Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin – because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.
These amazing words from the Apostle Paul are found in Romans chapter 6. For those who believe, these truths breathe life into our hearts. This is true, not only on this beautiful Easter morning, but on every morning all year round!
On the day Jesus rose from the dead, everything changed! God in the flesh overcame sin, death, and the grave. God, in compassion and grace, overcame everything that ever separated us from Him. The Holy Spirit, in resurrection power, offers to breathe life into every human, sin-sick soul! What difference does Easter make? All the difference in the world and beyond, and the only difference that really matters!
Apart from this, your education doesn’t matter. The number of degrees you hold, or the prestige of your job doesn’t matter. The location of your house, the size of your bank account, the brand label on your car, boat or clothes doesn’t matter. What I mean is that they don’t really matter, not in an eternal, change my status with God, bring me into his kingdom sort of way. None of the great things we fill our lives with or spend our careers chasing ever really matter if they have become ends in themselves. The only thing that really matters is whether our lives, our talents, our gifts, and our treasures are being used in ways that honor Christ. When we finally realize this truth, we begin to grasp that if it were not for what God did through Jesus and the Holy Spirit on Easter, nothing we do could ever really matter. But, as Paul would say, “Thanks be to God,” that He did what He did on that first Easter, so that every day from today to eternity can be different and better.
Now you, because Easter has made such a difference in you, get out there and make a difference in the world that is watching.
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