Father we gather this morning as we do every Lord’s day to worship the risen Christ as one body of believers.  We praise you Father for the resurrection of Christ.  If Christ had not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, our faith in Him is worthless, and we are still in our sins.  Yet, because He was raised from his death, our preaching is effectual, our faith is invaluable, we can know forgiveness for our sins and enjoy blessed assurance.  We have hope in Christ knowing our labor is not in vain in the Lord.  We praise you God because you give us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.     

We praise you Father for the resurrection of Christ which makes our justification complete.  We don’t rely on our works, but if we simply believe in Christ who justifies the ungodly, our faith is counted as righteousness.  For it is by faith that we are saved according to Your grace.  Father we thank you for this immeasurable gift and unmerited favor. 

We praise you Father for the resurrection of Christ that allows believers to walk in the newness of life.  We know our old man was crucified with Christ and we are no longer slaves to sin.  We now live with Christ knowing that death no longer is master of Him or us.  We are to consider ourselves to be dead to sin and alive to You in Christ.  Sin shall no longer be our master for we are under your grace.   

We praise you Father for the resurrection of Christ that enables believers to bear fruit of redemption God.  Our transformed lives can be marked by putting off the old and putting on the new self.  We can now be marked by new attitudes and new priorities.  We can let all bitterness, anger, and wrath be put away from us and instead be known for our kindness toward one another, our tender- heartedness, and graciously forgiving each other just as You have graciously forgiven each of us who have responded to gospel truth in faith and repentance.   

We praise you Father for the resurrection of Christ that allows believers who have been raised up with Christ to keep seeking the things above where Christ is seated at Your right hand.  We have eternal hope so we can set our minds on the things above instead of the things on earth.  Our heavenly dispositions should be reflected in our daily interaction with the world.  Even when we are grieved by various trials, we have reason and ability to rejoice.  We have obtained an inheritance that is incorruptible, undefiled, unfading and is being perfectly kept by your power, our almighty God through faith.  Our salvation is indeed sealed and secured.  We praise you Father for the resurrection of Christ that makes our living hope real today just as the resurrection of Christ was real more than 2000 years ago.