Today is a celebration of the principal event in all of God’s redemptive history. It is the rock, the cornerstone if you will, of our Christian belief and faith. For those who are believers and followers of Jesus Christ, the resurrection is the basis of everything that we are, everything we do, as well as the great hope we have in spending our eternal future in Heaven as joint-heirs with Jesus Christ.

This is the central doctrine of Christianity! The foundation of which is established on the fact that Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day, just as He said, just as He did. John MacArthur states, “The resurrection of Jesus Christ is so foundational to Christianity that no one who denies it can be a true Christian. Without resurrection there is no Christian faith, no salvation, and no hope.” 

For today’s message we are primarily going to spend our time together in the Gospel of Matthew. Although the writers of the four gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John – present unique perspectives on the resurrection, and none cover every aspect, they are in perfect harmony with each other. However, I believe Matthew provides more of a focus on the emotional reactions of the resurrection while the others provide a more scholarly or historical perspective, or even an analytical perspective. 

1 Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. 2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. 3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. 6 “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. 7 “Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.” 8 And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they shall see Me.” (Matthew 28:1-10)

The Bible’s overarching message is about Jesus Christ. Last Friday we found Him to be the perfect sacrificial Lamb of God. Here on Sunday morning we are focused on Jesus’ resurrection, for it is His resurrection that provides us hope of eternal life! We need to realize that our life and death here on this earth is not the end; there is a life after death. An earthly death may end our physical life, but there is no end to our spiritual life. 

The determining factor of where our souls will live after physical death is based on this one question: “Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?” If the answer to this question is “Yes,” it is the beginning of an eternity in Heaven with God the Father and Jesus Christ His Son. If the answer to this question is “No,” it is the beginning of an eternal life of separation from God in Hell with all who have rejected Jesus Christ. This is the most profound question you will ever be asked. It will also be the most profound answer you will ever give. 

How have others answered this question? There are many examples in the Old Testament of those who answered, “Yes!” to this question. These believers lived out their faith with confidence in not only a spiritual resurrection but also a physical resurrection. Let’s take a quick look at some of these examples. 

Job proclaimed to his three friends, Bildad in particular: “I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth. Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see God” (Job 19:25–26).

Abraham faithfully obeyed God’s command to sacrifice Isaac because he believed “God is able to raise men…from the dead” (Heb. 11:19). 

Isaiah proclaimed, “Your dead will live; their corpses will rise” (Isa. 26:19).

Daniel reassured God’s people that, although they die, one day they “will awake … to everlasting life” (Dan. 12:2). 

Hosea assures believers that the Lord will raise up all believers to live before Him (Hos. 6:2). 

These Old Testament saints obviously believed in a physical resurrection. And it was Jesus’ resurrection, a future event, that these believers placed their faith in. 

What about New Testament believers? Let’s start with Paul. He continually preached about the resurrection throughout his ministry, and we can see this emphasis consistently throughout his letters. For example, in 1 Corinthians 15:4 He declared that Christ “was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” Continuing in verses 13-14, “If there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.” In other words, if we do not believe in a resurrected Christ, we believe in a dead Christ. Later, in verses 16-17, Paul states, “For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.” Paul says if there is no resurrection of Jesus Christ, our faith is worthless and we are still in our sins. No resurrection, no hope! 

Do we really understand how important the resurrection is to all believers? Paul continues in verses 20-22, “Now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive.” Paul makes an emphatic statement that our hope is based on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. His resurrection guarantees our resurrection! 

In his first letter, Peter spoke of our hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ; “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you… ” (1 Pet. 1:1–4). Peter highlights our salvation, and with it our living hope through Jesus’ resurrection. 

While he was exiled on the Isle of Patmos, John witnessed the Lord Jesus Christ in a vision: “When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades” (Rev. 1:17–18). John also records Jesus’ words in his gospel. Jesus is speaking to Martha as she is grieving over the death of Lazarus: “…I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25). John not only highlights Jesus’ power over death through the resurrection, but also His power over life itself.

In the Gospel of John, while comforting His disciples, Jesus says, “After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you” (Jn. 14:19-20).

