Our Role In The Easter Story

It is not strange that Christians today cannot react the same way the disciples reacted on the Day of Resurrection because they were eyewitnesses. In our case, we did not see the physical Jesus the time we believed in Him. Nevertheless, that does not diminish or take away the validity of our encounter with the risen Christ. Ours is the walk of faith because of the testimony of the writers of the New Testament and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Those of us who are not of the stock of Israel should count ourselves as privileged to share in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This should motivate us to share the Easter story with joy and enthusiasm.

Worse, Paul goes on to explain that no one can redeem himself by means of righteous living (3:19–20). We are therefore utterly helpless. Fortunately, however, God has provided a means of escape: Jesus Christ has died for the sins of humankind, thereby satisfying the demands of God’s justice, and facilitating reconciliation with God (Acts 3:21–26). By means of His atoning death salvation is made available as a gift to be received by faith.

The logic of the New Testament is clear: The universality of sin and the uniqueness of Christ’s atoning death entail that there is no salvation apart from Christ. As the apostles proclaimed, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12 RSV).