It's a Little Like Spring, Art....

Hi, Art,
Warm greetings to you in this emerging Springtime. What a lot of snow we’ve had! But now it’s disappearing quickly. Isn’t that good?

In reference to what you wrote -- It is certainly as important for men as for their wives and children, to be involved with the ministry of the Gospel of Christ through a local Bible-believing Church, and I’m glad you brought that out. The Gospel message (redemption through Christ) is meant for all. It’s simple enough for small children, and profound enough for anyone, -- even great thinkers.

1 Cor. 15 is a great Bible chapter on Resurrection – both the undeniable fact that Christ rose bodily from the dead, and the wonderful, sure prospect that we today will receive a new resurrection body later, if we in this life come to trust in Christ as Savior, personally, that is. Glad you’re reading it.

A caution for all of us, -- We do need to be careful that our sophistication does not get in the way of the life-giving message of God’s Word. It was interesting – last Sunday in his morning sermon, Pastor cited something written by the famous philosopher named Sartre: “Life is an empty bubble on the sea of nothingness!” Wow! What was that man thinking of, Art??? That thought couldn’t come from someone who believes and cherishes the Gospel of Christ as Apostle Paul did when he wrote in one of his letters, “For me, to live is Christ….” (Phil. 1:21).

Concerning alternate explanations of the Resurrection of Christ, there have been several, but they don’t “hold water.” For one thing, many of the early disciples of Christ paid for their faith with their lives. So they were absolutely convinced that He had risen from the dead! And one very silly explanation was that He didn’t really die, but that He merely “swooned” and then revived in the cold, damp tomb! Preposterous! They buried Him, and everybody knew that He was dead. If not, why would His enemies have sought and received an armed guard to station at His tomb??? (see Matt. 28:11-15).

Remember how completely discouraged the disciples of Jesus were when He died on the cruel cross? Even though He had told them beforehand that He was going to die, they couldn’t accept the idea. And every time He had said that, He also said that He would rise again! But they were so far from grasping this, that all the first reports of His resurrection and appearances (on that first Easter morning) were counted as rubbish, i.e. nonsense! (see Luke 24:11).

Since March was a five-Sunday month this year, and Easter was the fourth Sunday, I note that our Pastor preached a 5-Sunday series of sermons, called “Christ Arose” (same as the classic hymn to which you referred). He included such aspects of this theme as:

Christ’s pre-existence (He lived before He was born)
His Incarnation (through His Virgin Birth, by which He became a man)
The essential fact that He became truly man, but never ceased to be God
He lived on earth in complete harmony with the will of the Father in heaven
He came to pay the penalty for all our sin, as well as reveal to us what God is like
He truly died a terrible death for us, and rose again bodily and triumphantly
He appeared to believers for a period of 40 days before returning to heaven

You know, Art, when the disciples and followers of Jesus finally became absolutely convinced that the One who died by crucifixion was alive from the dead, it made a fantastic transformation in their lives. From that moment on, they wanted to serve Him wholeheartedly and faithfully, even though many paid for that with their lives! They went everywhere preaching the Gospel (see Acts 8:4).

It’s a little like Spring, Art, -- there’s new life coming soon, in the trees and shrubs, and in the flower gardens and lawns…. And in people, new hope-filled life springs up when they come to realize fully that because of God’s tremendous love for them, Christ died the death they deserved to die, and rose again – all for them!

Isn’t that wonderful? I hope that you have come to participate in it by now. Or if not, that you will soon. I’m praying, Art.

Sincerely, -- PapaPops

Art Promises to Read....

Hello PapaPops,

Now I’m beginning to make some of the connections that various parts of the Bible must have with each other. I’m thinking especially of the connection you referenced of Jonah with Jesus’ Gospel teachings. Perhaps in time I’ll get some more insights.

I do remember singing that hymn “Christ Arose,” from years ago when I went to Easter Church services with my wife. She has been much more of a Church-goer over the years than I have, you know. I admit now that it’s rather sad that we men should leave so much of the “church work” to our wives. Actually, it should be equally as important to us men as to our wives and children, don’t you think? I wonder why we neglect that part of our lives….

I’m planning to take your advice and read that fifteenth chapter of the Bible book of 1 Corinthians. From what you say, that makes the resurrection of Jesus Christ of supreme importance, and I want to see for myself what it says.

