Pastor’s Easter Letter

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord, 

On April 12, 2020, people will celebrate all over the globe the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Why all the attention for an event that happened some 2,000 years ago? Why is Easter that big of a deal? Easter is important for lots of reasons. In 1 Corinthians 15:12, the Apostle Paul said this about the resurrection:

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?  

In 1 Corinthians 15:12-19, Paul says there are five things that would be in shambles if Christ did not rise from the dead. So let’s look at those five things as we prepare our hearts to receive the resurrection hope.

Because Christ Is Raised from the Dead  . . .”

1. We Are Forgiven for Our Sins

We can say positively that because of the resurrection we are forgiven for our sins. I put this first as the basic need and longing of our hearts because if God holds our sins against us—and we all have sinned! —then there is no hope of anything else from God. 

This means that by His death He paid the penalty for our sins and purchased our acquittal, our justification, our forgiveness. And since the achievement of the cross was so complete and the work of our justification so decisive, God raised Jesus from the dead to validate our forgiveness and to vindicate His Son’s righteousness and to celebrate the work of justification. 

Because Christ Is Raised from the Dead  . . .”

2. Our Faith Is Well-Founded

We can say positively that because of the resurrection our faith is well-founded. Or, to put it more personally, because of the resurrection of Jesus there is Someone we can trust absolutely. 

The death of Jesus proves His love for us, and the resurrection proves His power over every enemy of life. And so, there is Someone we can count on. Someone absolutely trustworthy. Someone who will never let us down. Jesus is alive to be trusted. 

Because Christ Is Raised from the Dead  . . .”

3. The Apostles Preach What Is True

We can say positively that because of the resurrection the apostles preach what is true. They are not false witnesses about God. They are true. 

The need for truth is a deep need of the human soul and human society. And Jesus came into the world to say, “I am the way, the truth, and the life”. And then He rose from the dead to vindicate His claim. Jesus has a right to tell us what is absolutely true because in the resurrection God proved Him to be absolutely true. 

Because Christ Is Raised from the Dead  . . .”

4. We Are to Be Envied 

We can say positively that because of the resurrection we are to be envied. Our preaching is not in vain—it is full, meaningful, valid, valuable, and significant. 

If Christ is not raised, then living for Him, doing what He says, following His will is a great delusion. We should be pitied like insane people who live by hallucinations. But since He has been raised and is alive and reigns as King forever, all our obedience, all our love, all our self-denial is not just not-to-be-pitied, but is positively enviable. 

Because Christ Is Raised from the Dead  . . .”

5. Those Who Have Fallen Asleep Are Alive 

We can say positively that because of the resurrection we cannot come to an empty end after a full and valuable life. That we not become a zero, or worse, damned. 

Paul says in verse 18 that because Christ is raised those who have fallen asleep in Him—those who have died in faith—have not perished. Or positively, they are alive. They will live forever. They live the way Christ lives. They will enter into the joy of their Master. 

The greatest news in the entire world is that God and His Son are most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in them. And to make that true God raised His Son Jesus from the dead to reign forevermore. Because of this hope, we can face the uncertainties of today and tomorrow. I Love you all and really missed you all. May we all have a Joyful and Hopeful Easter.

In His Service, 

Pastor John Punni, II