Deepen Your Faith Through Biblical Understanding

Transcript:

It was the Friday of Passover week, and Jesus was on the cross. He said the words, “It is finished” and He gave up the ghost. He was taken down and placed in a tomb. On the third day, the two Marys went to the tomb, and there was an earthquake as an angel of the Lord descended from Heaven and rolled back the stone guarding the entry. The angel said to them – “Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.” (Matt 28:5-6)

Jesus was the Word made flesh. He took on the life of a man to die and pay for the sins of mankind. Then, He arose to sit at the right hand of His Father as He prepares a place for us, who believe, to rest in eternity with Him and His Father upon death.

I would like to open up with this scripture:
Romans 6:4–5 (ESV):
“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.”
On this day, we celebrate the most powerful moment in history: the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the Bible, major events happen in threes, signifying completion.

➡️ He lived — showing us how to walk with the Father.
➡️ He died — redeeming us from sin.
➡️ He rose again — securing our victory and eternal life.
So this question becomes, if Christ rose…what should I do now?

We Should Live By Faith

Because Jesus arose, he also gave us the ability to rise again. We were condemned to our fate due to sin, but he took our sins upon himself and died for them and us. He arose and gave us the gift of new life – marked by faith, not by fear.

Galatians 2:20 (NIV) - 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

This faith isn’t just belief; it’s a daily trust in God’s goodness. It’s believing that, because of the Resurrection, we are transformed. When He died, we changed because we died too. Our old selves were put away, and we became transformed into new creatures. Our self-centered ways yield as we become spirit-filled children called to live differently.

Romans 6:6-8 (NIV):
“For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with… Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.”

This is how we should live, this is how we should conduct ourselves every day. It’s a tall challenge, but if we believe scripture to be true, by faith, we have been given the power and we need to surrender to the Spirit and live in our newness of life.

We Should Love While We Live

As Jesus was preparing to go to the cross, he gave his final instruction to the disciples:
John 13:34–35 (NIV): 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Jesus was about to complete the greatest act of love possible – giving up his life so we may live. This was his mission from the very start.

1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV): 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Love is the essence of the Christian character. It is a fruit of the Spirit and belongs to all of us because we are grafted and connected to Jesus through the Holy Spirit. We receive it to give it.

1 John 3:16 (NIV): “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”

Remember to let his love abound through you. Let resurrection love be your reputation.

We Should Be Holy While We Live

The empty tomb calls us to live a life set apart. We were never meant to blend in—we are called to reflect the Risen One.

1 Peter 1:15–16 (NIV) - 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Holiness is not about perfection—it's about transformation. Not behavior modification, but Spirit-powered sanctification.

Jesus was on the cross to pay the price of our sins. His leaving the tomb allows us to rise again, since our debt of death has been paid. By his bearing our burden, we have been justified before God, made righteous and clean.

Titus 2:11–12 (NIV):
“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”

Living holy isn’t about checking boxes; it’s about becoming more like Jesus because His Spirit lives in us.

We Should Serve Him Wholeheartedly

Resurrection power fuels resurrection purpose.

Colossians 3:23–24 (NIV): 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

In everything that we do, God’s character needs to be in it. Not only our church service, but our life service. While we are at work, we should exhibit the characteristics of the Lord.

While we are at home, while we are at play, and everywhere we go, we should exhibit the characteristics of the Lord. We need to take his cross everywhere we go!

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV): “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

There is nothing that we can do to repay God for his grace. God doesn’t need our service—but He invites it as a way to show gratitude and reflect His love.

We Should Live in Hope

Because he arose, we live in hope. We live in the hope of our eternity. We live in the hope that no matter what happens from the time we accept him into our lives, until the time that we breathe our last breath, we will spend eternity in Heaven in his presence.

1 Peter 1:3 (NIV) - 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
When we accepted Jesus, he gave us something that cannot be taken from us; it is guaranteed. This is how we need to live.

We have all types of problems, pain, anguish, loss, separation, mistreatment, and ridicule. Some of them are self-inflicted wounds, but some are caused by others and we have not control over them.

Satan will try to take you off course, and at times, he will. He walks to and from, trying to create as much chaos as he can. God is our protector, and there is only so much that Satan can do.

Hope reminds us that our eternity is secure. It is this hope that should sustain us through it all.

Romans 8:24–25 (NIV) - 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

Hold on to hope. It is not based on emotion – it’s anchored in resurrection truth.

We Should Endure Until the End

Jesus had a choice to die and be resurrected. He is God and can do as he pleases. I cannot fathom the pain that he experienced on his last day. I cannot fathom the agony, humiliation, betrayal, and frustration that he experienced leading up to that point. Knowing his fate, He still loved, cared, taught, and preached without any bounds.

He endured…

We need to endure as well. We are studying 1 Peter currently and he talks about trials and temptations. James talks about them as well. They are unavoidable events in our lives. But the character that we display as we go through it shows that God lives within us.

It is not about the journey, but the destination. As we continue in this life, know that it is only temporary.

Matthew 24:9–13 (NIV): 9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Hebrews 12:1–3 (NIV):
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus... who endured the cross, scorning its shame…”
As we look around, these times are only becoming more challenging. Don’t give in, stay encouraged. Keep pressing. Stay faithful.

The tomb is empty, and glory awaits.

Because Christ arose...

➡️ Live by Faith – Trust in the One who overcame the grave
➡️ Shine in Love – Let His love overflow through your life
➡️ Walk in Holiness – Reflect His nature in everything you do
➡️ Serve with Passion – Use your gifts with purpose and gratitude
➡️ Stand in Hope – Hold to the promise that death is not the end
➡️ Endure with Courage – Keep pressing forward until you see Him face to face

He lives—so we live transformed.
He rose—so we rise daily.
He reigns—so we press on with purpose.

1 Corinthians 15:57-58 - “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord…”