Easter 2007 – How Much Are We Worth?

Matthew 28:1-10 (NLT) 

    Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to see the tomb. [2] Suddenly there was a great earthquake, because an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and rolled aside the stone and sat on it. [3] His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. [4] The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.

    [5] Then the angel spoke to the women. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. [6] He isn't here! He has been raised from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. [7] And now, go quickly and tell his disciples he has been raised from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember, I have told you."

    [8] The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to find the disciples to give them the angel's message. [9] And as they went, Jesus met them. "Greetings!" he said. And they ran to him, held his feet, and worshiped him. [10] Then Jesus said to them, "Don't be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there."

1. Easter is both frightening and joyful because Jesus is alive and is on the loose!

2.  Receive the forgiveness of sin, guilt and shame; the gift of a new and abundant life, and a growing intimate relationship with God

3.  Our value and worth is equivalent to the price that God would be willing to pay for - which is the death of God Himself!

1 John 3:1 (NIV)
    How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

Choose to live with a new security based on God's full acceptance, with full confidence and living excellently according to our new identity in Christ

2 Cor. 5:17 (NIV)
    Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

1 Cor. 10:12 (Msg)
    Don't be so naive and self-confident. You're not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it's useless. Cultivate God-confidence.

Start our new life in Christ by choosing to accept who are in Christ, and surrendering our hearts and entire lives to Him