1 Corinthians 15:3-4 says, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures . . .”

These were the words of Paul to the Church in Corinth, and these words echoed throughout our building, and many buildings like ours, on Easter Sunday. “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and He was buried, and He rose again . . .”

We know how the Easter service goes.  We can guess what songs the choir or praise band will sing.  We know the passages the Pastor will preach; we can even guess at his illustrations.

It is Easter.  It comes and it goes, and once gone, we can turn our attention to baseball and spring and planning our summer vacations.

But what we must realize is that the truth celebrated at Easter is the same truth every day of the year, now and forever.  This fundamental thing, “of first importance,” must be preached daily into our lives, by others and by our very selves. The Gospel, like Jesus on that world-shifting Sunday morn millenia ago, is very much alive, each and every day.

The importance for the believer to live in light of Easter each day flows from the fact that many lead Easter-less lives.  Much of the world still hangs on the Cross that God sent His Son for.  Many are still encased in a tomb of death even though, in Christ, the stone has been rolled away.

Common responses to the truth Paul puts forth are:

1) To be skeptical.

2) To believe, but never respond in surrender to the truth and authority of Jesus Christ.

3) To follow Christ but not allow for the power of the resurrection to be unleashed fully in daily life.

For those in Christ, the response is clear: Celebrate Easter. Preach the Gospel to yourself on your commute, at work, at dinner. Allow for the power of the Gospel to become the focus of every task, and, in doing so, live a life of bold love which constantly gives off the fragrant aroma of Christ, hence prompting those around you to be in a constant state of decision: To join you in your love for Christ or neglect the truth.

For those outside Christ, maybe today is the day your world changes.  Perhaps now is the moment your eternity becomes sealed and you walk jubilantly out of the grave and into abundant life.  What a better day to surrender! It is, after all, Easter, yesterday, today, and every day after.