The Certainty of the Resurrection.

Dear Weekly Readers! We have recently gone through lent and Holy Week, which culminated in Resurrection Day!  Those that believe are alive in Christ because Jesus is alive!   Please enjoy this article by Pastor Bylkas. May God Bless your week! But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits 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.1 Corinthians 15:20-22 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN ONCE WROTE: “Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in the world nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes.” Franklin expresses his hope that the Constitution for the founding of our nation would be sound enough to stand the test of time. While Benjamin Franklin’s quote is profound in its own way, God’s Word teaches us that there are many other things that are as certain, or even more certain, than death and taxes. As we begin the season of Easter, we celebrate God’s sure promise of resurrection. As the Apostle Paul says, For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. Jesus says, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. (John 5:24-25) In the Gospel of John, the Gospel writer quotes the words “verily, verily” twenty- five times. The phrase can be translated “truly, truly” or “certainly, certainly” and comes from the Greek word from which we get the English word “Amen.” The promises and declarations of God are true and certain. Luther says it well: O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? This is so true that even Satan cannot deny it. Christ’s resurrection and victory over sin, death and hell is greater than all heaven and earth. You can never imagine his resurrection and victory so great but that in actuality it is far, far greater. For as his person is mighty, eternal, without limit, incomprehensible, so also is his resurrection, victory and triumph mighty, eternal, without limit, incomprehensible. Were hell a thousand times more, and death ten thousand times more, it would be but a spark, a mere drop, compared with Christ’s resurrection, victory and triumph. Christ’s resurrection, victory and triumph gives Christ to all who believe in Him. Since we have been baptized in his name, and believe in him, it follows that even if you and I underwent sin, death and hell a hundred thou- sandfold, it would amount to nothing; for Christ’s resurrection victory and triumph, which have been given me in the baptism and in the word by faith, and therefore are my own, are infinitely greater. If this is true, and I most certainly believe it to be true, then let sin death and hell dog my steps and growl at me. What will they do to us? What can they do? No matter how great our difficulties seem, the certainty of the resurrection is far greater. Instead of sin, we have righteousness, instead of defeat we have victory, instead of death we have life. Christ has overcome everything for us. May God grant us grace to look beyond our sufferings and by faith, lay hold of the finished work of the Risen Lord, Jesus Christ. “Amen.” These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33) ~  www.missionsite.com | forward to a friend   Copyright © 2016 The Foreign Mission, All rights reserved.

Good News!

Dear Weekly Readers! The following is an except from a letter that the FM Chairman and Pastor Robert Maki sent to Nigeria recently.  This is shared here, as no matter where we live, we need the Good News of the Gospel!   May God Bless your week! Dear Elder...(e)  God's Peace! May the love of God through His son Jesus Christ and the communion of the Holy Sprit be with you now and forever. As a Foreign Mission, we go forth as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has commanded when He said "Go forth through out the whole world and preach the Gospel, the good news to all people. The good news is the message of this Easter Season when God has so much loved us that He sent His only begotten son so that who so ever believes in Him, they will not perish, but they will have ever lasting life. What is it to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ? Jesus didn't come to condemn the world, but that all might live through Him. Jesus is true man as well as true God. He was from the beginning of time. All things were created by Him and nothing is that was not created by Him. Man was created in God's own image as a perfect being. But through unbelief, our first parents were beguiled and fell into sin. We have inherited that same sinful nature. Sin separates us from God.  The word tells us, Flesh and blood will not inherit the kingdom of God." It speaks further, "All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. There is no one who does good. No, not one." Jesus speaks, "You must be born again." The word teaches, through the working of the Spirit, we die to our selves so that we may live in Jesus Christ." God has ordained that, "Through the foolishness of preaching, man might be saved." That preaching of the Word, the law, does its work within the very heart and soul of a man. " The word of God does not return to Him void." But it does that for which God gave it to do. Apostle Paul testifies, "The law slew, killed, me and I died, but yet I live. But not I. But Christ lives within me." That is how we become "a new creature in Christ. Old things are then all passed away and all things become new." When Jesus was upon Calvary's cross, the sins of the whole world, yours and mine and every ones was put upon Jesus. Jesus was the price,the sacrifice, the penalty for our sin,the lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world so that you and I who could never pay even if we spent eternity in hell could obtain eternal life in heaven. God even turned His face from Jesus and Jesus cried, my God. my God, why has thou forsaken me? God loved you and me so much that He turned His face from Jesus and allowed Him to finish the work of salvation for us. He shed His blood as an offering for our sins. When Jesus said, "It is finished !" The work of salvation was complete. He gave up the ghost and died. The third day Jesus arose from the dead. He lives! and because He lives. when we are in Him, we also will live through out all eternity with Him. We are covered with the righteousness of Jesus because He took all our sin from us and when our sins are forgiven and by faith, the blood of Jesus washes away all our sins,this we have heard and believe because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. When we stand before a righteous and all knowing God, We stand perfect, without sin,and God remembers our sin no more. Jesus said,"Come onto me all ye who labor and are heavy laden. I will give you rest. Come and learn of me. I am meek and lowly and I will bring rest onto your souls. Take upon you my yoke. My yoke is easy and my burden is light." It is for this reason why we go forth and reach out with the inviting words of Jesus to all people. We don't preach ourselves, but we preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  We have freely received of His grace, love and mercy. Even the forgiveness of sins, and we are commanded by Him to freely give.  We can only give that which the Lord has given to us to those who want to receive. The word of God is spiritual and as ones who have been purchased with a great price, even the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, we don't belong to our selves but we belong to Him. We are partakers of His kingdom and His kingdom is not meat and drink, not a natural kingdom, but it is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Jesus says, "The kingdom of God is within you." The emphasis isn't upon ourselves, or the works of our flesh or signs and wonders, but it is only upon The Lord Jesus Christ. "We are saved by Grace through Faith and that not of ourselves but it is a gift of God." Jesus and His work of righteousness within us is the reason for the hope that lies within us. I write what I have for no other reason then for you to know what is it that we believe even as the ALC missionaries brought to Nigeria about fifty years ago and many heard, their hearts were touched and they believed and they turned to the Lord Jesus Christ even for the forgiveness of their sins. They heard the gospel proclaimed to them and believed it and walked in that newness of life believing and trusting upon the Lord Jesus Christ as their only hope of ever lasting life. Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes onto the Father except by me." I leave you in God's tender care and pray He continues to guide you to walk in Christ by His Spirit and in the Word that is a light onto our feet and a lamp onto our pathway. Your fellow servant in Jesus Christ! Pastor Robert  (Bob) Maki Chairman Apostolic Lutheran Church of America Foreign Mission Board www.missionsite.com | forward to a friend   Copyright © 2016 The Foreign Mission, All rights reserved.