This theme of Christ’s resurrection is found throughout the Bible, from Old Testament prophecies to New Testament fulfillment. The resurrection is real! Jesus’ resurrection is real and our resurrection from the dead is going to be just as real. 

Unfortunately, throughout history, many people have rejected the possibility of a resurrection from the dead. Some have even mocked the reality of a physical resurrection, and especially Christ’s. How tragic that people would outright deny the single most important event in history, for it is a rejection of the one thing that provides hope of eternal life.

Regardless of those who directly or indirectly denounce Jesus’ resurrection, they will never be able to change the fact that Jesus rose and one day will come again to judge all mankind as to whether you have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. 

With that overview, let’s look again at Matthew 28:1… 

Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. (Matthew 28:1)

The opening phrase of Matthew 28, “Now after the Sabbath…,” indicates that the day of worship is over and some amount of time has passed since the Sabbath ended. We know from the next phrase, “it began to dawn toward the first day of the week” that it is now very early Sunday morning. So we also know that it is well past the end of the Sabbath because it ended at sundown the previous evening. In other words, more than ten hours have passed and even longer since the tomb was sealed and guards posted. 

Matthew says it is the “first day of the week.” This literally means, “day one with reference to the Sabbath.” How do we know this is Sunday morning? Well, the Jews didn’t have names for days of the week like we do, but instead they simply numbered the days in relation to the Sabbath. Because the Sabbath was the central and holy day, all other days were identified in relation to it; the first, second, third, and so forth, day after the Sabbath. Because this is the first day, it has to be Sunday morning. 

We also need to be reminded that the Jews considered the reference to “a day” as meaning any part of that day. In other words, Friday was the day Jesus died and was buried and now Sunday is the third day since he was laid in the tomb. The third day, Sunday, was also the day Jesus testified He would be resurrected (Mt. 17:23; 20:19; 27:64; Mk. 10:34; Lk. 9:22; 18:33; 24:7, 46). I believe Luke 9:22 and Luke 24:7 are particularly informative; “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised up on the third day.” “…the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.”

Can you imagine how difficult it must have been for Mary Magdalene and Mary to wait until early Sunday morning to come to the place where they saw Jesus’ body laid in the tomb just a few days before. How heart-wrenching it must have been to worship on the Sabbath knowing that God’s Son was crucified the day before. We know that Joseph and Nicodemus had already prepared Jesus’ body with the linen cloths and spices (Matt. 27:61), but the two Marys wanted to bring their own spices to personally anoint the Lord (Luke 24:1). They had an overwhelming desire, a loving compassion for Jesus, and possibly wanted to honor Him with what they might have thought was a more proper burial ceremony. 

Both Marys obviously thought Jesus had truly died on the cross and was laid in the tomb Friday, or else they wouldn’t have brought the anointing spices. So they expected Him to still be there. In other words, there is no indication that they came to see if Jesus has risen from the grave, but instead Scripture says that they “came to look at the grave.” 

In Mark’s gospel we get a glimpse of the conversation that takes place as they approached the tomb. They wondered how they were going to gain entrance to the tomb. In Mark 16:3 Scripture states, “They were saying to one another, Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” How were they going to minister to Jesus’ body with a great stone covering the entrance? 

Obviously they didn’t knew the Jewish leaders had requested Pilate to seal the tomb and place a guard to ensure no one would be able to enter the tomb. Regardless, they came in faith believing they would be able to minister to Jesus’ body. They came to the tomb because of great love for Him. Even though these women had not considered the possibility of Jesus’ resurrection, they came to the tomb out of a deep love for Him. You might say that their love was manifested in faithful action. We should all take note of this in our lives; our love for Jesus Christ should be manifested in faithful action. Serve Him out of love for Him. 

I think it is profound to realize that they were so focused on ministering to Jesus that they didn’t even think of the obstacle, a giant stone covering the entrance, until they were approaching the tomb. We need to have this kind of devotion to Jesus Christ, stepping out in faith to minister to others even when we don’t really understand how God is going to work out the details. That is why it’s called faith! Most of the time we don’t see how God is working, but what a blessing when He gives us a glimpse!

