Thank you, fellas, for the great song at the beginning and then these ladies singing and so grateful for people that are helping us put on the services here at Calvary to try to minister to the hearts of our community, our church family and those around the world. Well, turn to your Bibles to Mark, the Gospel of Mark, chapter number 16. The Gospel of Mark, chapter number 16. I want us to begin to look in our Bibles this morning. If you don't have a Bible, the text verses will be coming up on your screen where you can follow along with us. And I want us to begin reading this morning in verse number 1, Mark chapter 16 and verse number 1. The Bible says, And when the Sabbath was passed, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome had bought sweet spices that they might come and anoint Him. And very early in the morning, the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun." I mean the rays of the sun had just peaked over the horizon. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away, for it was very great. And entering into the sepulcher, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment, and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted. Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which is crucified. He is risen. He is not here. Behold the place where they laid him. Well, we've been preaching on the great words of the Bible. Several weeks ago we preached on the sweetest word of the Bible, the word grace. Aren't you glad for the grace of God? For by grace are you saved through faith. That not of yourselves, it's a gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast. We talked then about the costliest word in the Bible, the word redemption. Boy, aren't you glad that God redeemed us from sin and hell. And then we looked last Sunday at the most agonizing word in the Bible, and that's the word cross. We talked about His cross. This morning I want to share with you the most joyful word in the Bible. We find it in the middle part of verse number 6. It's the word risen. Look at the phrase. The Bible said, He is risen. You know, we ought to rejoice today. Here the angel said, He is risen. Hey, the most joyful word in all of the Bible is the fact that the Son of God is risen from the dead. Aren't you glad that He's not dead, but that He's alive in John 16? In verse number 22, you don't have to turn there. It was the night before the crucifixion. And the Lord was speaking to the disciples, and He had told them that He was going away, and sorrow had begun to fill their heart. Here's what He said to them, and He said, That word sorrow means a deep sorrow, a great sorrow of the heart. It's a sorrow of loss and grief and pain. But He says this, listen, He said, And now therefore you have sorrow, but I will see you again. Hey, I'm going away, but I'm coming back. I'm going to die, but I'm going to rise. And your heart shall rejoice. and your joy no man taketh from you." Friend, aren't you glad that Jesus Christ is risen and joy can fill our hearts this morning? You see, I want to share with you several reasons, several great truths that's bound up and wrapped up in this word, risen. You see, Christianity begins where all other religions end, in a tomb. But friend, listen, it's just not any kind of tomb. It's an empty tomb. Amen? I want you to notice, if you would please, as we talk about some of these great truths that relates to the most joyful word in the Bible, this word risen. that it was a physical resurrection. It is physical in nature. You see, Jesus didn't just come out of the grave as a spirit. No, He bodily arose from the dead. When you think about that word risen, it reminds us that Jesus rose from the dead in a real, literal, actual, physical body. You see, His substitutionary death on the cross would give way to a victorious resurrection from the dead. Friend, we can report with joy in our hearts today, Jesus is alive. The body of the Lord Jesus laid down in death for the sins of the world three days later was raised up in life so that He could give eternal life to all who would receive Him. We say, preacher, how in the world did they know that it was the Lord? How did they know that it was really Him? How did they know that it was a real body? Well, the Bible says in Acts chapter 1 verse number 3 that he showed himself alive by many infallible proves. He proved to them that he was alive. I want you to turn over to a companion gospel and a companion passage. Look at Luke chapter number 24. Luke expands on the resurrection appearances of the Lord Jesus, and it's here that the Lord begins to not only show Himself alive, but He proves that He's alive. He uses the five senses, the body's faculty of perception by which that we relate to the world around us, the five senses of hearing, and seeing, and touching, and tasting, and smelling. And I know something is tangible. I know it's real because I can hear it, or I can see