Dear Christian friends:

We have gathered here today to look back almost 2,000 years to the wonderful events of that first Easter. Always on Easter we have the largest church attendance of the year.

Why do so many people come to Church on Easter? What is the great attraction of Easter?

We have all heard many times about the events of the first Easter. Many of you could stand here and tell these events. But what do they mean? What do these events that happened 2,000 years ago mean for us today? Our text tells us what Easter should mean to us. St. Paul tells us in our text that


St. Paul says, "You have been raised to life with Christ." (verse 1A)

By faith in Jesus we are joined with Him in His death and resurrection. Jesus did not die for Himself and He did not arise from death for Himself. He died for us and He arose for us. (Romans 4:25)

That is what our baptism means also. Always on Easter Sunday many people receive Holy Baptism. That is a very old tradition in the Christian Church. I'm sorry we do not have someone or several persons we can baptize today.

In this same letter St. Paul explains the meaning of baptism: "When you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and in baptism you were raised with Christ through your faith in the active power of God, who raised Jesus from death. You were at one time spiritually dead because of your sins....But God has now brought you to life with Christ! God forgave us all our sins....He took away our sins by nailing them to the cross." (Colossians 2:12-14)

In another letter St. Paul explains it further: "Christ's love now rules us, now that we know that one man died for all men, which means that all men are now joined in His death. He died for all men so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but only for Him who died and was raised to life for their sake." (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)

That's what Easter should mean for us: A new life joined with our dear Savior Jesus. Let us say with St. Paul: "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

Because Easter means a new life we now try to live that new life. It's not enough to know that Easter means a new life; we should do it. In our text St. Paul tells us how to do it!

He writes: "You have been raised to life with Christ. Therefore, love those things that are in heaven, where Christ sits on His throne at the right side of God. Keep your minds fixed on things there, not on things here on earth." (verses 1-2)

This means that we Christians should not follow the proud and selfish ways of this world.

We should not join in the false religions and churches of this world which have many rules and laws of man, but do not preach the Gospel of our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, such as the Mormons, the Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Scientists, Scientology and others. (Colossians 2:16-23)

Living the new life with the risen Christ also means to crucify the sinful desires of our old nature, which we still have with us, which daily temps us to sin,

St Paul lists these in the verses following our text:

"Indecency, lust, evil desires, and greed
(for greediness is a form of idol worship)
---anger, hateful feelings, insulting or
dirty talk. Do not lie to one another."
(verses 5-9)

These are the bad, negative things we should not do, because we have put off the old self with its bad habits, and have put on the new self. (verse 10)

St. Paul also lists the good, positive things that we should do because we have risen with Christ:

"Show mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness,
patience. Be helpful to one another and
forgive one another, whenever anyone of you
has a complaint against someone else. You
must forgive each other in the same way that
the Lord has forgiven you. And to all this
add love, which binds all things together in
perfect unity. The peace that Christ gives
should rule in your hearts; because to this
peace God has called you together in one
body. And be thankful. Christ's message in
all its richness must live in your hearts.
Teach and instruct each other with all wisdom,
sing psalms, hymns, and sacred songs; sing to
God, with thanksgiving in your hearts. Every-
thing you do or say, then, should be done in
the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks
through Him to God."" (verses 12-17)

This is the way we Christians should live in the Church with one another because we have risen with Jesus Christ.

Then Paul tells us how we should live the new life at home in our families:

"Wives, obey your husbands, for that is what
you should do as Christians. Husbands, love
your wives, and do not be harsh with them.
Children, it is your Christian duty to obey
your parents always, because that is what
pleases God. Parents, do not irritate your
children, or they might become discouraged."
(verses 18-21)

We know that many families today are broken because the family members do not love each other and do not obey these simple rules of the new life in Christ.

Next St. Paul tells how Christian employers and employees should love and respect one another. (verses 22-4:1) Our factories would produce more and we would not have so many labor problems or strikes if bosses and workers knew and followed these rules of the new life.

And finally, Paul tells us what our chief work is to be as we walk the new way of Easter, preaching the Gospel:

"Pray for us, that God will give us good
opportunity to preach His message, to tell
the secret of Christ.....Be wise in the way
you act toward those who are not believers,
making good use of every opportunity you have.
Your speech should always be pleasant and
interesting, and you should know how to give
the right answer to every person."
(verses 4:3-6)

Praying for pastors and helping them in their difficult work is the chief work of the new life. Also supporting world missions is part of that work. I am pleased and thankful that many of our members joined in the Forward In Remembrance appeal and made extra, special offerings for the Lord's work through our Synod. These members have shown that they are trying to live the new life in Christ. They have risen with Christ, and seek those things which are above!

Living this new life of Easter is not easy, and we often fail. When we fail and fall into sin we must repent and look to Jesus for grace to improve and walk the new way better each day. His love and His power only can help us to walk that way. Paul says,

"Put off the old self with its bad habits,
and put on the new self. This is the new
man which God, its creator, is constantly
renewing to become holy like Himself."
(Colossians 3:9-10)

This wonderful work God does in us through baptism, through hearing the Gospel of Jesus and through the Lord's Supper. Let us daily remember our baptism; let us regularly come here to church to hear the Gospel and to join in the Lord's Supper. Then God can do His wonderful work in us and give us the new birth, life and growth in Jesus Christ.

Easter means new life: "You have been raised from death to life with Christ. Therefore, love those things that are in heaven, where Christ sits on His throne at the right side of God. Keep your minds fixed on things there, not on things here on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Your real life is Christ, and when He appears, then you too will appear with Him and share His glory:

Amen.