Category: What do you think?

The resurrection of Jesus was real and physical, not just a feeling in our hearts

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TEXAS GOSPEL VOLUNTEER

Some people try to soften the resurrection of Jesus by saying he lives on in the hearts and minds of his followers, or in the ongoing work of the church, but the Bible does not allow us to replace a real, physical resurrection with a kind of warm remembrance. Even in the early church, some people in Corinth were doing exactly that, and Paul pushed back firmly in 1 Corinthians 15:12, asking how anyone who claims Christ was raised could then deny that the dead are raised at all.

Jesus was not kept alive by the thoughts or devotion of his followers. He physically left the tomb. He was seen by people, touched by people, and worshipped as the living Lord. He is not a memory or an idea. He is alive in actual fact, having defeated death in a way that is real and historical. Reducing the resurrection to sentiment may feel more comfortable, but it strips the gospel of its power and leaves us with something far less than what the scriptures actually teach.

He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.

Matthew 28:6

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is backed by history and changes everything

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TEXAS GOSPEL VOLUNTEER

The resurrection of Jesus is not a story that was made up, and the evidence for it has been examined for centuries. The Old Testament prophets wrote about the details of his life, death, and rising again long before it happened, and every one of those predictions came true. There were real people who witnessed the risen Jesus and left documented testimony about what they saw.

Jesus’ death on the cross isn’t just history. It’s an act of love that God will forgive our sins. And because he rose, those who believe in him can look forward to living with God forever. You can receive him right now by faith, and he can begin to change your life.

 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.

1 Corinthians 15:17

Knowing you are already glorified in God’s eyes should move you to live for him and share your faith

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TEXAS GOSPEL VOLUNTEER

God has already placed his stamp of glorification on every believer’s name, meaning that from his perspective the work is complete and finished, and that truth should be one of the greatest motivators in a Christian’s life. Rather than waiting for a sermon to push us toward serving God, the awareness of all he has already done and who he has already declared us to be ought to stir us to praise him through the way we actually live.

The people of God are described as glorified saints, already headed to heaven, and that identity carries a responsibility to bring others along. Sharing what we have in Christ is not just an obligation; it flows naturally from understanding the generosity of what God has given us. A life lived to his glory is the most practical and fitting response to a salvation that was entirely his doing from beginning to end.

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

2 Corinthians 5:20

The Holy Spirit is God’s guarantee that his promises to us will be fully kept

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TEXAS GOSPEL VOLUNTEER

God has made remarkable promises to those who follow Jesus, including eternal life, the forgiveness of sins, the assurance that death is not the end, and the hope of one day ruling and reigning with Christ over all of God’s creation. Ephesians 1:13-14 tells us that when we heard the true message of the gospel and believed, we were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who serves as a guarantee of everything God has promised us until we receive it fully.

Think of the Holy Spirit as a down payment, a deposit that God has already placed in the life of every believer to confirm that the rest of what he has promised is still coming. God does not make promises and walk away from them. The presence of the Spirit living within us is real evidence that our inheritance is secure and that the fullness of what God has in store for his people is yet ahead. What we experience of God now is a foretaste, and the best is still to come.

In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise

Ephesians 1:13

Surrendering your whole life to God opens the door to whatever he wants to do through you

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TEXAS GOSPEL VOLUNTEER

God is not looking for partial commitment; he is listening for the kind of surrender that says, “Here I am, Lord, do whatever you want with my life,” and that kind of openness can come at any age or stage of life. Giving most of yourself to God is not the same as giving all of yourself, and it is the full surrender that he is after.

When a person reaches that point of availability, the possibilities of what God can accomplish through them are wide open. He has a purpose and a plan for every life, and surrendering to him is the starting point for seeing that plan unfold. You may not know what he will do, but you can trust that what he does with a willing life will be far greater than anything you could arrange on your own.

And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

Luke 9:23