it, or I can touch it, or I can taste it, or I can smell it. And we're going to find that the Lord Jesus, through the natural ways that we know that something is real and actual, showed Himself alive to His disciples that in their minds, There was no doubt about it. Matter of fact, every one of them except John, who suffered greatly on the Isle of Patmos, would seal the testimony of the risen Christ in their own blood. They would say, friend, He is alive. Somebody said that men will not die for what they know to be a lie. Listen, if these men had falsified, if they had made something up, if they had created some kind of fanciful legend, somebody along the way in their horrific deaths would have said, hey, wait a minute, we made all this up. But friend, they didn't. They knew proof positive that Jesus Christ is a lie. You say, preacher, how did they know that? Notice with me if you would in Luke chapter number 24 and find if you would verse number 36. And as they thus spake, here's a meeting of the disciples in the upper room. And as they thus spake, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them. He appeared unto them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. They thought they were seeing a ghost. Verse 38, And He said unto them, Why are you troubled? And why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Now look at verse number 39. Behold. That word behold means to gaze. It means to look upon. It means to see with perception and understanding. He said, behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. He said, look at Me. I'm real. I'm alive. And friend, listen, as they gathered behind those closed doors, they looked upon the Lord Jesus Christ, and they saw Him, and they examined Him, and they said, He is alive, and the fear turned to joy, and thank God, He's risen. Amen? They heard Him. Notice that the Bible says in verse number 36, He spoke to them. He said, Peace be unto you. They heard Him. They're gathered behind these closed doors in the upper room and suddenly Jesus materializes before them. And listen, not one of the eleven disciples ever expected to see Jesus again. And He spoke to them. They heard Him. They saw Him. He said, Behold, and see that it is I Myself. And then they touched Him. They touched Him. And notice verse 40, And when He had thus spoken, He showed them His hands and His feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, there's our Word, and wondered, He said to them, Have you here any meat? As a matter of fact, He said, Feel me. His body still bore the prints of Calvary. Proof positive of who He was. And friend, listen. Thomas, who was absent from this group of men, later would appear at a different time in the upper room, and John, the gospel writer, records this event. And Thomas, when he was told by the other disciples that they had seen and touched and handled and heard the Son of God, he said, I'm not going to believe it. He said, unless I can take my finger and put it in the nail prints, unless I can take my hand and thrust it into his side, I won't believe. And about that time the Lord appeared and He looked at Thomas and He said, Thomas, reach hither thy finger and stick it into the nail prints. Take your hand and thrust it into my side. It's me, Thomas. And Thomas kneeled and fell on his face before God and he said, My Lord and my God. Friend, listen, he recognized that he's alive. Notice here in verse number 44, they ate with him. You see the senses of taste and smell go together. And I want you to notice in verse number 42, And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish and of a honeycomb, and he took it, now watch this, and did eat before them. Had Jesus arose in some type of spiritual body, He couldn't have ate. He couldn't have ingested and taken food. For Jesus didn't rise in some kind of spiritual body. Oh no, it was a real body. It was an actual body. It was a physical body. It was a glorified body. And they could see Him and hear Him and touch Him and watch Him. as He took food and placed it into His mouth and ate that food, determining to show before them that the one who had died on a cross and had been laid in a tomb was now alive forevermore. Friend, listen, the most joyful word in the Bible, He is risen. There it is. There it is. The apostle John writing some 60 years later reflected on that day. And here's what he said. I John chapter 1 and verse 1. You don't have to turn there, just jot it down. That which was from the beginning. Talking about the beginning of the Lord's life on earth. