An Easter Message
International Chairman of
Forward in Faith

What separates us from God is sin and the fall. The fact is that human beings have generally moved away from God's purpose and frequently make wrong decisions. This is the painful reality of being a human being. Very often we find ourselves living around an endless series of regrets. `If only' is a slogan that could be written on our tombstones.

The fact that we are fallen is not the end of the story for God sends his Son to enter into our life. Jesus is fully human like you and like me. Like us he was tempted. Unlike us he did not succumb to temptation. Jesus takes our flesh to the Cross and we human beings do our worst. We cast him out, destroy him and yet when all seems totally lost the miracle happens. The dead Christ rises. He takes on the very worst humanity can do and is victorious over it. Now if that were the end of the story, you and I could simply look at it and wonder. God is not showing us that he is stronger than we are. It is not the end of the story. Jesus has founded a Church. He sends it out into the world and lie instructs it to baptise all nations and make them his disciples. We human beings enter into anew relationship with our heavenly father in Jesus. The Resurrection is not something that simply happened out there; rather the consequences of the Resurrection are to be worked out in you and in me. We receive the risen Lord every time we go to Communion. We hear the risen Lord every time we hear or read the Scriptures or listen to a Sermon. We meet the risen Lord in each other. Christianity is about a Resurrection that is given as a free gift by God to each one of us. It turns the problems, the worries, and even the despair of life into hope. Christians face the reality of their lives with hope and with joy for the Lord is truly Risen and we are risen in Him.

Bishop John Broadhurst
International Chairman of FiF