The stone is rolled away as God’s power is revealed…

2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. 3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. (Matthew 28:2-4)

As the women are on their way to the tomb, Matthew states, “a severe earthquake had occurred.” He continues by explaining what happened: “for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.” This would be the second earthquake in just a few days. The first occurred on Friday at the point of Jesus’ death. Matthew 27:50-51 states, “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.  And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split.” And now the second one occurs at the point of Jesus’ resurrection. God’s power over creation is being demonstrated to all who witnessed the death of Christ, and here again as His Son is raised from the dead. 

Think about it for a moment, God shook the foundations of the earth twice just outside Jerusalem within a three day period. But this is not the first time God has used earthquakes to highlight major events throughout human history. What about the earthquake on Mount Sinai just before He revealed the Law to Moses back in Exodus 19:18, and on Mount Horeb when He revealed Himself to Elijah in 1 Kings 19:11. But here God uses earthquakes to grab the attention of all of Jerusalem. It was as if God was using the earth as a pair of orchestra cymbals placing a resounding crescendo on these glorious events! It seemed like God was saying, “Pay attention; my Son not only died for the sins of all who would believe, but He also rose from the grave and conquered death for you as well!”

This particular earthquake occurred when an angel of the Lord descended from heaven. God sent an angel to open the secured and sealed tomb. I think we need a point of clarification here. Contrary to numerous Easter stories, plays, and even paintings, the angel did not come to move the stone in order to let Jesus out of the tomb. The angel came to show us that it was empty! There is no doubt that Jesus had the omnipotent power to raise Himself from the dead, according to John 10:18, where Jesus speaks of His life and His power over life and death: “No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.” With this kind of power, Jesus easily exited a sealed grave. The angel came to open the tomb so we could see that Jesus Christ had risen from the dead. 

After His resurrection, Jesus is no longer limited by the physical realm as we are. He is in His resurrected body. We know this because Jesus demonstrated His unrestricted ability to move in time and space. Do you remember when Jesus appeared to two men on the Road to Emmaus in Luke 24? That evening as Jesus blessed the bread and gave it to them, their eyes we opened, and Jesus vanished from their sight. 

There was also that time when Jesus appeared to the disciples in a locked room in John 20 so Thomas could touch the scarred hands and side of Jesus. Jesus amply demonstrated He was no longer bound by the limitations placed on the humanity of this world. In His glorified body He could have easily escaped a sealed tomb as easily as He could enter a locked room. The angel wasn’t sent to open the door for Jesus, the angel was sent to let the women and the apostles inside to provide confirmation of Jesus’ resurrection, to provide proof for us!

Matthew continues by saying that the angel’s “clothing was as white as snow.” I believe the term “as white as snow” is a reference to the purity and holiness of God. Isaiah 1:18 says, “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.” That is us! Isaiah is talking about believers. God sees the perfect, holy righteousness of Jesus Christ when He looks at believers instead of our blood stained sins. This truth is so humbling to me. As a believer in Jesus Christ, God sees Christ when He looks at me, and not my sins. 

What was the effect of the angel’s arrival on the guards? Well, it was intense to say the least. “The guards shook for fear of him.” The guards were so stunned that they shook. This word “shook” here in verse 4 is translated from a Greek term that has the same root as “earthquake.” The guards’ first response was a violent shaking, a personal earthquake if you will. Now that is real fear! This was certainly physical, but most assuredly a spiritual shaking as well. But they didn’t just shake, “they became as dead men.” Their fear was so overpowering, so devastating, they must have been unconscious. It is very interesting to realize, there is no indication that the angel said a single word to the guards. Their response, however, was a result of just seeing the angel. If this is how the ungodly respond to an angel, can you just imagine how they will respond when Jesus comes again? His second coming will be no small matter! The entire world will know that He is Jesus Christ, the risen Son of God, King of Kings, Lord of Lords. 

