Christ is Risen
By Patrick Enilama [pastorpatrick@sunnewsonline.com]
Sunday,
April 8, 2007
"MOREOVER brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto
you, which also ye have received and wherein ye stand.
"By which also
ye are saved if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed
in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received how
that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.
"And that
he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve. After that , he was seen of
above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this
present, but some are fallen asleep.
"After that , he was seen of James,
then of all the apostles. And last of all, he was seen of me also, as of one born
out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called
an apostle, because I persecute the church of God.
"But by the grace
of God I am what I am and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain,
but I laboured more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God
which was with me.
"Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach,
and so ye believed. Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how
say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
"But if
there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ
be not risen then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
"Yea,
and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that
he raised up Christ : whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised.
"And if Christ
be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which
are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in
Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
"But now is Christ risen
from the dead and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man
came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all
die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order.
"Christ
the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh
the end, when he shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God, even the father ;
when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must
reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall
be destroyed is death". 1 Corinthians 15: 1-26.
"By many infallible
proofs, Jesus Christ shewed himself alive being seen of them forty days and speaking
of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God." Acts 1:3. Our God we serve
is real and alive. He is not a dead God. Why not join us in worshipping Him. Happy
Easter.