lazarus was at Abraham's side. The rich man begs Abraham to warn his family about where they will end up if they did not repent. Abraham said, "They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them" (Luke 16:29). The rich man protested, "No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent" (Luke 16:30). Sounds like a good idea, right? Not really. Abraham said, "If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead" (Luke 16:31).

In the 21st century, we have the Bible. We have warnings in Scripture on what will happen if people do not repent. They have heard sermons and probably read a book yet this still refuse to come to Christ. If they don't believe in the Word of God, how would they believe someone who came back to life. Christians who have had near-death experiences are not filling stadiums. Some of their writings on what they saw are not the same visions. One such story turned out to be a hoax and the publisher pulled the book. After Lazarus (not the same one from Luke's parable) was raised from the dead, people did believe in Christ, but there people who still did not believe. In fact, there was a plot to kill Lazarus (see John 12:9-11).

We cannot believe the Resurrection without the Bible. The Bible tells us that the Resurrection happened. It tells us who saw it and why it is important.

Recommended Reading:

Andy Stanley — We Can’t Arrive at the Empty Tomb without a Bible by Josh Buice

The Resurrection Verified Jesus's Claims

To Christians, the resurrection means many important things. It means that those of us who are united to Jesus by faith will be resurrected just like He was. It means that God fully accepted the sacrifice for sins that Jesus offered on the cross and that it was infinitely more than sufficient to pay our moral debt. It means that Jesus now lives to lead, rule, protect, intercede for, and do good for His people who are still alive on earth. And it also means that God ratified, endorsed, vindicated, and confirmed all of Jesus's claims about who He was and what kind of authority He possessed.

Greg Gilbert, Why Trust The Bible?

Let Us Not Forget The Resurrection

Another Easter season has come and gone. If you have been to the store, they are selling Easter merchandise and candy at ridiculous discount prices. We are glad this season is over because there won't be another major holiday until the end of the May.

It seems for some Christians, Easter is a time to remember the Resurrection of Christ. We hear "Easter sermons" during the season like we hear "Christmas sermons." We associate certain passages of Scripture with a season rather than the whole council of God that leads us in all of life.

As wonderful as the Easter season is, we must not forget the Resurrection. Without the Resurrection, Christianity is nothing. Paul told the Corinthian church that our faith is in vain and we are still in our sins, if Christ was not raised (1 Corinthians 15:14 & 17). The Resurrection is what sets Christianity apart from all the other world religions. Other religions follow men who stayed dead, while we follow a Risen Savior.

We treat the Resurrection like the Virgin Birth, we celebrate it in its proper time. There is no command in the Bible to celebrate these things in a certain time frame. However, when we partake of the Lord's Supper, we remember Jesus' death till He comes again and there is no command to remember the birth of Christ.

How should Christians continue to celebrate the Resurrection? First, be part of a church that preaches the whole council of God. Seek a church that does not grow weary from preaching the gospel which does include the Resurrection.

Second, read about the Resurrection. Read it over and over again in the Bible. All four gospels address Christ's Resurrection. Read good books on the Resurrection such D.A. Carson's Scandalous or Thabiti Anyabwile's Captivated.

Third, preach the gospel to yourself. Remind yourself that Jesus did die on the cross in our place for our sins and God raised Him from the dead on the third day.

Christians, let us rejoice in the Resurrection. Easter will come next year, but the Resurrection is a present reality that does not need to be celebrated once a year.

Book Review: The Resurrection in Your Life by Mike McKinley

With Easter approaching, there will be more sermons about the Crucifixion than any other time in some churches. They will preach on the events that led to Jesus' death then on Easter speak on the Resurrection. However some churches with make a big deal of the Crucifixion and a lesser deal of the Resurrection. The Resurrection has become an appendix that last part of the book no one wants to read because it has no point in most cases.

