Death, Burial, Resurrection

Religion. I would like you to throw, everything you know about the subject out the window before you begin reading this book. This book was written to teach you not about religion but about how to develop a lasting relationship with Jesus Christ. In fact, the less you know about religion, the better, because religion deals with customs and traditions. Customs and traditions are valuable, but building a relationship with Jesus Christ is a matter of the heart. Webster’s dictionary defines relationship as “the state of being related or interrelated. The relation connecting or binding participants in a relationship as a kinship. The state of affairs existing between those having relations or dealings. A romantic or passionate attachment.” There is one thing we all have in common and want in our daily lives, and that is to have healthy relationships and someone to love. This is proven with the numerous dating service advertisements on TV, print media, and the Internet. Have you ever asked yourself why so many people are searching for the perfect relationship? Let me ask you a couple of questions. If you haven’t thought about these, please take time right now and reflect for a moment. I want you to be honest when you ask yourself these questions. You may want to take a notepad and write down your thoughts. Why do we find ourselves always looking for love? Why do we find ourselves searching for that perfect relationship? Why in the midst of a current relationship do you find yourself longing for something else, but you just can’t put your finger on what’s missing? You don’t understand it, but one thing you do know is that you feel incomplete and won’t be satisfied until you obtain it. Let me explain something. God loves you, and he desires an intimate relationship with you. When God created us, he placed something within our spirits that connects us directly to him. This inward part of our being constantly longs for that missing ingredient, which is intimacy with our Creator. Many people attempt to fulfill this void by searching outside themselves, maybe in another person, in a bottle, or in drugs. I’m here to tell you that you if you are one of those people, you are looking in the wrong place. This intimate relationship was first demonstrated in the Garden of Eden between God and Adam. Prior to the fall of mankind, God fellowshipped daily with Adam in the midst of the garden of Eden. But after the fall of mankind, our spirits were separated from God, and we have been searching for that type of relationship ever since. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:27) Not only did God design our physical appearance, but also our total being. This includes the way we think, the way we feel, and the way we exercise our will. No one knows us better than our Creator. This loving relationship that you are longing for has already been established and demonstrated by God. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16) The choice is yours. I am here to tell you that if you want to experience a true relationship with someone who loves you more than you love yourself, someone who loves you unconditionally, and someone who will give you complete direction for your life, I encourage you to try God. Decide today that you will begin to develop your relationship with God. The only way that you can build this relationship is by acknowledging him and spending time with him. You may think that developing a relationship with God will require a lot of time and special training. That statement is so far from the truth! You may be asking yourself, where do I start? What do I need to do to spend time with God? The first thing that you need to do is begin reading the Bible. Do not become discouraged if you don’t understand a lot of what you’re reading. But the secret to this is before you begin to read, pray and ask God for understanding and insight, and you will receive it. As you spend time daily in the Word of God, you will begin to learn his ways, and this is the key to finding out your purpose and ultimate destiny. The second way to begin building that relationship with God is to talk to him. How can you develop a relationship with someone if you don’t talk to them? As a nonbeliever or a new Christian, you may be asking yourself, What can I talk about with God? Is there a certain way that I have to speak to God? Well, let me clear this up for you. There is no special way to have a conversation with God. There is no certain prayer or ritual, nor do you have to hold a certain position in a church to communicate with God. The only thing you must do is make yourself available to him. When speaking to God, remember that God is not only your Creator but a loving Father who longs for your companionship. Open your heart to him, be truthful, and don’t hold anything back because he already knows what is in your heart. What I love about God is that no matter what I may be going through in this life or when I fall short, I can always go to him for forgiveness. He loves me so much that he will never leave me or forsake me. No matter where you find yourself at this present time, regardless of what you have done in the past or any sins you may have committed, nothing can change how God feels toward you. God’s love for you is unconditional! I need you to understand something equally important: the sin factor. God hates sin. Sin cannot dwell in his presence, and if you have sin in your life, it will spiritually separate you from him. However, the good news is that he knows that no one is without sin, and if you ask him for forgiveness, he will forgive you. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. (1 John 1:8–10) As you begin to develop your relationship with God and are following his words, you will begin to see your life transforming into his image. This is God’s purpose for all his children. This book is divided into three sections: Death, Burial, and Resurrection. You may presume that I’ll be addressing the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Yes, this is of great importance because what Jesus accomplished for us is our example and now serves as the foundation of our transformation and ultimate divine purpose. As you read through this book, you will see examples of what Jesus accomplished for you, and you will be able to apply it to your life.