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and watch this, our hands have handled of the word of life. You know what John said? We've heard him. We've seen Him. We've looked upon Him. We've touched Him. He's real and He's alive. Friend, can I tell you on this Easter morning some two thousand years later, the one that died on the cross and was buried is now alive. And friend, He's still alive. There's a man enthroned yonder in glory, the God-man, the Lord Jesus Christ. And when we look upon Him, friend, we'll know Him by the nail prints in His hand. The thorn prints in his brow. Friend, the riven side where the spear had went into his side. Friend, we'll know Him when we look upon Him by the wounds that He bears. The marks of Calvary. An eternal reminder that the debt of sin has been paid. That salvation is available to all men. Friend, that He that was dead is alive again. The empty cross and the empty tomb are God's receipts that our sins are paid in full. Friend, if you ever wonder whether or not sin's been paid for, you just look at an empty cross and an empty tomb. I'm glad, friend. I don't walk around with a cross with a dead Jesus hanging on it. He's not on a cross and He's not in a tomb. Friend, He's alive. He's enshrined yonder in glory. Then I want you to notice not only was it physical in nature, but it was publicly witnessed. It was publicly witnessed. Notice it's public witness. I want you to look with me, if you would, in 1 Corinthians chapter number 15. It's one of the great resurrection chapters of the Bible. And here Paul's writing of the gospel of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And it's interesting what he says. Look, if you would, 1 Corinthians chapter number 15. And I want you to look with me please in verse number 5. Let's begin reading in verse 3. He said, For I delivered unto you, this is the gospel, first of all, that which also I received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. Now watch what the Bible says in verse number 5, and that he was seen of Cephas, that's Peter, then of the twelve. Look at verse 6, and after that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remained unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. Look at verse 7, and after that, he was seen of James, that's the Lord's brother. Then all of the apostles, look at verse 8, and last of all, he was seen. I underline that in my Bible. He was seen. He was seen. He was seen. Friend, listen, this wasn't hidden. It was public. It was there. Hey, they saw him. That's an eyewitness account of the resurrected Christ. And Paul lists those people who had personal knowledge of the resurrection that had seen the living Christ. Do you know that the New Testament records in some 15 different occasions in which the living Christ visibly presented Himself to human eyes? Five appearances were on the first Easter Sunday. The Lord Jesus made another five appearances in the 40 days between His resurrection and His ascension. He was seen at one time by 500 different people who some of them were still alive and could continue to give eyewitness testimony that they had seen the risen Christ. The last five appearances came within 60 years of the resurrection itself. On different occasions he appeared to Stephen, the apostle John on the Isle of Patmos, and Paul saw him. You see, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is not a myth, it's not a legend, it's not a fanciful fable, but an actual, factual, historical event. Friend, I'm here to tell you the most joyful word on the Bible. He is risen. He was seen. And friend, one day I'm going to see Him face to face. Isn't that a wonderful truth? But there's one other testimony and public witness. And you say, Preacher, what witness is that? It's a silent witness. A silent witness? A witness that you can't hear? Absolutely. Can't talk. Matter of fact, you can't hear it. You say, Preacher, what's that witness? It's called the witness of the empty tomb. Do you realize that there's one thing that no one disputes either then or now? On that Easter Sunday morning, the tomb was empty. When the women went to the tomb, when they went back and told the disciples and they came to the tomb, it was the witness of the soldiers that saw the angel and experienced the earthquake and the stone rolled away and ran back into the city. Every one of them gave the same witness. And preacher, what was it? The tomb is empty. And friend, can I tell you today that tomb is still empty. Isn't that a blessing? At least five people who went to the tomb that day confirmed that the body of Jesus was gone. And there's never been a single person to deny that that tomb was empty. The Pharisees didn't deny it, who were the arch enemies of the Son of God. Do you realize that they hated Jesus? They were the reason He was crucified, them along with the Sadducees. Do you realize that if they had somehow stolen the body of Jesus, if they had somehow done something with the body of Jesus, had the body of Jesus, or if they knew that He was still in that tomb, friend, do you not think they would have produced that body and ended this matter of Christianity right then and there? But they didn't do it. You know why? Because the tomb was empty. Pilate, who had Him crucified, didn't produce a body. The soldiers who