{"id":3365,"date":"2016-03-27T09:00:46","date_gmt":"2016-03-27T14:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.barbdahlgren.com\/?p=3365"},"modified":"2016-03-31T14:59:17","modified_gmt":"2016-03-31T19:59:17","slug":"choose-to-believe-jesus-lives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/?p=3365","title":{"rendered":"Choose to Believe Jesus Lives"},"content":{"rendered":"

Another Year of Choices<\/em><\/p>\n

By Barbara Dahlgren<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Jesus<\/a>Christ\u2019s crucifixion and death showed God\u2019s unconditional love for us.\u00a0 Although painful and agonizing, Christ died willingly for our sins.\u00a0 Because of this we are forgiven and no longer condemned.\u00a0 And while that is great news, without Christ\u2019s resurrection, what he did for us would be null and void.\u00a0 Christ was delivered to death for our sins, but raised to life for our justification. (Romans 4:23,24) In other words His death paid for our sins, but His resurrected life is the proof or the receipt for that payment.\u00a0 Jesus came to earth, died for us, and rose from the dead.\u00a0 Jesus lives! This truth validates Christ and it validates us.<\/p>\n

The resurrection validates Christ because what He said would happen did happen.\u00a0 Jesus knew He was going to be betrayed, condemned, mocked, beaten and die, but He also knew and told His disciples that He would be raised to life again. (Matthew 20:18-20) And it took place just the way Jesus said it would.\u00a0 This is good news for us on so many levels, one being that we can trust everything Christ tells us.<\/p>\n

The resurrection also validates our faith in Christ.\u00a0 Without the resurrection our faith is in vain and futile. (1 Corinthians 15:14-17) If Christ has not risen, we have not been forgiven of our sins.\u00a0 We are dependent on a wicked world.\u00a0 If we don\u2019t believe Christ lives, we have no hope.\u00a0 So we must believe without a doubt that Christ is the resurrection and life He professed to be.<\/p>\n

Christ\u2019s resurrection not only declares that Jesus lives and He is Lord, but it celebrates the victory of life over death.\u00a0 Jesus conquered what no one could \u2013 death! \u00a0Christ\u2019s resurrection erased all doubt in anyone\u2019s mind.\u00a0 Death can no longer hold us in bondage.\u00a0 \u201cO death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?\u201d (1 Corinthians 15:55) Death has no victory.\u00a0 Christ has the victory.<\/p>\n

Christ\u2019s victory over death is our victory, too. (1 Corinthians 15:57) Because Christ lives, we can live also. (Romans 6:8, 9) We who believe in him will live \u2013 even though we might die, we will live again. (John 11:25-26)<\/p>\n

Consider this\u2026 The fact that Jesus lives is a truth and does not depend on our perceptions or how we feel.\u00a0 Jesus is actually present with us whether we realize it or not \u2013 whether we want to believe it or not.\u00a0 The only one who benefits from believing Christ lives is us!\u00a0 John 5:24 tells us.\u00a0 \u201cHe who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.\u201d\u00a0 This has nothing to do with living a good life or earning salvation.\u00a0 It comes from believing and trusting God.<\/p>\n

Believe that Jesus lives. He is our only hope!<\/p>\n

Suggestions for practicing this choice.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n