This morning we heard the story of salvation from creation to the resurrection.  We see God’s hand working through the life of His people to guide and protect, discipline and forgive.  All for the sake of His people, His creation.  All of God’s work, all of His promises, directs us to today – Christ is risen! He is risen indeed, Alleluia.

God preserves His people throughout history, from sin, death and the devil.  We heard all these readings not just as reminder of what God has done in the past, but also to point us to our future – the day of resurrection of the dead. 

“Christ calls all sinners to Himself and promises them rest. He is eager that all people should come to Him and allow themselves to be helped. He offers them Himself in His Word and wants them to hear it and not to plug their ears or despise the Word. Furthermore, He promises the power and working of the Holy Spirit and divine assistance for perseverance and eternal salvation ‹so that we may remain steadfast in the faith and gain eternal salvation.”^[1]

The perseverance of the saints is a work of God based upon the death and resurrection of Jesus.  St Paul does not say, “When God has begun the work, you can complete it” but “And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Phil 1:6

God has begun our life in Him through water and the Word.  He preserves His saints throughout this life and the next by His means of grace, Word, Water, the Body and Blood of Christ.  When fear and doubt and worry attack us as they did the women gone to see Jesus, what is God’s answer to such problems? “Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified, He is risen.” When terror of our guilt and shame because of sin, how is our fear chased away? “Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified, He is risen.” When we question whether our faith is real, or good enough, what’s the answer? “Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified, He is risen.”  Uncertainty about obstacles in the future that seem too large for us roll away ourselves? “Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified, He is risen.”  Fear of not being in control or not understanding what is going on around us? “Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified, He is risen.”  Death and a cold grave approach quickly and without mercy? “Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified, He is risen.”

May we never tire of hearing God’s Word nor His work through His Word.  In this Word He reminds us whose we are, that we may respond with the joy and love to God and to one another. God will preserve His saints in the true faith to life everlasting by virtue of the cross and the empty grave.