were present that day did not produce a body. There are some that claim that the disciples who were so filled with fear overpowered the guards and rolled that stone away and stole the body of Jesus. What's amazing, they left the grave close, but they took the body. Isn't that an amazing thing? But you know what? Every one of them sealed their testimony in their own blood that the tomb was empty. Do you realize that all Satan would have to do to end Christianity today is produce a body? That's all he'd have to do. All anyone would have to do to silence the Bible and destroy the Christian faith is to produce the body of Jesus, and nobody's been able to do it in over 2,000 years. And you say, preacher, why? Because it's not there. The pyramids of ancient Egypt are famous because they contain the mummified remains of the Egyptian pharaohs. I enjoy watching the history of Egypt and they go in and they excavate these tombs and they find these caskets of these ancient Egyptian pharaohs and they talk about that. That's interesting. Do you know that Muhammad's tomb is noted for its stone coffin and the bones it contains? And there will be literally millions of Muslims that will take a trip to Mecca and they will march around the tomb of Muhammad. Do you know in Westminster Abbey in London, one of the highlights of my missionary travels of preaching in foreign countries, I was able to go to London and I went into the famed Westminster Abbey and I saw the tombs of the different kings and queens of England and the great men and women of English history and actually looked up and saw the tomb of Sir Isaac Newton, a great Christian scientist. It was an amazing place. Another moving time was when I went to Arlington National Cemetery in Washington DC and some of America's most notable heroes are buried in that place, in that honored resting place. But you know what? There's all the difference in the world between those tombs and the tomb of Jesus Christ. You say, Preacher, what is it? You see, people travel from all over to visit these different places I've mentioned. The pyramids, Muhammad's tomb, Westminster Abbey in England, the Arlington National Cemetery. You know, they go for what's there. But do you know Christians from all over the world travel to Jerusalem to a garden tomb outside of the city? They don't travel there because of what's there. They travel there because of what's not there. Friend, listen, above that tomb is the words inscribed, He is not here. He is risen. Praise God! There's a living Savior today. The most joyful word in all the Bible. It's physical in nature. It's public witness. Friend, listen. Thirdly, I want you to see its powerful outcome. That word, risen. Friend, it's physical nature. It's public witness. It's powerful outcome. You say, Preacher, what is the outcome of that word risen? Well, I believe there are several blessings that come to us a result of Jesus coming forth from the grave from that word risen. And you say, Preacher, what is it? Number one, get this, jot it down. Our faith cannot be destroyed. Look at verse number 14 of 1 Corinthians 15. And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain." Do you realize that that word vain means empty? It means meaningless. It means futile. It means foolish. Do you know it would be foolish to trust a dead Jesus in a tomb? But friend, he's not in a tomb. He's seated on the right hand of the Father. Friend, he's seated on a throne. Thank God. Listen, he's alive. Friend, listen, it's foolish. Somebody would say, well preacher, it's foolish to believe in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Friend, listen, it's foolish not to believe that He's alive. How do I know that Jesus is the Son of God? How do I know that He can save me? How do I know the Bible's true? Well, there's one fundamental difference between Jesus Christ and the founders of all other religions. You say, Preacher, what is it? They lived, they died, and they're dead. But friend, do you realize when Jesus Christ came forth from the grave, He validated and verified everything He said, everything He did. Friend, He lived, He died, and He's alive. Isn't that a blessing today? Romans 1-4, he was declared to be the son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead. Friend, the good news of Christianity is today that we're not worshiping a dead founder in a tomb. We're worshiping a living Lord seated in heaven, enthroned in glory, who's coming again. Friend, I'm here to tell you today He's risen! He's not there. He's alive. Amen? The next blessing is our forgiveness cannot be denied. Notice, if you would please, in verse number 17. And if Christ be not raised, if Jesus was still in the tomb, Paul says, your faith is vain, ye are yet in your sins. Do you realize if Jesus is still in the tomb? If there's no resurrection, then I don't have a Savior. If there's no Savior, then we don't have any forgiveness. And if there's