Bible – Bible Society of Zimbabwe

Easter, the cornerstone of the Christian faith, holds a profound significance for believers worldwide. Beyond its traditional observance, Easter offers a timeless message of hope, renewal, and redemption—a message that resonates deeply with every generation. In an era marked by uncertainty and rapid change, the timeless truths of Easter provide a steadfast anchor for young hearts seeking meaning and purpose.

In today’s fast-paced world, where digital distractions abound and societal norms constantly evolve, people often grapple with questions of identity, belonging, and purpose. Easter, with its celebration of Christ being raised from the dead, offers a totally cool story of how things change and get fresh again, a reminder of what really took place in Jerusalem that speaks directly to the challenges and aspirations of the current generation.

The Promise of a fresh start:

At the heart of Easter lies the promise of a fresh start, a promise fulfilled through the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ. As the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 5:8 (ESV), “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” The crucifixion of Jesus, foretold in the scriptures, serves as the ultimate expression of God’s boundless mercy and grace, offering you the gift of reconciliation and forgiveness. Easter’s message offers the promise of a fresh start and a renewed sense of purpose.

Hope Amidst Uncertainty:

In a world plagued by uncertainty and unrest, Easter offers a signal of hope. The resurrection of Jesus Christ reminds you that even in the darkest of times, there is light and life beyond the shadows. As you navigate the difficulties of modern life, the promise of Easter serves as a source of comfort and assurance, guiding you through moments of doubt and despair.
1 Peter 1:3 (ESV) : “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”

The Promise of Eternal Life:

Easter holds forth the promise of eternal life, a hope that surpasses the boundaries of time and space. Jesus declares in John 11:25-26 (ESV), “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?. Through His resurrection, Jesus offers the assurance of life beyond the grave, inviting you into a relationship marked by joy, peace, and everlasting fellowship with God.

The Call to Renewal:

Easter extends a timeless invitation to renewal, a call to embrace the life-changing power of Christ’s resurrection in your own life. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV), “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Just as Christ emerged from the tomb in glorious resurrection, you too are invited to cast off the shackles of sin and embrace the abundant life that comes through faith in Him.

Conclusion:

As you journey through the Easter season, may you pause to reflect on the profound truths found within the Word of God. May you embrace the promise of redemption, rejoice in the triumph of resurrection, and respond to the call to renewal with a heart full of faith and gratitude. And may the timeless message of Easter continue to inspire and uplift you, bringing you even closer to the love and grace of our Risen Savior.

1 From Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus and an apostle chosen and called by God to preach his Good News.

2 The Good News was promised long ago by God through his prophets, as written in the Holy Scriptures. 3 It is about his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ: as to his humanity, he was born a descendant of David; 4 as to his divine holiness, he was shown with great power to be the Son of God by being raised from death. 5 Through him God gave me the privilege of being an apostle for the sake of Christ, in order to lead people of all nations to believe and obey. 6 This also includes you who are in Rome, whom God has called to belong to Jesus Christ.

7 And so I write to all of you in Rome whom God loves and has called to be his own people:

May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because the whole world is hearing about your faith. 9 God is my witness that what I say is true—the God whom I serve with all my heart by preaching the Good News about his Son. God knows that I remember you 10 every time I pray. I ask that God in his good will may at last make it possible for me to visit you now. 11 For I want very much to see you, in order to share a spiritual blessing with you to make you strong. 12 What I mean is that both you and I will be helped at the same time, you by my faith and I by yours.

13 You must remember, my friends, that many times I have planned to visit you, but something has always kept me from doing so. I want to win converts among you also, as I have among other Gentiles. 14 For I have an obligation to all peoples, to the civilized and to the savage, to the educated and to the ignorant. 15 So then, I am eager to preach the Good News to you also who live in Rome.

The Power of the Gospel

16 I have complete confidence in the gospel; it is God's power to save all who believe, first the Jews and also the Gentiles. 17 For the gospel reveals how God puts people right with himself: it is through faith from beginning to end. As the scripture says, “The person who is put right with God through faith shall live.”

Human Guilt

18 God's anger is revealed from heaven against all the sin and evil of the people whose evil ways prevent the truth from being known. 19 God punishes them, because what can be known about God is plain to them, for God himself made it plain. 20 Ever since God created the world, his invisible qualities, both his eternal power and his divine nature, have been clearly seen; they are perceived in the things that God has made. So those people have no excuse at all! 21 They know God, but they do not give him the honor that belongs to him, nor do they thank him. Instead, their thoughts have become complete nonsense, and their empty minds are filled with darkness. 22 They say they are wise, but they are fools; 23 instead of worshiping the immortal God, they worship images made to look like mortals or birds or animals or reptiles.

