Matters of Faith: THE ONLY WAY!

Rev. J. Loren Russell, BA, MDiv

Acts 17:30-31 GNT

“God has overlooked the times when people did not know him, but now he commands all of them everywhere to turn away from their evil ways. For he has fixed a day in which he will judge the whole world with justice by means of a man he has chosen. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising that man from death!”

A couple of days after my father’s death, my uncle shared some words that have stuck with me all my life; “If a task has once begun, never leave it until it’s done. Be it big or be it small, do it well or not at all!”

That wise saying is so appropriate for Resurrection Sunday. All the prophecies about ‘that’ man had been fulfilled, forgiveness, a pardon for a convicted criminal, provision for mother, the anguish of desertion, a physical thirst, a declaration of victory, a committal of a spirit into the hands of the Father. Everything was completed, except…,

It would take three days (using the Jewish calendar) to set the date for the total completion of the plan of salvation. It would take ‘that’ man to get up and walk out of the grave, paying the price of our salvation and to prepare for the Day of Judgement. This resurrection was not like Lazarus or Jairus’ daughter being bought back to life. They both would die again, but ‘that’ man rose and lives forever. This was ‘that’ man who fulfilled more than one hundred prophecies, including those that said He would bear our burdens (Isaiah 53:3-12) and conquer the grave (Psalm 49:15). He was ‘that’ man who overlooked the times when people did not know him and commands all of them (us) everywhere to turn away from their (our) evil ways.

Resurrection Sunday is the day we remember how ‘that’ man fulfilled the promise. God the Father has “given proof of this to everyone by raising ‘that’ man from death! He is ‘that’ man who fulfilled His own prophetic word; “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25). He is now set to judge the whole world. Jesus is ‘that’ man who was given for such a time as this.

Paul gives an expert testimony of Jesus’ resurrection because he saw the risen Savior for himself. If he were the only witness, his story could have easily been discredited. But there were more than five hundred others, many of whom were still alive when he gave this testimony, who also saw Him. Even Jesus’ enemies couldn’t refute this much proof.

Jesus provides the only way of salvation and eternal life. “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

Jesus has completed the task He began. To receive salvation and be a part of the resurrection is now our choice. We must choose either to receive it or reject it, but ‘that’ man’s way is the only way.

Be Blessed +++

Rev. J. Loren Russell is President/CEO of The JLR Company and The J. Loren R Consulting, LLC for Church Financial Strategy & Consulting, an associate minister at both Goodwill and The Greater Universal Baptist Churches in the Bronx, creator & host of “Matters of Faith – The Radio Show” Mondays 8:00 – 10:00 PM on Facebook LIVE and author of Matters of Faith: The Book (eBook available at Smashwords).

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