The Meaning and Importance of Easter
Each year on Easter Sunday, Christians worldwide joyfully celebrate Easter to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after he was crucified.
My parents knew their Bible, and Mother gave me a childâs illustrated Old Testament when I was old enough to read. I still have it, and its worm pages and missing cover prove how much I loved to read it. I went to church as I grew up and continued to do so as a young adult earning a living in Chicago in the mid-50s. Although I always believed Christ rose from the dead after he was crucified, it took me years to understand why his death and resurrection were so important to my soul and eternal destiny.
âItâs like bookkeeping,â someone told me after I was born again. âChristâs death on the cross paid for all our sins, and when we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, our sins are debited to Him, and his righteousness is credited to our account. And it is His righteousnessânot oursâthat will get us into heaven.â
I was nearly 58 years old before God brought me to my knees and I began my life as a Bible-believing Christian. Until then, no one ever told me I could have a personal relationship with Jesus. The morning after I repented my sins and asked Christ to be my Lord and Saviorâand knew in my heart that He had heard my prayer and I was His foreverâI wanted to shout this news to the world.
My Testimony for Christ tells this story and the impact it had on my life. I became an evangelical Christian after I wrote the first version of my Testimony and shared it with everyone I could reach by any means. But not everyone wanted to hear my news. I came on too strong to suit a few who considered their faith âpersonal.â
Now that Iâm much older and have a place where I can write and say whatever I want to say, I donât care if I offend some with my Christian MUSINGS. Thatâs because my evangelical soul is concerned about some of my friends and online acquaintances who have never read even parts of the Bible, let alone read it from cover to cover. But if you were willing to read just one book of the Bible, you might start with the book of Romans to get a good understanding of where you stand with God and what you need to do to gain firmer ground. Hereâs what Pastor Chuck Swindoll says about this book:Â
âThe letter to the Romans stands as the clearest and most systematic presentation of Christian doctrine in all the Scriptures. Paul began by discussing that which is most easily observable in the worldâthe sinfulness of all humanity. All people have been condemned due to our rebellion against God. However, God in His grace offers us justification by faith in His Son, Jesus. When we are justified by God, we receive redemption, or salvation, because Christâs blood covers our sin.â
What Must You Do to be Saved
and Enter the Kingdom of God?
â... if you declare with your mouth âJesus is Lord,â and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, âAnyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.â For there is no difference between Jew and Gentileâthe same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, âEveryone who calls on the name of the Lord will be savedââ (Romans 10:9-10).
Itâs not my intention to preach to anyone. While I can try to lead my readers to the living waters of life through Christ, I canât make anyone drink. But if youâre a reluctant reader, I urge you to open your heart and ask God if thereâs anything you need to do to please Him.
First published as Barbara's
Personal MUSINGS about Life post in March 2024.
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