Resurrection

                                                     "There was a violent earthquake, for an angel
                                                       of the Lord came down from heaven and
                                                       going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and
                                                       sat on it.  His appearance was like lightning
                                                       and his clothes were white as snow.  The
                                                       guards were so afraid of him that they shook
                                                       and became like dead men."

                                                      "The angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid,
                                                        for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who
                                                        was crucified.  He is not here; he is risen, just
                                                        as he said.  Come and see the place where he
                                                        lay.  Then go quickly and tell his disciples:
                                                        He has risen from the dead and is going ahead
                                                        of you into Galilee.  There you will see him.
                                                        Now I have told you."
                                                                                                 Matthew 28:2-7


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          The Greek word for resurrection very literally means to "stand back up."

           I'm so thankful that Jesus died for me and stood back up, appeared to many, and
           then returned home to the Father, where He intercedes for me and all believers today.

           I'm so glad that God chose me, elected me, called me, justified me, redeemed me,
           forgave me, sanctified me, preserved me, and saved me.

           Jesus is risen!  He is risen indeed!

Reconciled!

          "For if when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him
           through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled,
           shall we be saved through his life!  Not only is this so, but we also rejoice
           in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received
           reconciliation."   Romans 5:10-11



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                                    "A Man (Jesus) of infinite worth,
                                     offering a soul of infinite worth,
                                     to a God of infinite holiness, for
                                     rebels (His chosen people) with
                                     infinite guilt --- and bang! just
                                     like that, they are saved and
                                     reconciled and set apart to God
                                     by that one sacrifice."
                                                    Dan Phillips
                                                    World Tilting Gospel


            "Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds
              because of your evil behavior.  But now he has reconciled you by
              Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight
              without blemish and free from accusation -- if you continue in your
              faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the
              gospel."     Colossians 1:21-23a
                                                       
          

"It is Finished"

                                         "It was about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the
                                           whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped
                                           shining.  And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.
                                           Jesus called out with a loud voice, 'Father, into your hands
                                           I commit my spirit.'"        Luke 23:44-46a


                                          "When he had received the drink, Jesus said, 'It is finished.'
                                            With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."
                                                                                     John 19:30



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         From the book 'World Tilting Gospel' by Dan Phillips:

                                      "Christ hung and suffered as a substitute.  He took on
                                        Himself the sin of all His people, absorbed the wrath
                                        of God they so richly deserved, put his perfectly
                                        righteous life between  us and God, satisfied the judg-
                                        ment of God, and so died."

                                      "But before He died, Jesus cried, 'It is finished.'  These
                                       three English words translate one Greek word:  tetelestai.
                                       With this marvelous word, Christ says, 'It stands ac-
                                       complished.'" 

                                      "Everything that needed to be done has been done;
                                       every bit of the mission the Father gave Him for His
                                       glory, the redemption of His people, the defeat of
                                       Satan, and the reclamation of the planet, has been
                                       brought to completion."

                                      "Jesus is saying that everything necessary for the
                                       completion of God's saving plan has been accomplished."