6--Life, Death, and Resurrection of Christ Jesus

The supreme sacrifice of the Creator should
make us realize how much He loves us.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." -– John 3:16


Note: This is probably the most well known verse in the Bible. How many people really understand it? How much has the life, death, and resurrection of the Son of God affected your life? Do you truly appreciate what God did for us in offering His son? We can only understand so much of the plan of salvation on this earth. The continual study of this subject will help us to grow more like our Saviour in character and life.

"Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, [there is] no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were [our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." (first part of Isaiah 53)

"He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither [was any] deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put [him] to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see [his] seed, he shall prolong [his] days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand He shall see of the travail of his soul, [and] shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him [a portion] with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." (last half of Isaiah 53)

Note: This chapter in the old testament is valuable to all of us. Christ’s sufferings and death were all predicted before He came to this earth. This and other messianic prophecies point to a Saviour to come. Only a few understood and accepted Him when He was here, but many have since then.

"For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:" – 1 Peter 2:21, 22


Note: Christ’s life was an example for us. He lived out the golden rule, the ten commandments, the fruit of the Spirit and every right principle coming from His Father in heaven.

"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also 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: But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and] become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man [came] death, by man [came] also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." – 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4, 20-22


Note: Without the life, death and resurrection of Jesus man has no hope for the future. Man can never save himself by his own works, but by letting Christ take complete control of His life, the Holy Spirit will work out the character of Christ in us. The sinful nature we inherited from Adam would mean eternal death, if Christ had not come to earth as our substitute.

"For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And [that] he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we [him] no more Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things [are] of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." – 2 Corinthians 5: 14-21

Note: All things are made new in Christ. Yet only as we are reconciled to God through Christ will we be changed back into His image.

"And declared [to be] the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:" -– Romans 1:4


Note: It is because of the resurrection of Christ, we can be born again. In other words, it isn’t just the resurrection in the last day we look forward to. But we can die to sin and be resurrected to walk in the newness of life, because His resurrection took place.

"Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." -– Romans 4:25


Note: We are told here Christ’s resurrection makes it possible for us to be justified. This means accounted worthy. His resurrection was as important to our salvation as His death.

"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." – Romans 8:3, 4


Note: The law can save no man, because it is impossible in our own strength to obey it. Christ obeyed it completely, and as we walk in His steps, through the power of the Spirit, the righteousness of the law will be fulfilled in us. This is not our own works but God working in us. We may try by our own works at times, but our works are as “filthy rags.” That’s why we must submit ourselves completely to Him daily.

"And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world." – 1 John 2:2


Note: Christ died to save all men, but not all men will accept the gift of salvation. God grieves over this, yet He will not force obedience. He wants a response of love from those He has created.

"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins." -- 1 John 4:10


Note: The only way we can learn to love God is to allow Him to work in us through His Spirit. This is only possible if we study the plan of salvation in His word, in both the old and new testaments. When we search for Him as for hidden treasure we will find this “pearl of great price.” The Spirit is constantly trying to woo and win men.

"[And] having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it." -– Colossians 2:15


Note: His triumph over death was a victory gained in the battle with Satan. A way was made open for man’s salvation in His life, death and resurrection. Now we can look forward to our resurrection.

"Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth; And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father." – Philippians 2:6-11


Note: By lowering Himself in coming to this earth–living, dying here– the Son of God gained a more exalted position in heaven. In other words, He proved God’s love to the universe and angels, so they were glad to honor Him as their King of kings and Lord of lords. No longer will Lucifer’s insinuations cause doubt anywhere in the universe about God’s love for His creatures.

CONCLUSION:

We have a God who has proven His love by sending His Son to earth. His example for life, His death for our sins, and His resurrection show us He is in earnest to save us to the uttermost.