5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. 6 “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. (Matthew 28:5-6)

According to Matthew 28:5, the women were also frightened by the angel. However, they were offered comfort from the angel: “Do not be afraid.” Mark 16:6 says, “Do not be amazed.” The angel knew they were indeed surprised and shocked to see the stone rolled away and an angel in their presence. But the angel’s first words were meant to provide them comfort in the midst of a very anxious moment. God is always interested in comforting the believer’s fears. 

As we have already mentioned, the women didn’t come expecting to find Jesus raised from the dead, but God extended grace and mercy to them and chose to overlook their weak faith. He chose instead to focus on their great love for Jesus Christ and had the angel respond with recognition of that love: “I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said.” God’s love for us is absolutely limitless, boundless, and beyond my comprehension. Praise the Lord that He graciously pours it out on us every day. 

The phrase, “He has risen,” can be translated as “he has been raised.” So, who actually raised Jesus from the grave? Jesus said in John 10:18 He had the authority to lay down His life and take it up again. The word authority also refers to power. Therefore, Jesus proclaims He has the power to raise himself. 

However, Scripture also makes it clear that Jesus was also raised by the power of the Father. Paul says in Romans 6:4, “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” Peter says in 1 Peter 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 

Scripture also says that the Holy Spirit participated as well. Paul says in Romans 8:11, “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” 

Just as in creation and at the baptism of Jesus, the entire Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – participated in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. What an amazing thought that all were at work with us in mind. 

Returning back to Matthew 28:6, the angel invites the women into the tomb to “see the place where He [Jesus] was lying.” They enter the tomb and determine that Jesus is no longer there; the tomb is indeed empty. The angel must have joined them in the tomb based on Mark’s account. Mark 16:6 records “…He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him.” Again, God chose to respond to the women as a loving Father to His children, with a gracious, loving, comforting reassurance that Jesus is alive and well. John MacArthur comments, “Perhaps the message was repeated because the women found it so hard to believe, despite the fact that they had remembered Jesus’ prediction that He would rise on the third day.”

“Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.” (Matthew 28:7)

After inspecting the tomb, the angel commands them, “Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead” (Matt. 28:7). I don’t know what the women were thinking at this point, but their emotions must have immediately shifted from fear to a focus on proclaiming Jesus’ resurrection. There was no time to relish in the great reality of Jesus’ resurrection, they were directed to go and tell the good news to the disciples who were still in Jerusalem.

Once again, God extends grace and mercy to His children and chose to overlook the weak faith and fear of the disciples. Even after Jesus had explained to them several times, the disciples refused to believe that Jesus would die and be raised again on the third day. However, because of His great love for His children, He desired to end their grief and sorrow as quickly as possible. So He sent them an expedited message of comfort and hope.

This sequence of announcement and proclamation is very interesting and worth taking a closer look. God sent an angelic messenger to meet those who first came to the tomb: the women. Then He sends them to proclaim to the disciples that He is risen. In John’s gospel accounts, we are told that Peter and John also went to the tomb, however, it was only after a prompting from one of the women who had first gone to the tomb. 

Doesn’t that remind you of just how God works? Those believers who are closer to the Lord are also those who are most obedient and involved in His work, and are also those who are going to be direct witnesses and have first-hand experience of the Lord’s comfort, peace, and majesty. Can I exhort each of us to fervently seek after and live for Him so that we will be able to testify as direct witnesses of what God has done and is doing right now. Don’t be satisfied to receive the news of God’s work secondhand. 

The angel provides some additional information to the women when he says, “He [Jesus] is going before you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.” Galilee is truly a key region for many reasons. Galilee included both Jews and Gentiles and was symbolic of the bridge between God’s chosen people and the rest of the world. Galilee is also where Jesus began His ministry (Mt. 4:12-17). And just a few days before the crucifixion, Jesus told the disciples in Matthew 26:32 that He would meet them in Galilee: “But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” And lastly, Galilee would be the location that Jesus would give the Great Commission: “go therefore and make disciples of all the nations” (Mt. 28:19).