Mike McKinley writes about the Resurrection and how it is helpful for the Christian life in his latest book, The Resurrection In Your Life. This book serves as a follow up to a book he wrote about on the Crucifixion called, Passion:How Christ's Final Day Changes Your Every Day. Like his previous book, McKinley writes on the Resurrection using the Word of God to serve as introduction to the chapter. He begins with the last couple of chapters in the gospel of Luke then briefly through the first two chapters of Acts.

McKinley writes on why the Resurrection gives us hope. The Crucifixion gives us hope because we have a Savior who died in our place for our sins. The Resurrection serves as a reminder that we have a living hope. All other religious leaders are dead and buried. Jesus is alive which gives us hope. He intercedes for us and he sits at the Father's right hand.

One thing that McKinley wrote about that I really appreciate is that Jesus ascended bodily. The gospels told us he was touched by people and he ate food in front of the disciples. Many times, the fact Jesus had a resurrected body seems to be pushed aside. Why is this a big deal? McKinley writes:

(In) Jesus we find a human representative who lifts us up to the throne room of heaven. Jesus is the second Adam, who did everything he did on our behalf. He lived and died and rose and even ascended into heaven for us. We have a friend "on the inside" of heaven, looking out for our interests (pg. 56).

This book serves as a simple introductory guide to the Resurrection and how it applies to all Christians. I have always enjoyed McKinley's writings and this book is no exception. This would be good for one on one discipleship.

Thanks Good Book Company for letting me review this book.

Book Review: Raised? by Jonathan Dodson & Brad Watson

As Easter approaches, there will be many books on the death of Christ yet there will not be many on the Resurrection. Yes, we are to praise God for the death of Christ because we have the forgiveness of the sins through it. What makes it hard for some Christians is to accept that Jesus did not stay dead but was raised to life once again by God the Father. Noticed I said many Christians will find the Resurrection hard to accept. Yes, many non-Christians will find the Resurrection hard to swallow yet there are some Christians who still doubt that Jesus was raised from the dead after being dead for three days following His Crucifixion.

Jonathan Dodson and Brad Watson confront doubts regarding the Resurrection in their short little book, Raised? Finding Jesus by Doubting the Resurrection. This book is meant for the skeptics of the Christian faith as well as those who fall under the "nones" category, meaning they have no religious affiliation. Dodson and Watson shows how some people in the Bible were skeptics of the Resurrection as well such as Thomas, who we have dubbed, "Doubting Thomas." Also they show how the Resurrection has reshaped history by giving people hope and abundant life that can only be found in Christ. Not only did the Resurrection reshape history, but it also changes lives for the glory of God. Dodson and Watson took time to also proclaim the gospel in this book, lets face it, your cannot write about the Resurrection without mentioning the gospel, by discussing what is faith, sin, and Jesus.

This book was a very short book and easy to read for anyone who might be questioning the Resurrection. I believe churches should hand out this book to their congregation so they may be able to give it to a lost friend so they can read along with them. This will be a great resource for small group discussions as well.

Thanks Booklook Bloggers for letting me review this book.

Book Review: Captivated by Thabiti M. Anyabwile

Many Christians have reserved the teaching of the death and resurrection of Jesus for Easter Sunday just as many reserved the birth of Christ for Christmas. I truly believe that many Christians have lost the wonder of the resurrection that when Easter comes around they have no joy because of what God has done through Jesus. I also believe that many Christians have lost the amazement of the resurrection that they cannot share it with those who do not believe.

I love reading books on the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ and the deep theological teaching that goes with it. Reasons are to remind me of what God has done through the finished work of Jesus on the cross and to teach me that what Jesus went through was not just to die for our sins but to take on the punishment for our sins. Thabiti A Anyabwile has written an engaging book called, Captivated: Beholding The Mystery of Jesus' Death and Resurrection, which were based on a series of Easter sermons his church, First Baptist Church, Grand Cayman on the Cayman Islands. This book has only five chapters which is packed with Biblical truth regarding the crucifixion and resurrection that even a lost person can pick up and read.