no forgiveness, we don't have any hope of heaven after this life. We're still in our sins and destined for an eternity apart from God in a place called hell. But thank God the tomb's empty this morning. Now is Christ risen from the dead. Isn't that a blessing? Friend, look at verse number 20. But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the firstfruits of them that slept. That's why in Acts 13, 39, Paul said, through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins. That's why in Romans chapter 4 and verse number 25, the Bible said He was delivered for our offenses and was raised again for our justification. The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is proof positive that God accepted the payment that Christ made for our sins. You see, the resurrection is the Father's amen to the sons. It is finished on the cross. What's the blessing, preacher? What's the powerful outcome of the fact that He's risen today? Our faith cannot be destroyed. Our forgiveness cannot be denied. Friend, because He died and He arose and, friend, He forgave me, I stand redeemed and forgiven and justified today in the sight of God. Hey, friend, there's joy in knowing that He's alive. Here's the next blessing. Our future cannot end in death. What a blessing. You say, preacher, what does our future look like? Friend, it's bright. It's bright. You say, oh preacher, it's so dismal. Friend, listen, I want to help you to look beyond that today and realize that as a child of God that your and my future is as bright as the promises of God. Because He's alive today, my future and your future, dear child of God, cannot end in death. Notice, if you would, verse number 18. If Christ be not raised, then they also which are fallen asleep, that have died in Christ, are perished. If Jesus is still in the tomb, then our loved ones are in the tomb. Look at verse 19. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. Do you know the most miserable people in the world are those who know not the Savior? Did you know that? Look at verse 20, "...but now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept." You see friend, if Christ is dead and He's in a tomb, then my loved ones and your loved ones who have died in the Lord, they're dead and they're gone and we'll never see them again. They're in the grave and that's the end of it. If Christ is still in the tomb, then death is the end of it all. But I've got good news for you, friend. Christ's resurrection. He's not in the tomb. He's alive. Verse 20. He's risen from the dead. And His resurrection assures me of my resurrection. The whole rest of the book, the chapter of 15 in 1 Corinthians, talks about my resurrection. Hey, friend, listen. Our loved one's resurrection. The good news is, friend, that because He lived, we can live also. Isn't that a blessing? I just want to go on record and say my future's not a hole in the ground, but a home in glory. Isn't that good to know? You say, Preacher, I've recently lost somebody that I love that was saved. I've got good news for you. They're not in the ground. They're in glory. We can rejoice in that today. You know, one day there's going to be a great resurrection. The Bible, that's what I Corinthians 15 is really all about anyway. It's about the resurrection of the believer because of the death of Christ and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. and reminds us that because He's alive and He's promised our resurrection and that we're going to spend eternity with Him. And friend, one day there's going to be a great getting up day for the people of God. Did you know that? The Lord's going to come and my grandfather who I saved because of his preaching, he's in heaven right now. Many of you have loved ones in heaven. People that I pastored through the years that they went home to be with the Lord. Do you realize when the Lord comes, they're coming with Him? Their body's in the grave, but they're with the Savior. He's going to come and friend, one day all the graves are going to burst open and those that have died in the Lord Jesus, that body is going to come up out of the grave and it's going to be a new body. It's going to be a body that's incorruptible. It's going to be a body that's powerful, a body that lives forever. And friend, that soul is going to be reunited with that body. You realize when Jesus comes, those who are saved on the earth and alive, they're going to be changed. Friend, together we're going to be called up together to meet the Lord in the air. And watch this. The Bible says, so shall we ever be with the Lord. Isn't that a wonderful truth? I thought about that family reunion day on the hillsides of glory. Back when my family, we're from the mountains of North Carolina originally, and when we'd have family reunions when I was a boy, we would go up to a place in the globe and it was beautiful. I mean, creek running through it, little white country church, big