As we mentioned earlier, we know that Jesus appeared several times after His resurrection, but before He arrives in Galilee. Luke records Jesus’ appearance to two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:15), and later to Simon Peter (Luke 24:34). The Apostle John records that Jesus appeared to ten of the disciples on resurrection evening (John 20:19), to all eleven disciples eight days later (John 20:26), and then to seven of the disciples as they were fishing in the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1). But the climax of Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances was to more than 500 brethren at one time in Galilee. (1 Cor. 15:6). There is no doubt of Jesus’ resurrection!

And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples. (Matthew 28:8)

Desiring to be obedient and to proclaim the great news of the resurrection, the women “left the tomb quickly” and headed for Jerusalem. Understandably, they were still somewhat shocked and possibly even a little fearful from all that had just happened. But now there is amazing news to proclaim to the world, so their fear was now mitigated by the “great joy” of Jesus’ resurrection. 

It may have been this great joy that propelled them to run to report it to His disciples. This kind of news cannot be contained or hidden under a bushel, it must be proclaimed from the mountain tops. Jesus is alive! I think it would have been absolutely impossible for them to casually stroll into town to deliver the message to the disciples. I can just imagine how excited I would be if I just saw an angel who told me that Jesus is alive. 

And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. (Matthew 28:9)

The women are on their way to report the angel’s message to the disciples. As they are going, “Jesus met them and greeted them” (Mt. 28:9). They immediately recognized Jesus and bowed down and worshiped him. Matthew 28:9 says, “they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.” There is no longer any doubt, no grieving; Jesus is alive! They know He is the risen Messiah, the divine Son of God, and worship was the only proper response. 

Actually, they did what every person in the world will do one day. When Jesus comes the second time, “at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:10–11).

They now have the full assurance, the full reality of Jesus’ resurrection. They heard the angel’s proclamation, saw the empty tomb, encountered the risen Lord, and even touched His glorified body. All they could do was worship Him!

Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they shall see Me.” (Matthew 28:10)

In verse 10, Jesus repeats the same message the angel had given them. God is so infinitely gracious and loving to His children. Even though the disciples lacked faith, and were fearful of what might happen to them for being associated with Jesus, Jesus still calls them “My brethren” (Mt. 28:10). When they arrived in Galilee, they would see Him again. 

Isn’t this our great hope? That we too will one day see Jesus face to face. All who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will indeed see Jesus face to face and worship Him forever. That is the great hope of all who believe!

In summary, we need to take away some valuable truths. 

First, we should be confident that Jesus has ascended and is indeed alive and well, sitting at the right hand of God the Father in Heaven, waiting until the appointed time for His second coming (Eph. 1:20). 

Jesus’ resurrection confirms that the Scripture is totally true and reliable. Jesus rose from the dead precisely when and in the way the Old Testament prophets said, and as Jesus Himself foretold (Isa. 53, Matt. 12:40; 16:21, 17:9, 23).

Jesus’ resurrection confirms that He came to die for the forgiveness of our sins. Ephesians 1:7-8 states, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us.”

Jesus’ resurrection also confirms that Jesus Christ is the Son of God as He claimed. (1 Jn. 5:20).

Jesus’ resurrection proves that He conquered sin, death, and hell and that He has power over life and death (Jn. 10:18).

Jesus’ resurrection proves that God’s plan of salvation is complete! 

Jesus’ resurrection confirms that the believers’ resurrection from the dead is secured. Romans 6:5 states, “For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection.”

Jesus’ resurrection confirms that Heaven awaits true believers and followers of Jesus Christ. In John 14:2 Jesus promises, “In My house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.” 

Jesus’ resurrection confirms that believers have an assured hope. 1 Peter 1:3 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

Jesus’ resurrection proves that judgment is coming (John 5:22). Are you prepared for this coming judgment? 

Jesus died on the cross for the sins of all believers, past, present, and future. He was buried and rose again on the third day. And finally, He will come again for all who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. 

As I mentioned earlier, the question that must be answered when Jesus comes again is, “Have you accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior?” It is my prayer that everyone spend some serious time today contemplating your need to accept Jesus Christ’s work on the cross and His resurrection. And if you have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, spend some time contemplating His great work of salvation in your life and how you plan to live for Him.