Chapter one is about Jesus praying in the garden of Gethsemane asking the Father if there is another way, lets do it, if not I will do your will. Anyabwile goes on to say why there Jesus is the only way for our sins to be atoned for which was through Jesus' death on the cross. Chapter two is about the agony Jesus experienced on the cross as he cried out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46). Anyabwile talks about the difficult teaching as to why Jesus had to experience such a separation for the Father that He never experienced before.

Chapter three addresses that Jesus conquered death by dying in our place on the cross. Anyabwile said, "(The)death of Jesus Christ means the death of death itself...the death of death in the death of Jesus Christ also means victory over death for those who trust in Christ as their God and Savior. Death is dead. We have won" (pg. 42). Chapter four is about the resurrections and the importance of it for Christians to embrace it. Compared to all false messiahs the world has place their faith in, they are dead but Jesus is alive. The final chapter is simply asking the question, "Do You Not Know These Things?" In this chapter, Anyabwile shared the gospel and the importance of believing Jesus is who the Bible claims Him to be. Anyabwile also teaches on the importance of Jesus coming in the flesh and why we cannot deny it.

I have always loved Thabiti Anyabwile's writings. So when the opportunity came to review this book, I did not hesitate. If you are a new believer, this book will benefit you and all your lost friends. If you are a maturing believer, you will also benefit from this book that will stir your affections for Jesus. I encourage all Christians to read this book, then get a copy for a lost person and read it with them.

Thanks Reformation Heritage Books for letting me review this book.

Did Easter Bring You To Tears?

Another Easter has come and gone. I am sure many church leaders are reflecting on what God did. A lot of churches had exciting worship service that looked like a party because, for Christians, Easter is a party. We are celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus. We worship God becoming man, who died on the cross, and rose from grave three days later. For many of you, Easter was full of excitement. For me this past weekend was very emotional.

It all started with a close family member ended up in the hospital. Thankfully, he is doing much better. Another family member, my wife's aunt, got bad news that her father passed away. He lives in Seattle and because of her health issues, she cannot be able to travel. I know two ladies who have their mothers in the hospital and both are near death. One of our church members, who is about my age, is going through cancer and his wife is about to give birth to their first child this month. He came to our Easter service to celebrate the Resurrection with us. Our pastor, along with myself, our worship leader, and deacons, gathered around him and his wife to pray for them. All I thought about during that prayer was one day cancer will get it.

I started off this Easter Sunday very emotional because of not only personal issues but with what others were experiencing. Not only that, I was thinking about the crucifixion. I thought about the sin Jesus died for which are also my sins. Every unkind word, impure thought, outburst of anger, and the idols in my heart is what Jesus died for. What filled my thoughts the most this past Sunday was Jesus rising from the dead. To know that Jesus' resurrection sealed our justification (Romans 4:25) and if Jesus did not rise again, our faith is worthless and we are still in our sins (1 Corinthians 15:17). Then I thought about His Second Coming. I know one day that will happen. When? I don't know and it is not my business to know. I know that death, cancer, and this entire world will be made right because of Jesus.

All of these thoughts brought me to tears because of what God has done through Jesus and what He will do in the years to come. I thought about the gospel a lot. To know that Jesus died for scum like me, brought tears to my eyes because I do not deserve it and neither do you. Matt Carter shared that he always asked this question when hiring someone, "When was the last time the gospel brought you to tears?" I thought about that question, when I first heard and thought that is a question no one has ever asked me. I can say for sure that this past Easter Sunday did.

I want to ask you the question, did Easter bring you to tears? I know some of you may have celebrated more than others, but I was ready to party when our service started, but I remember what Jesus did. Easter should be a celebration but also a time when we remember that God did something for us we did not deserve, I know I did not.

If you were not brought to tears this past Easter, do not start judging yourself. Here is what I would do, meditate on the gospel. Listen to Easter sermons, and if there are Good Friday sermons online, then listen to those too. God showed how much He loves us by sending Jesus to die for sinners. He paid the ransom for us because we could not do it. Three days later, He rose again. That simple truth should bring you to tears.