D-Life, Death, and Life Hereafter-4

D – LIFE, DEATH, AND LIFE HEREAFTER – 4

Taken from Sword and Staff by

James Gibbons

III Christ, the Answer to it All

Death Abolished, Life

And Immortality Brought to Light

Now comes the answer.  The New Testament constitutes the climax of mankind’s long and agonizing experience with death, an experience somewhat mollified at times by a lingering hope and anticipation, finally bringing Genesis 3:15 and all of the O.T. Scriptures to the most wonderful conclusion.  The questions about life, death, and life hereafter are finally and affirmatively answered in Jesus Christ.  The four gospel accounts specifically tell us the wonder of it all.

Almost like making a summary statement, 2 Tim.1:10 says the Christ hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.  Gal.4:4 states, But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of woman… (Lk.2:1-20 pinpoints the exact time when this took place.)  The “seed” of woman (Gen.3:15) ultimately implied a virgin birth and now it had come to pass.  God became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ (Being “Emmanuel”, God with us.  Matt.1:23)

In doing this, He was God Incarnate, For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.  Col.2:9   At the same time, He was truly human.  Not only was He the “Son of God”, He was the son of man. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.  Heb.2:14,15 It was in the eternal plan of things that He (Christ) by the grace of God should taste death for every man.  Heb.2:9   Then in His resurrection He conquered death, becoming the firstfruits of them that slept ( 1 Cor.15:20) never to die again.  Jesus said to His disciples, Because I live, ye shall live also.   Jhn.14:19

He Shall Save

His People from Their Sins

What the angel had said to Joseph, looking forward to the coming birth of Christ, explained His mission on earth, And she (Mary) shall bring forth a son and thou shall call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins. Matt.1:21   Death is interwoven with sin. Gen.2:17; Rom.6:23   In the flesh as a man Jesus lived a sinless life, hitting the sin problem head-on, thus nipping the cause of death in the bud.  Therefore, we could be redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.  1 Pet.1:19

He could take our place, so to speak.  The apostle Paul states that He was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.   Rom.4:25    Consequently, we read, For He (God) hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.  2 Cor.5:21    Thus, we can cry out with the apostle Paul in jubilation,   O death, where is thy sting?  O grave, where is thy victory?  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  1 Cor.15:55-57

Miracles, Climaxing in

His Resurrection from the Dead

While here Christ did many miraculous things, establishing His identity as deity (after His first 30 years of relative obscurity wherein He partook of life in every respect as a human being).  These miracles showed His absolute control over nature, diseases and the spirit world.  Among these miracles were three resurrections from the dead.  There was the resurrection of Jarius’ daughter (Lk.8:41,42, Lk.8:49,55,56) that of the poor widow of Nain’s son (Lk.7:12,14-16) and His dear friend Lazarus (Jhn.11:14,43,44).

Although these were temporal resurrections, they all anticipated His own eternal resurrection from the dead (finally and actually climaxing in that resurrection).  Looking forward to that event, Jesus said, I lay down My life for the sheep.  He went on to say, No man taketh it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself.  I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again…Jhn.10:15-18

In connection with the resurrection of Lazarus, Jesus said these monumental words to Martha, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me though he were dead, yet shall he live; And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die.  Believest thou this?  Jhn.11:25,26

Then nearing the end of John’s captivating gospel account, He gives these summarizing words as to his intent in writing, And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book.  But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye might have life through His name.  Jhn.20:30,31