Aren’t there some other possible explanations, though, such as one I think I’ve heard that he didn’t really die, but seemed to be pretty near dead, and that he revived later in the cold, damp tomb? Does that explanation hold any water, as the saying goes?

Well, PapaPops, that’s about it for me for now. “See” you again soon!
-- with my best wishes, -- Art

Art, and the Story of the Resurrection

3-03-08
Hello, Art,
You remarked about the story of Jonah in the Bible. And yes, indeed, it is a great story. Very interesting, but also heartening when you think of how God gave His servant Jonah a second opportunity to go to the great city of Nineveh and preach God’s message there. Very encouraging, too, with respect to a large population repenting and turning to God, upon hearing the preaching of God’s servant, no matter how reluctant he was at first! Besides that, it’s simply great to know that God cares about people everywhere and wants them to love Him and follow His plan for their lives. Isn’t that so?

I take the Book of Jonah in the Bible very seriously because of these factors. But in addition, it’s because our Savior referred to Jonah in His teachings recorded in the Four Gospels of the N.T. He used the story of Jonah spending three days in the interior of the great fish to illustrate His own burial, and rising again from the dead on the third day.

Soon we will be celebrating Resurrection Sunday once again (Easter), re-telling the fantastic and wonderful record in the Bible of Jesus our Lord rising from the dead. One of the greatest hymns about this, I think, is “Christ Arose,” by Robert Lowry. Dating back to the year 1874, it clearly and simply relates, in a very singable musical setting, the triumph that Christ experienced over death and all His foes, when He arose from the dead nearly two thousand years ago!

Art, if this interests you, my recommendation is to read the fifteenth chapter of one of the Apostle Paul’s letters, the one we call 1 Corinthians. In that chapter, Paul states clearly that if Christ did not rise from the dead as the evidence states so forcefully, then we who are His followers are most to be pitied of all people. And he goes so far as to say that if Christ did not rise, then we are still in sin, i.e. we have no hope for a marvelous future with the Lord someday when we finish our earthly journey!

But the Bible does promise that everyone who receives Christ as Savior and believes in Him can know for sure NOW that he or she will be in God’s family forever. And that’s not through any amount of good works that you and I might do (or anyone else do, either). Instead, it’s entirely because God loves us each one, and gave His Son to be our Redeemer by His death on the Cross and His resurrection on that first Easter Sunday.

Now that’s not just a “nice story,” Art. I dare say that it is the best-attested story in history, -- that Christ died for our sins, that He was buried, and that He rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures!

Art, if you’ve never given much thought to this tremendous theme of the Bible, the “Greatest Book Ever Written,” then I hope you will do so soon. And let me know what you think. I’ll be praying that this year will mark a turning point in your life, a turning point that is directly related to Christ’s death and resurrection.

Wishing you all the best, -- PapaPops

Three Days of the Greatest Week

Three days there are which tower over
The finest days of time;
The days Christ died and rose again,
God’s work of love so prime!

Fierce nails pierced through His hands and feet, --
They nailed Him to a cross;
His lashed back and crown of thorns
How deep His pain and loss!

Instruments of death these were,
But could not take His life;
Instead He gave all up for me,
My children and my wife!

With Him in death two thieves that day,
Three crosses side by side;
One mocked and died in unbelief,
But one for mercy cried.

His plea was heard, and Jesus said,
With words both kind and pure,
“With me today in Paradise --
Your future is secure!”

Now on the Cross His work all done,
“It’s finished!” Jesus said;
His spirit He dismissed at once,
His body truly dead!

Keen friends then take His body down
And lay it in a tomb;
Throughout the sabbath day it stays
In that cold, stony room.

Though final all now thought His death,
No faith! No hope! No cheer!
No enemy could hold Him back,
He promised to reappear!

The long night past, and then the dawn
Of Resurrection day!
In triumph He arose, Who is
The Life, the Truth, the Way!

On these three days my Savior did
What none could ever do;
He paid the debt of all my sin,
And death He conquered, too!

I’m glad today, so very glad
For those days long ago,
Because the Gospel I've believed,
The Savior I now know!

This greatest blessing on life's way,
No secret to you and me,
Is meant for all who want Him, too,
Believe! And you will see!

-- Poet Les