24 And so God has given those people over to do the filthy things their hearts desire, and they do shameful things with each other. 25 They exchange the truth about God for a lie; they worship and serve what God has created instead of the Creator himself, who is to be praised forever! Amen.

26 Because they do this, God has given them over to shameful passions. Even the women pervert the natural use of their sex by unnatural acts. 27 In the same way the men give up natural sexual relations with women and burn with passion for each other. Men do shameful things with each other, and as a result they bring upon themselves the punishment they deserve for their wrongdoing.

28 Because those people refuse to keep in mind the true knowledge about God, he has given them over to corrupted minds, so that they do the things that they should not do. 29 They are filled with all kinds of wickedness, evil, greed, and vice; they are full of jealousy, murder, fighting, deceit, and malice. They gossip 30 and speak evil of one another; they are hateful to God, insolent, proud, and boastful; they think of more ways to do evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no conscience; they do not keep their promises, and they show no kindness or pity for others. 32 They know that God's law says that people who live in this way deserve death. Yet, not only do they continue to do these very things, but they even approve of others who do them.

1 Paul a seruant of Iesus Christ called to be an Apostle, put apart to preache the Gospel of God, 2 (Which he had promised afore by his Prophetes in the holy Scriptures) 3 Concerning his Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord (which was made of the seede of Dauid according to the flesh, 4 And declared mightily to be the Sonne of God, touching the Spirit of sanctification by the resurrection from the dead) 5 By whom we haue receiued grace and Apostleship (that obedience might be giuen vnto ye faith) for his Name among al ye Gentiles, 6 Among whom ye be also the called of Iesus Christ: 7 To all you that be at Rome beloued of God, called to be Saints: Grace be with you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Iesus Christ. 8 First I thanke my God through Iesus Christ for you all, because your faith is published throughout the whole world. 9 For God is my witnesse (whom I serue in my spirit in the Gospel of his Sonne) that without ceasing I make mention of you 10 Alwayes in my prayers, beseeching that by some meanes, one time or other I might haue a prosperous iourney by the will of God, to come vnto you. 11 For I long to see you, that I might bestowe among you some spirituall gift, that you might be strengthened: 12 That is, that I might be comforted together with you, through our mutuall faith, both yours and mine. 13 Now my brethren, I would that ye should not be ignorant, how that I haue oftentimes purposed to come vnto you (but haue bene let hitherto) that I might haue some fruite also among you, as I haue among the other Gentiles. 14 I am detter both to the Grecians, and to the Barbarians, both to the wise men and vnto the vnwise. 15 Therefore, as much as in me is, I am readie to preach ye Gospel to you also that are at Rome. 16 For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God vnto saluation to euery one that beleeueth, to the Iewe first, and also to the Grecian. 17 For by it the righteousnesse of God is reueiled from faith to faith: as it is written, The iust shall liue by faith. 18 For the wrath of God is reueiled from heauen against all vngodlinesse, and vnrighteousnesse of men, which withhold the trueth in vnrighteousnesse. 19 Forasmuch as that, which may be knowe of God, is manifest in them: for God hath shewed it vnto them. 20 For the inuisible things of him, that is, his eternal power and Godhead, are seene by ye creation of the worlde, being considered in his workes, to the intent that they should be without excuse: 21 Because that when they knewe God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankefull, but became vaine in their thoughtes, and their foolish heart was full of darkenesse. 22 When they professed themselues to be wise, they became fooles. 23 For they turned the glorie of the incorruptible God to the similitude of the image of a corruptible man, and of birdes, and foure footed beastes, and of creeping things. 24 Wherefore also God gaue them vp to their hearts lusts, vnto vncleannesse, to defile their owne bodies betweene themselues: 25 Which turned the trueth of God vnto a lie, and worshipped and serued the creature, forsaking the Creator, which is blessed for euer, Amen. 26 For this cause God gaue them vp vnto vile affections: for euen their women did change the naturall vse into that which is against nature. 27 And likewise also the men left the naturall vse of the woman, and burned in their lust one toward another, and man with man wrought filthinesse, and receiued in themselues such recompence of their errour, as was meete. 28 For as they regarded not to acknowledge God, euen so God deliuered them vp vnto a reprobate minde, to doe those things which are not conuenient, 29 Being full of all vnrighteousnesse, fornication, wickednes, couetousnes, maliciousnes, full of enuie, of murder, of debate, of deceit, taking all things in the euill part, whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, doers of wrong, proude, boasters, inuenters of euil things, disobedient to parents, without vnderstanding, couenant breakers, without naturall affection, such as can neuer be appeased, mercilesse. 31 Which men, though they knew ye Lawe of God, how that they which comit such things are worthie of death, yet not onely do the same, but also fauour them that doe them.

Romans 1