As the Passion week draws near and our minds will turn to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we realize just how much the fact of His resurrection secures for us, His people. The resurrection was foretold by David in Psalm 16:9-10: My flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. The psalm is a song of confidence expressing a deep trust in the Lord in both life and death. The Psalmist possesses a security as he rejoices to know that his future is safe, and that the Lord will not allow His beloved to “see decay” (a metaphor for suffering eternal abandonment from God’s presence).
The quotation from Psalm 16 by Peter in Acts 2:25-28 and Paul in Acts 13:35 makes this Psalm particularly cherished to Christians, as it speaks of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Psalmist’s assertion and confidence in his own resurrection is not unlike that of Paul’s in Romans 8:5-11, wherein he speaks of a future resurrection in terms of absolute certainty (8:5). While it is one thing for Paul to write this after witnessing the resurrection of Christ, it is even more striking that David sings it in Psalm 16 long before the advent of Christ.
The Christian Hope
It is his faith in the resurrection that gives the Christian hope. True faith in the resurrection instills a confidence not only in death, but in life as well, even in the most adverse of circumstances. As Paul wrote, “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Rom 8:18). The beloved apostle John writes, “it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (1 Jn 3:2-3).
It is important to realize that the Christian hope in the resurrection is not a vain hope, neither in its source nor in its product. The source of the Christian’s hope is based on the veracity of the risen Savior. If He did not rise, then we will not rise; if He did not rise, then we remain in our sins; if He did not rise, then our faith is in vain, and we are of all men most pitiable (1 Cor 15:13-19). But it is equally true that our faith in the resurrection is not vain in its product – that is, because He did rise and conquer sin and death, it will produces in us the fruits of joy, peace, patience, and a hopeful and pure life in Christ.
You are Invited to Join Us
friend, we would like to invite you to our upcoming services and events to reflect upon and celebrate the Gospel – the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Please come and experience any of these upcoming occasions with us: 1.Sunday, April 13, at 11:30 a.m. Palm Sunday Worship “The King of Glory” Psalm 24
2.Friday, April 18, at 7:00 p.m. Good Friday Fellowship (coffee and snack following)
3.Saturday, April 19 at 6:00 p.m. Passover Seder (and pot lock dinner – bring a dish to share)
4.Sunday, April 20 at 11:30 a.m. Resurrection Day Worship “What the Resurrection Assures” Acts 17:10-34
5.Sunday, April 27 at 10:15 a.m. the beginning of our Spring BOLD Courses “The Doctrine of Man” and “Overcoming Sin & Temptation”
6.Saturday, May 17th 9 am - 3 pm Women’s Conference “Hoping in Grace” in North Brunswick, NJ (Registration Required contact us for more information)
7.Saturday, June 7th 11 am – 5 pm Church Picnic at Nomahegan Park, Cranford
8.Sunday, June 8th at 11:30 a.m. “Under the Son” beginning of new expository series in the book of Ecclesiastes.
Unless otherwise noted, all events are free and open to all, and take place at Calvary Gospel Church, 1559 Hamburg Tpk, Wayne, NJ. For directions or more information visit our website at www.bolfellowship.org or call 1-866-38-BREAD.
We hope to see you soon. Christ is Risen! He’s Risen Indeed!
In the Risen One,
Pastor Joe LoSardo (on behalf of the elders of Bread of Life Fellowship) |
