From The Bishop's Desk Image
Resurrection Season
 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that 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. 1 Corinthians 15:3,4

   Grace be unto the Saints and peace be multiplied. I am delighted to have the opportunity to share a few thoughts with you.
 
   As many of you know, we are about to enter the “Easter” season. We prefer to call it “The Resurrection Season.” This is the
time of year that roughly corresponds to the Jewish Passover. In this time, we acknowledge and celebrate our Lord’s death, burial and resurrection. This is what is called the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is that essential message by which any person can be saved. We can never neglect the fact that Jesus died for us all. Even unbelievers acknowledge that a “historical” Jesus died, meaning that they may not receive Him as their savior but they acknowledge that He did exist. But those that would be saved must believe that He paid a debt to God that no person can pay for themselves. That debt was satisfied in His going to Calvary and dying for the sins of the world.
 
   As important as His death is, I feel compelled today to direct our attention to the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Men
everywhere may die but no one else can claim that they have been raised from the dead, never to die again. Consequently, many people do not believe that resurrection is real. Because they do not believe in His resurrection, they have no hope in their own resurrection. However, the scriptures are clear. First, that Jesus Christ did rise from the dead. This entire 15th chapter of 1st Corinthians is devoted to clarifying this teaching. After having laid out the argument like a fine lawyer in verses 12-18, Paul sums up that line of discussion at verse 19 with this: “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” In other words, if our only hope is based in our earthly and mortal life span and have no hope of the resurrection from the dead, we are “of all men most miserable.” In other words, the best is yet to come for those that believe, but misery for those who do not.
 
   There is so much to the discussion, but time will not allow for it here. Suffice it to say, as the Apostle teaches here, this gospel, which he taught, preached and in which we have believed (if indeed we are saved) and in which we stand, is that which saved us. This teaching of our Lord’s death, burial and resurrection is “according to the scriptures.” He concluded this portion of the thought in verse 4: “And that He was buried, and that he rose again the third day, ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES.” I believe that this is the word to the church in this moment. We are in that “Resurrection Season.” We can see that the coming of the Lord is at hand. This involves the Rapture of the Church. The first part of which is, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). There seems to be a gathering in of saints by death in this moment and it feels like God is “collecting” His saints who will be in this “raised first” group. In any case, as we celebrate the fact that death could not constrain Him, know that when He appears, death will not be able to restrain any that have died in faith, trusting in Jesus. Saints, it is resurrection season. Let us all prepare to meet the Lord.

Maranatha, 
 
Bishop Gregory Wells, Sr. D.D.
Pastor, O'Fallon Apostolic Assembly