My uncle's funeral was this past Wednesday, and while it was a time of grief, it was also a time to focus and hold onto the promises in God's Word. The opening song was one he sang as a teen, and the promise it speaks of is still true today. And today is the perfect day to share it with you since it is because He lives that we can be wonderfully forgiven and know that one day we, too, will live again - forever. And that's a beautiful promise.
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Because He Lives- Bill Gaither
- God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus;
- He came to love, heal and forgive;
- He lived and died to buy my pardon,
- An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!
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- Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
- Because He lives, all fear is gone;
- Because I know He holds the future,
- And life is worth the living,
- Just because He lives!
- How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
- And feel the pride and joy he gives;
- But greater still the calm assurance:
- This child can face uncertain days because He lives!
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- Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
- Because He lives, all fear is gone;
- Because I know He holds the future,
- And life is worth the living,
- Just because He lives!
- And then one day, I'll cross the river,
- I'll fight life's final war with pain;
- And then, as death gives way to vict'ry,
- I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives!
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- Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
- Because He lives, all fear is gone;
- Because I know He holds the future,
- And life is worth the living,
- Just because He lives!
There are no better words to tell you of God's great love for you than the words He has already said in His Word, the Bible:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: I Corinthians 15:3-4
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:9-10, 13
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. I Corinthians 15:54-57
(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) II Corinthians 6:2
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:17-18
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. John 3:36
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? John 11:25-26
I know that someday I will see Uncle John in heaven because, just as I have, he trusted Christ as his Saviour. And today we who remain on this earth can rejoice because there is a promise for the future.
He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. Matthew 28:6
Happy Resurrection Day!