old white, I mean, excuse me, big old grassy hillside, and we'd have outdoor family reunion and all of that at that place. And I'll tell you, just take your breath away. Can I just tell you, that was a great family reunion, but that is nothing compared to the family reunion in heaven. You know somebody, they thought about this and you realize it's going to be the largest family reunion that's ever taken place. You ever thought about that? The saved of all ages are going to be there on the seal sides of glory. Secondly, not only is it the largest family reunion, it's the loudest family reunion. Families get together. There's such a roar there as they enjoy. I can't wait to get back together with my family. I can't wait to be back with our church family. I can't wait for the roar of fellowship that takes place in the foyer out here of our churches. Hundreds of people Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night gather and love each other and worship God and serve Him. I can't wait for that day to take place. But friend, I'm going to tell you, I'm looking forward to that day when we're on the other side And friend, we shout hallelujah around the throne of God. And friend, listen, a family reunion of loved ones that have gone on before. And listen, faith becomes sight and we see the risen Lord. And friend, can you imagine the hallelujah in that day? I tell you what, an emoji is not going to get it done then. Amen. And it's going to be the longest family reunion in history. You say, Preacher, the longest? Yeah. There was a time that the dinner was finished, the fellowship was over at our family reunion. We'd pack everything up and we'd ride home. But you know what? We'd get over on the other side. Friend, that's going to last forever. It's never going to end. Isn't that an amazing thing? I can't wait for that day. What about you? You see, the good news is the fact that He's risen. I'm talking about what we can rejoice in today. It's powerful in its outcome. We have a faith that cannot be destroyed. We have a forgiveness that cannot be denied. Do you realize that nobody can lay a charge, a crime at God's elect, those who know Him? Friend, do you realize that once God has justified us and forgiven us, the devil, he can try to remind us of our past? When he does that, friend, you just remind him you're forgiven and show him his future at the end of the Bible. We have a future that cannot end in death. And then lastly, we have a force that cannot be defeated. A force that cannot be defeated. You see, the great truth of Easter is not just that Jesus lives, but that He lives in me. If you're saved today, He lives in you. He's a conquering force in my daily life. I can overcome in life because He overcame in death. He can enable me to be the person He wants me to be. I'm so glad I don't have to be what I used to be. I'm glad I'm something different in Him. Aren't you? You see, I hear this all the time. Preacher, if I get saved, I'm afraid I won't be able to live it. I remember there was a young man I was witnessing to. We grew up together and I can remember his tears dripped down out of his eyes. He said, Kevin, I'm just afraid. If I do what you're telling me, I believe on Jesus, I just know what I am. He said, I'm just afraid I won't be able to live it. I looked at him and I said, what you're telling me is you don't want to be a hypocrite, right? He said, that's it. I don't want to be hypocritical. I know people that claim one thing. I don't want to be that kind of person. I looked at him. I said, I won't call his name. I said, Thank you for your honesty. I said, Can I share a truth with you? The reality of it is you can't live it until first of all you're saved. You see, living it is not what makes us saved. It's not a matter of living it in order to be saved. It's a matter of being saved and letting Him live through us. Friend, I can't live it. And the truth is, you can't live it. But He can live the Christian life through us as we yield our lives to Him. He can enable us to overcome in life. Friend, if you're afraid you can't live it today, thank you for your honesty. But here's the truth of it. You'll never be able to live it without Him. If you'll come to Jesus Christ today and you'll trust Him by faith, I promise you He'll live it through you and He'll change your life and you'll never be the same again. Isn't that a wonderful truth today? That's my testimony and that can be your testimony. There was a Muslim in Africa, to the amazement of his friends, became a Christian. Some of his friends asked him, he said, Why have you done such a thing? He answered, he said, Well, it's like this. Suppose you were going down the road and suddenly the road forked in two directions. You didn't know which way to go, and there at the fork were two men, one dead and one alive. Which one would you ask to show you the way? Friend, can I tell you it doesn't matter at that fork in