Easter-What's it all about?
|
He is Risen“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3 v 16
Easter is celebrated by millions of Christians all over the world. But why is the death and resurrection of Jesus regarded by so many as the single most important event in history? |
|
The Problem
When God created human beings He created us to know His love, to love Him and to love eath other. Pain and suffering were not part of God's plan for humanity.
In order that human beings could have the capacity to love and to be loved, God gave us the gift of free will. After all love that isn't freely chosen, isn't love at all. Unfortunately all of us have at times chosen selfishness or unkindness over love. The bible calls this sin. Sin is anything that breaks God's laws of love.
God is just
I am sure there have been times when you've looked at the news, only to hear a story of someone who has committed a terrible crime getting an unduly lenient sentence, or maybe getting away with their crimes altogether. Such events offend our sense of justice and rightly so, if someone commits a crime they should pay the penalty for their crimes.
Our God is a God of justice and He can't simply turn a blind eye when human beings hurt one another. Each one of us is so very precious to God that it hurts God deeply when someone hurts you or me. However even the best of us has to admit that sometimes we are the ones that are causing pain to someone else.
'The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord' (Romans 6 v 23)
So we have a problem, although God loves us very much, each one of us has at times broken God's laws of love, and the bible says that the penalty for this is death. Fortunately for us, this isn't the end of the story.
God is Love
God isn't only a God of justice, He is also a God of love. A God who loves each and every one of us so much that He wasn't willing to abandon us to the consequences of our own selfish choices. So God decided to pay the penalty for our sin Himself.
He did this when God the Son (Jesus), became a human being and lived amongst us. Jesus lived a perfect life, everything He did was motivated by love. When He died on the cross He paid the price for every wicked thought or deed that human beings have committed.
Three days later God the Father raised him to life. Jesus paid the price for our sin so that we can be forgiven and brought back into relationship with our heavenly Father.
What about me
'God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.' 2 Cor 5v21
Because Jesus has paid the price for our sin, we can be completely forgiven for everything we have done wrong. Not only forgiven, but welcomed into God's family as a beloved child of God and granted the gift of eternal life. It doesn't matter who you are, or what you have done, God is offering you forgiveness today. All you need do is own up to the things that you have done wrong and put your trust in Him. Our heavenly Father places such a high value on you, that He willingly sent his son to die for you. He is longing for you to come home to Him.
If you would like to receive this wonderful gift of forgiveness and acceptance that Jesus is offering, then ask God to forgive you for the things you have done and invite Jesus to become the Lord of your life. You might want to pray the following prayer:
"Dear God I know that I sometimes do things wrong and make mistakes, and I want your forgiveness! I believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for my sins.
Please wash me clean from all sin, shame, and guilt, come into my life Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. I ask this in your name Jesus.
Amen!"
If you have prayed this prayer, it can be helpful to find a local church to worship with. We would be very happy to help you in this process in any way we can. You can contact us using the contact form.
When God created human beings He created us to know His love, to love Him and to love eath other. Pain and suffering were not part of God's plan for humanity.
In order that human beings could have the capacity to love and to be loved, God gave us the gift of free will. After all love that isn't freely chosen, isn't love at all. Unfortunately all of us have at times chosen selfishness or unkindness over love. The bible calls this sin. Sin is anything that breaks God's laws of love.
God is just
I am sure there have been times when you've looked at the news, only to hear a story of someone who has committed a terrible crime getting an unduly lenient sentence, or maybe getting away with their crimes altogether. Such events offend our sense of justice and rightly so, if someone commits a crime they should pay the penalty for their crimes.
Our God is a God of justice and He can't simply turn a blind eye when human beings hurt one another. Each one of us is so very precious to God that it hurts God deeply when someone hurts you or me. However even the best of us has to admit that sometimes we are the ones that are causing pain to someone else.
'The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord' (Romans 6 v 23)
So we have a problem, although God loves us very much, each one of us has at times broken God's laws of love, and the bible says that the penalty for this is death. Fortunately for us, this isn't the end of the story.
God is Love
God isn't only a God of justice, He is also a God of love. A God who loves each and every one of us so much that He wasn't willing to abandon us to the consequences of our own selfish choices. So God decided to pay the penalty for our sin Himself.
He did this when God the Son (Jesus), became a human being and lived amongst us. Jesus lived a perfect life, everything He did was motivated by love. When He died on the cross He paid the price for every wicked thought or deed that human beings have committed.
Three days later God the Father raised him to life. Jesus paid the price for our sin so that we can be forgiven and brought back into relationship with our heavenly Father.
What about me
'God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.' 2 Cor 5v21
Because Jesus has paid the price for our sin, we can be completely forgiven for everything we have done wrong. Not only forgiven, but welcomed into God's family as a beloved child of God and granted the gift of eternal life. It doesn't matter who you are, or what you have done, God is offering you forgiveness today. All you need do is own up to the things that you have done wrong and put your trust in Him. Our heavenly Father places such a high value on you, that He willingly sent his son to die for you. He is longing for you to come home to Him.
If you would like to receive this wonderful gift of forgiveness and acceptance that Jesus is offering, then ask God to forgive you for the things you have done and invite Jesus to become the Lord of your life. You might want to pray the following prayer:
"Dear God I know that I sometimes do things wrong and make mistakes, and I want your forgiveness! I believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for my sins.
Please wash me clean from all sin, shame, and guilt, come into my life Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. I ask this in your name Jesus.
Amen!"
If you have prayed this prayer, it can be helpful to find a local church to worship with. We would be very happy to help you in this process in any way we can. You can contact us using the contact form.
Our Easter Services
Good Friday Services: Friday 30th March
10.30am-11.30am- Quiet service with communion
2pm -3pm- 'Watch with Me' A time for quiet reflection.
Easter Sunday: 1st April
10.30am 'Do not be afraid...He has risen.'
