HALLELUJAH! CHRIST AROSE 1 CORINTHIANS 15:25-26

From the Board of Elders

Dear Members in Christ,

Hallelujah! Christ Arose

“For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” 1 Corinthians 15:25-26

Brethren, when we share the gospel of salvation to those who are lost we must remember to share the events that happened on Good Friday AND the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ on Sunday, which is the first day of the week. Without both, the gospel is incomplete. Our preaching would be in vain. Why? As the Apostle Paul says “And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:14

The resurrection of the Lord is an evidence of salvation of mankind. With the victory over death He“becomes the firstfruits of them that slept (interpreted as death)” (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:20). The Lord Jesus Christ conquered death and He is now in heaven. We who believe in Him will also be like Him. We are saved from eternal damnation and now have inherited life everlasting.

Did the Lord Jesus Christ conquer death? The Bible records for us that there were many eye witnesses testifying to His resurrection. Today is Resurrection Sunday, the first day of the week. The Bible says that “… upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre (or tomb), bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.” Luke 24:1. Who were they? The Book of Mark 16: 1-2 gives the answer: “Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.” Mark 16:1-2

What did they find instead? An empty tomb! “And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen:” Luke 24: 2-6a

Who were the others that had witnessed the risen Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ? “And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.” 1 Corinthians 15:5-8. Do we need any more witness to testify to the Lord’s resurrection? Today, in the Court of Law a testimony of a single individual is sufficient to convict a criminal for sentencing. Here, from biblical record there were more than 500 eye witnesses and, with much sadness, many had refused to accept the testimony of these eye witnesses on the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is detrimental as it is their loss for refusing the gospel of salvation.

Christian faith: Christians can confidently and with convicted hearts echo the Apostle Paul “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:54-57. We thank God that those of us who believe on the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ are saved and have eternal salvation in Him!

The greatest Love Story of All times: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. Praise be to God that we serve a living and true Saviour. We pray that many who have “eyes and ears” that “do not see nor hear” of the love of Christ may do so today. May the message of God’s love, the greatest love of all times, be understood and received by many that they may also be saved and be reconciled back to God. God promises that whosoever believes in the Lord Jesus Christ should not perish but have everlasting life.

To those who are still unbelievers: Your choice to accept the free offer of salvation. The offer is not complicated. It is easy and simple. Do not complicate matters. Do have a child-like faith. Do not be deceived that you can work your way to heaven on your own accord. Can you? You cannot! God says that even your good works are as filthy rags before His sight (cf. Isaiah 64:6). You cannot enter heaven by your own way! Only by God’s mercy and grace you can enter heaven. God’s offer of salvation is simply “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9-10. Today, if you hear His voice, harden not your heart, I pray that you will believe in Him, confess and accept Him as your own personal Saviour. Today is the day of salvation.

“Oh… there is still tomorrow, I can wait”: We are too busy to worry about where we will go after death. It is still far away. There is time. We are too busy with our careers, business, work, recreations and hobbies, family, financials, material gains, social life, friends etc. We are too busy with the “NOW”.

Take a pause. Consider this. We do not know what tomorrow will bring. Tomorrow may not even come for some of us. “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” James 4:13-14. Yes, life is like a vapour. It appears for a little while in the morning. Once the sun rises up the vapour will vaporise and disappear. So is life.

Please, I urgently plead with you, do not miss the boat of salvation. So, let us make this Resurrection Sunday a new start in your life. Choose victory over death. Be reconciled back to God by acknowledging your sins, repent, confess, and receive the Lord Jeus Christ as your personal Saviour. 

The Bible says that in heaven the angels rejoice over a sinner saved (cf. Luke 15:10). We rejoice as well once a sinner comes unto the Lord to be saved. We pray for those who are still seeking and lost be saved.

Conclusion: Thank God that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins, buried and “rose a victor over death. He lives forever with His saints to reign. He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!” We remember and thank God for Resurrection Sunday. Amen.

In Christ,
Eld. Choe Tong Seng