the road whether it's Muhammad or Buddha or the Pope or any other human being. Can I tell you, friend, the reality of it is that one day if they've not died, they're going to die and they'll still be dead, but the other fork in the road is a living Savior and His name is Jesus and He's shown us the way. It's He's the way, He's the truth, He's the life. A preacher of yesteryear was stricken with a debilitating disease that took his voice and eventually it would take his life. On Easter Sunday, the day of the resurrection, his daughter came for a visit. As she entered the home and hugged her daddy, he took down a slate and he wrote the words, "'He is risen!' with an exclamation mark. Tears began to fill his daughter's eyes. as he looked at his daughter and she was weeping because at one time he sang and preached and witnessed to the resurrection, but now he had no voice and all he could do was write it on that slate, the words, He is risen. He took that slate again and here's what he wrote. He said, It's sad to want to say, He is risen, and have no voice to say it. It is sadder still to have a voice and not want to say it. Wow! The most joyful word in the Bible. Risen. I serve a risen Savior. He's in the world today. I know that He is living, whatever men may say. I see His head of mercy. I hear His voice of cheer. And just the time I need Him, He's always near. He lives. He lives. Christ Jesus lives today. He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way. He lives. He lives. Salvation to impart. You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart. Friend, He can live in your heart this Easter Sunday. You can know the most joyful word in the Bible risen by trusting Jesus Christ. as your personal Savior. As you're watching right now, you may say to me, Preacher, if I died right now, I don't know where I'd go. I don't know that I have eternal life. I don't know that my sins are forgiven. I don't know that I'd go to heaven. I've got good news for you. The risen Savior wants to be your Savior. You can be saved today, right now, as you listen to me, whether it's in your living room, at your kitchen table, in your bedroom, maybe sitting out on your back porch, you can make an altar right where you are. If you realize you're a sinner and you can't save yourself, that friend, not a mount of good works, being baptized, joining this church, quitting bad things, start doing good things, not one of those things will take you to heaven. But Jesus Christ died for your sins. He was buried. He rose again and He said, I'm the way to heaven. When the disciples asked how to get to heaven, the way, He said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but by Me. Friend, when we come through Jesus Christ, We have forgiveness of sins and eternal life. And you can come to Him today. He said if you come to Him, He won't turn you away. You say, Preacher, you don't know how bad I've been. You don't know what I've done. You don't know what my past is like. Friend, I don't know, but God does. And here's what He said. He said, If any man comes to me, I'll know why I cast him out. I won't turn him away. I won't say no. Friend, if you'll come today understanding you're a sinner, You can't save yourself but you believe Jesus died for your sins, was buried and rose again. You can be saved right now. Would you like to call on the Lord for salvation? Would you like to by faith believe on the Lord and ask Him to save you and forgive you of your sins this Easter Sunday? You can do that by following along with me this simple prayer. Don't pray it to me. You pray this prayer to the Lord voicing the faith and the desire of your heart to be saved, to be a Christian. Here it is. You ready? Dear Lord Jesus, I know I'm a sinner. And if I die, I won't go to heaven. But I believe you died for my sins and rose again. I right now ask you, Jesus, to save me. Come into my heart. Forgive me of my sins. Take me to heaven. Thank you. Do you realize if you prayed that prayer out of a heart believing on Christ, He saved you? The Bible said, Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Friend, God can't lie. And if you called on Him to save you like I did over 35 years ago, friend, He saved you right now. Your sins are forgiven. Heaven's your home. The risen Christ lives in you. What a joyful truth. If you believed on the Lord, we'd like to know that. There's going to be a little text number going to come up on your screen. You can text that to us. You can go on our website, email us. You can give us a call. We want to help you grow in your faith. He wasn't ashamed of you. It was public. Don't be ashamed of Him. Let us know so we can help you in your new faith in the Lord Jesus. I'm glad the day I was saved I wasn't ashamed. You don't have to be. Friend, you can rejoice in Him today. With heads bowed and eyes closed in your living room, maybe today you just need to bow your head, Christian, and say,