Easter Day C Believe and Be Saved

 Easter Day C Believe and Be Saved
April 16, 1995
By Rev. Ernest F. Campbell

Rev. Ernie Campbell

When I think about the fact that after 42 years in the ministry this could be among the last Easter sermons that I am privileged to preach it makes me want to bear down a little harder. I asked myself…what really needs to be communicated?

The stunning…awesome…. news that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead is the bed rock foundation of Christian doctrine and the central thrust of Apostolic preaching.

St. Paul, writing to the Corinthians, says it like this: “What I received I passed on to you as of first importance: That Christ died for our sins, that he was buried and according to the scriptures He was raised on the third day. If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless, our faith is useless….and we are still in our sins.”

In the book of Acts, Peter proclaims the resurrection of Christ like this, “Jesus was not abandoned to the grave, nor did His body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. (Acts 2:31-32)

So, what’s important? What is vital to our hope? Paul again: “If we confess with our mouth,
Jesus is Lord, and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead… we will be saved.”

We believe that Jesus entered the Human race with a mission. He came to save us from having to
suffer the guilt and separation caused by our sins. Just minutes before He died on the cross, He
announced that His mission was accomplished! “It is finished!” Our Lord’s resurrection from the
dead was God saying… Yes … Amen… this is acceptable. Christ’s extravagant gift of love… he
gift of His shed blood has put us in a covenant relationship with God.

If we, if you and I, truly believe with our minds, wills, and spirits that Christ died to reconcile us
to God, then we have opened ourselves to be the recipients of the innumerable benefits of His
passion and Grace.

We are Easter people! The Easter goodness is that God suffers from a compulsion to lavish s
love upon us. When it comes to loving us, God can’t help himself.

Example) A story about a father who rescues his son from Lake Michigan.
It is in response to this kind of reckless extravagant love that the cheering and Alleluias are all about on Easter Day.

Not so long ago our Presiding Bishop, Edmund Browning, commissioned the Gallup organization
to conduct a survey on the spiritual health of the Episcopal Church. One of the questions that
pertains to the Easter message was this: Question: To what extent do you believe that through
Jesus Christ we find forgiveness of our sins? Do you believe this completely, somewhat, or do
you not believe this?

78% believe completely
17% believe somewhat
3% do not believe
2% don’t know

If this substantially orthodox position is typical of what Episcopalians believe let’s give
ourselves three cheers! We are standing on the bed rock of the Christian faith.

Personally, I believe it completely. It is a faith that frees me to start each day in God’s peace.
But… let’s be honest here, since I started singing in an Episcopal Church choir 58 years ago, lots
of doubts and questions about the resurrection have passed through my mind. it is one thing for
the Easter congregation to respond with the words, “The Lord is risen indeed.” It is something
profoundly different to be personally sure that what God has promised is really true.

It’s quite possible that there are some worshipers here this morning that have heard the words,
Jesus saves, but have had no personal experience of what it means to really trust that expression.
I have come to believe and accept that on any given Sunday we all may be in slightly different
stages on our faith journey. And that’s O.K.! Back in Christ Church Winnetka, while I was a
member of the choir, I was given the opportunity to preach a sermon. It must have been youth
Sunday. The one character that was easiest for me to relate to among all the Bible stories I had
heard, was Doubting Thomas. It would help you to know that after completing my confirmation
instruction, I told the rector that I wasn’t ready. I was being honest; I got confirmed a year later. I
think it’s O.K. to be honest. I believe God loves honest men and women.

Honest doubts can be faith’s best friend.

Now, while we’re being honest, let’s be practical. Doubting Thomas was having a hard time
accepting the apostles report that they had seen the risen Lord… because he hadn’t. We have to
give him credit for sticking around and we have to commend the other for being patient with
him. No stronghold of faith can be of much good if it rejects doubts and questions. It was not
long before Thomas was more than satisfied.

So, if you’re finding it difficult to dance with the Easter people, remember that Thomas stayed
around and the Apostles were patient. Last Tuesday the pastor of Pioneer Methodist Church
asked our clergy bible study group a question, “What is our hope?” After sitting at the table for
the past 22 years (every Tuesday), studying scripture, praying together, voicing our questions and
doubts… caring for one another, I said, “This…this is our hope! This gathering around the
table.” Here is that peace that passes human understanding. No one disagreed… in fact there was
a chorus of Yes!

My hope is that others would come to that point in their faith journey where they could join in
that chorus of Yes! And say, “We are Easter People!”

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