A Different Perspective On Easter

“For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. 9 We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.” – Romans 6:4-11. 

Easter is a truly special day for Christians. But when you read Romans 6, you get a better understanding of what Easter means to every one of us who follows Jesus. These verses give us a fresh perspective on what Easter should mean to us as we commemorate Christ’s resurrection last Sunday. Because of Christ’s death and resurrection, we have been saved by grace through faith and we have eternal life but we also have freedom from the power of sin. For we were buried with Christ by baptism (verse 4), we are no longer slaves to sin (verse 6) and now live a new life by the power of his resurrection (also verse 4).   

Jesus is alive, He won the victory of sin and death.  And He’s still the same today. He never changes. He made a way for us to live free. No other truth in history has the ability to change our lives and affect our future like this. 

Christ’s death on the cross and the power of His resurrection provides a bridge, a way to God. It gives us an opportunity to have a personal relationship with the very God who made us and loves us more than we could imagine. Without the cross, there is no way to cross over to the other side of a relationship with Him. Any attempt will fail. He is the only way. The cross and the resurrection provide an opportunity for forgiveness of sin. Through the price that Jesus paid on Calvary, we have the chance to be forgiven of our own sin. This was incredible love and an amazing sacrifice. As a result, we have freedom from the shackles of sin. Freedom from shame. Freedom from fear. Freedom from worry. Freedom from hopelessness. Freedom from despair. Freedom from guilt. Freedom from darkness and eternal separation from God.

And it provides a new life. We are not only forgiven and set free, but we have a whole new life and destiny through Christ. We are changed, from the inside. He renews our minds. He changes our hearts and desires. He gives us fresh purpose for every day set before us and gives us the strength to live that purpose.  

When Jesus died on the cross and was buried, it didn’t stop there. The final picture of all that the cross provides lies in the powerful resurrection of our Lord. He won. He didn’t stay dead. His power broke through, and that same power is alive within us today. As believers, God gives us the power of the Holy Spirit, living and moving through us each day.

Discussion Questions:

1. What does Easter mean to you? 
2. How does one go about making Easter a frame of mind every day of the year?