Dear Friends in Christ:

This is a season of great rejoicing as we once again celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Without the resurrection we would have no hope of heaven or the abundant blessings of the Christian life. This is the one event that makes Christianity what it really is; not a religion but a relationship with the Living God.

Let’s take a look at some Scripture in the book of Acts, chapter two and verses 22-24. It reads, “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.”

Peter is preaching here on the day on Pentecost and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit he reveals to us that Jesus was loosed from the grip of death through the resurrection because it was impossible for Him to be held by it. Do you realize the power in this statement? Death, the grave, and all that is contained in the curse of the law (poverty, sickness, and eternal death) had no way of holding Jesus down because He was declared righteous in the sight of God. Galatians chapter 3 and verses 13-14 tells us that, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” When He suffered on the cross He was bearing all that is contained in the curse of the law (Deuteronomy 21:23). When He rose from the dead He proved that He was victorious over these forces never to succumb to them again (Romans chapter 1 and verse four, “And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:”).

What this means for us is that because we have received the very same righteousness that Jesus has (2 Corinthians 5:21) we also can be loosed from the forces of the enemy because it is impossible that we should be held by them! The obvious question then is, Why are these things still showing up in our lives? Because either we don’t know about it, we don’t believe it, or we are not enforcing these things as strongly as we should. But the good news is that we can be free! We can live a life loosed from the grip of sin, sickness, poverty, defeat, and failure. I’m not saying these things will cease to attack your life but we must realize that just as Jesus was set free because it was impossible for these things to hold Him, so can we live free because it is impossible for them to hold us. Why? Because of the righteousness that we have received from Him. The same force that brought Him out will bring us out every time, too.

This Easter let’s rejoice that Jesus is alive but let’s also rejoice because His victory becomes our victory every day of our lives. Whatever is trying to bind you, confine you, control you, or hinder you from progressing in the plan of God you have power over it because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. When these things show up in your life don’t just take it lying down. Rise up in faith and declare that you have been made the righteousness of God in Christ, you are seated with Him in heavenly places, you are redeemed from the curse by the blood of Jesus, and you must go free because it is impossible for this ungodly thing to hold you! This sure makes a whole lot more sense than some silly bunny hopping around with colored eggs.

For His Name,

John Merola