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From the Pulpit of Bro. JR.
Fields
April 12,
2009
Galatians
2:19-20 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto
God. I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but
Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the
faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
If someone moved next door to you that came from the
deepest jungles of Africa, and you wanted to tell them the story of Easter, how
would you do it? If they had no notion about this special time of the
year, how would you go about explaining it to them? Would you use the story of
the Easter bunny and the eggs? Would you tell them of the Easter basket
filled with candy? I am not knocking any of those things, but that is not
what Easter is all about. Would you say, "Friend, that's the time to run
out to the store and buy yourself new clothes to celebrate the day?" There
is noting wrong with new clothes, or a new Easter bonnet. However, they
are not what Easter is all about.
If you want to say, "Oh, Friend, Easter is about a King
being nailed to a cross." That's not the whole story; it is only a part of
it. Easter is not about the Crucifixion. It is about the
Resurrection and what happened after Jesus died. The empty grave is more
than the empty cross. Let me explain.
The empty grave is the most important event to take place
in all history, or the biggest lie ever spoken. I think you will agree
with me that it was the greatest single event to take place in the history of
the world. You may say, "But, Preacher, there were events where Jesus
raised those from the dead; that was important." It was, but they all had
to die again. Jesus arose, never to have to die again. His
Resurrection paved the way so that you and I could one day have resurrection
hope. It is all because of the Easter story.
What about the Crucifixion? Why did Jesus go to the
cross? Because God's holiness demanded payment for sin. Before the
Crucifixion, people would shed the blood of an animal for a satisfactory
atonement. But this sacrifice was imperfect because it would never change
the heart of a sinner. All it could do was cover the sin. Jesus, the
perfect sacrifice, God's only Son, humbled Himself in the form of a man to come
to earth and live a sinless life so that He could be the perfect sacrifice.
They could have nailed JR Fields to the cross and it would have accomplished
nothing. In fact, had I been nailed to the cross I would have been as one
of the two thieves that were nailed there beside Him. My imperfection
would have been woefully inadequate.
Aren't you glad that Jesus was willing to suffer the
humiliation on the cross so that we can have the opportunity of eternal life?
If there is any good in me whatsoever, it is through the shed blood of Jesus
Christ, who died for me. I can not stand before God in my own
righteousness and say, "Here I am, God. Take it or leave it." Guess
what He will say. "I'm gonna' leave it." When Jesus spoke the words,
"It is finished" He meant that God's salvation plan had been
completed.
Paul says in Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with
Christ." Does that mean that while Christ was hanging on the cross
suspended between Heaven and earth, that Paul was hanging on that same cross
with Him? No. What Paul is saying the the same thing JR Fields should be
saying. It was my sin hanging on the cross. He hung there for my
sin. He knew no sin, but He did it for us. Paul went on to say,
"Nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me."
However, the story does not end with the crucifixion.
What about the Resurrection? You may have never
thought about this before, but we don't celebrate the death; we celebrate the
resurrection. That is why we sing songs of praise to Him.
Romans 4:24-25 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe
on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our
offences (sins) and was raised again for our justification. I feel
sorry for those people who worship the Islam faith. Guess what their God
is. Their prophet is dead. I feel sorry for those trapped in the
Hindu faith. They worship gods that are dead. I fee sorry for those
who worship gods made of stone and metal, because their gods are dead. My
God is alive; He is not in the grave. I have been to two tombs where
people have claimed that Jesus was buried and He was not in either one of them.
What is the significance of the Resurrection? The
Bible says we have an Advocate with the Father. Guess where the Advocate's
vein is. If you guessed the cross you are right.
Some people say, "I will get saved and live like I want to
live and still go to heaven." BEEP! (Wrong answer.) It does not work
that way. Faith without works is dead. That is still not all there is to
the story. We do not work our way to Heaven, but because we are saved our
works follow us. Now, let me clear that up. You are not saved
because you are doing good; you are good because you are saved.
Resurrection is our way to stay in God's good standing.
He was raised again for our justification. The word justification
means: to be declared innocent. Not that we were all innocent; we are the
ones who should have died. Let me try to tie all this together.
Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost
that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.
We are completely saved because we have one that will go to the Father.
Did you know the Devil loves to come to God? Just as
he did with Job, he loves to come to God and accuse those who belong to God --
the Fred Williams, the Tim Montgomerys, the preacher's wife, the preacher.
"God, look at them. They are supposed to be Your disciples. See what
they are doing today." But at the right hand of the Father stands Jesus.
What is He doing? As we are here today, Jesus is talking to the Father
right now on our behalf. "Father, I know they are not perfect, but my
blood was shed for them. Father, I am still molding them. They have
not arrived yet. They still have a few flaws I'm working on." And
the devil is standing there saying, "You gave them a chance; throw them in the
trash. They deserve the ultimate punishment."
However, Jesus says, "No, Father. I love them.
I know they are not perfect, but they are getting there." We are in God's
hands as Jesus makes intersession for us. He is the Holy Advocate for us.
In I John 2:1 He says, "My Little children, sin not , and if any man sins,
we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." Aren't
you glad you are a child of God?
That is the significance of the Resurrection. He
Lives! Rejoice today that your Savior ever lives!
Bro. JR Fields
April 12, 2009
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