In Ephesians 2:18 Paul declares: “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” (KJV). Because of the sacrificial Blood of Christ and because of His mighty resurrection, we have been given “access” directly to God the Father!

What a blessing and a joy to know that all of the redeemed can go directly into the Presence of the Heavenly Father! We do not need a priest or anyone else because Jesus Himself is our High Priest (Hebrews 9: 11-12). We come before the Father through Him (John 14:6).

It is the Holy Spirit who makes this a reality to us. Note, we have “access” by one Spirit”. It is the Holy Spirit who gives us the revelation of the Father’s love for us. And it is the Holy Spirit who reveals to us that we belong to the Father (Rom. 8:16).

That is the joy and the privilege of the redeemed. The unredeemed do not have this access! Therefore let us treasure it and avail ourselves of it continually.

James W. Black

In John 20: 24-29, Thomas was unwilling to believe the reports from his fellow disciples that Jesus was truly resurrected from the dead. Because of his skepticism and doubt, he has been labeled by the church down through history as “doubting Thomas”. But in reality that is an unfair label. The fact is that NONE of the disciples believed that Jesus was raised from the dead until they saw Him for themselves (Luke 24:11). Thomas was not with the other disciples when Jesus first appeared to them. After what he had just experienced and witnessed it is doubtful that any of us would have reacted any differently under the same circumstances.

When Jesus appeared unto the disciples the second time (eight days after the first appearance, John 20:26), Thomas DID BELIEVE and confessed Jesus as Lord (v. 28)! The point here is that Thomas needed to know for himself! In reality that is essential for all of us.

We cannot base our faith upon the testimony of someone else, regardless of how credible that testimony may be. In reality, we must encounter Christ for ourselves. Our faith must become our own. We cannot experience new life or walk in new life apart from our own faith in the risen Christ. If our faith is our own, it will last. If it is not, it will soon fail.

James W. Black

When Jesus revealed himself to the two men in Emmaus during the breaking of the bread, they immediately rushed back to Jerusalem with the wonderful news that “the Lord is Risen indeed…” (Luke 24;34). What joy and wonder they must have felt. What excitement they must have exhibited when they told the other disciples that truly the Lord was risen from the dead!

The message of the resurrection is the most wonderful news that mankind has ever heard. The cross was terrible. The torture and death He experienced on that cross was beyond our comprehension. The burial of Christ’s body was solemn and agonizing for all who followed Him. But the resurrection changed everything! For without the resurrection, the cross means nothing. The Apostle Paul emphasized this when he said: “…if Christ be not raised your faith is vain.” (1 Cor. 15:17). In other words it is hopeless and useless!

But Jesus is alive! The Lord is risen indeed!

Our sin has been paid in full and death has been conquered! And because He lives, we shall live also! Each time we gather as a Body of Believers, we gather to celebrate the fact that “the Lord is risen indeed!” And this day, of all days, Easter Sunday, is a day in which we should rejoice with abandon!

James W. Black