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Pastoral Letter - 11th April 2021

My dear sisters and brothers a very blessed and joyous Sunday to you and your families. May the richness and certainty of the Easter season continually flood and enrich your lives immensely.


Today, I would like to share an additional benefit of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Resurrection of Christ assures us of our future resurrection. In 1 Corinthians 15:19-23: Paul emphasizes that ,

“Christ is …the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ."


“Christ is the firstfruits,” means that His resurrection is the first part of the great resurrection harvest that is to come. Christopher Wordsworth includes this teaching in verse three of his Easter Hymn, Alleluia, Alleluia: Christ is risen,

Christ, the firstfruits of the holy harvest field,

Which will all its full abundance at His second coming yield.

Then the golden ears of harvest will their heads before Him wave,

Ripened by His glorious sunshine from the furrows of the grave.


Paul writes about this same benefit without the “firstfruits” metaphor in the following passages:


“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep." 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14


Also, 2 Cor. 4:14 highlights, "Knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.”


How wonderful! Christ’s resurrection from the dead guarantees our future resurrection!


My brothers and sisters, we who believe in Jesus Christ, have confidence of living in the present and great hope of eternal glory.


Blessings!


Your Servant In The Master’s Business,

Telford D. Matthew (Rev.)

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