The essence of Judaism and Christianity. What is the Biblical meaning? Easter is not in the Bible. Acts 12:4 KJV And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him, intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people… after Easter and NKJV after Passover. So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison and delivered him to four ^[a]squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.

1. Jesus is God’s son (Deity). Romans 1:1-4 He has risen. Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— ² the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures ³ regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life^[a] was a descendant of David, ⁴ and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power^[b] by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
2. The Bible is God’s word. Wrong to keep asking for a sign. Matt. 12:38-40 sign of Jonah. Can we trust the Bible? Jesus did. He had the power to raise himself from the dead.

Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”

³⁹ He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. ⁴⁰ For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

3. All must repent for all will be judged. John 12:41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him. Acts 17:30-31 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. ³¹ For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.” Repentance starts in the heart. It brings forth change in our lives. Do you believe in the resurrection?

4. All must be baptized. I Peter 3:21-22 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God.^[a] It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ²² who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities, and powers in submission to him. Baptism now saves you.

5. Christians must die to sin and we live for God. Leads to the resurrection. What does it mean to die to sin? Separate yourself from it. Romans 6:5-11

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. ⁶ For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with,^[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin— ⁷ because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

⁸ Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. ⁹ For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. ¹⁰ The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

¹¹ In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. The old self is crucified with him. Can you see a difference between your old self to your new self? Jesus came out of the tomb, we came out of the water from emersion. Every sin is addicting. If we died with Christ, we believe that we shall die to live with him. Verse 8. In verse 10, the life that He lives, He lives to God. We only need baptizing once. Reconfirmed and strengthened over a lifetime. The life he lives; lives to God.

6. Victory is through suffering and death. James considers it joy when testing trials. Any difficulty, God makes us strong. Heb. 5:8-10 He learned obedience. Mature and complete as the Savior on the cross. John 12:24-25

7. Christians will be bodily raised. I Cor. 15:12-26

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. ¹⁴ And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. ¹⁵ More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. ¹⁶ For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. ¹⁷ And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. ¹⁸ Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. ¹⁹ If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

²⁰ But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹ For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. ²² For as in Adam all die, so in Christ, all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power. ²⁵ For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. ²⁶ The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless Christ has been raised, the first fruits of those who are as deep. Since by a men com death, also Crist will be made alive. We are going to have a new Spiritual body.

Conclusion:

Christians will never die. Their Spirit is separated from their body and still alive. John 11:21-27

Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. ²² But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”

²³ Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

²⁴ Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

²⁵ Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; ^26, and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

²⁷ “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

Have we repented of ourselves? Accept eternal life from Jesus who conquered death!

Great sermon of John Kilgore given on April 17, 2022. This brings more meaning to Easter and respects Jesus’ life more when reflecting on his responsibility.