When Adam sinned in the Garden, a battle began! The enmity (Genesis 3:15) declared by God was now active in their bodies and evident in their children, Cain and Abel. The enmity created division, not only between the Godly and ungodly, but also in the moral battle between the ‘flesh and the spirit’ within the mind of each one of us, Galatians 5:17; Romans 8:5-7.
The apostle Paul highlights the severity of this battle within the body in Romans 7:15-25. His explanation of the inner turmoil we face, emphasizes the conflict between the carnal desires and the spiritual mind. He acknowledges that often the flesh makes us do things we don’t want. Earlier, in Romans 6:12, he compared sin to a King ruling over our bodies.
The process that leads to sin is revealed quite well in James 1:13-15 where we are reminded about human lust which can develop and lead to temptation, then without being controlled can result in sin. The principle that all of us sin is established by God, Ezekiel 18:4,20.
So, based on the immutable truth, that “God cannot lie”, (Titus 1:2) when Jesus was crucified without having sinned, it was necessary that Jesus be restored to life again. Peter says: “God raised him up again, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its (deaths) power”, Acts 2:24. However, for the rest of mankind, all are deserving of death for “all have sinned”! Romans 3:23
So, what did the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ accomplish? Jesus had the same struggle with the enmity between the flesh and the spirit. But, only Jesus had succeeded by conquering his fleshly (human) tendancies and thereby destroyed the power of sin in himself! Hebrews 2:14. IE ‘he himself, also, likewise, and the same’, all underscore the fact that Jesus was susceptible to temptations in the same way as the rest of us and as is common to all humans. Once he died on the cross, His victory freed him from the force of temptation and allowed him to live unto God, Romans 6:10,11.
If all sinners will die, how then is it possible for God to give them life? How can God break his own principle and offer forgiveness to anyone other than Jesus? We thank Jesus, that by his victory and our connection to him through baptism, our sins are forgiven and we can be restored to favor with God.
All our studies thus far have been a consideration of how man can be reconciled to God, 2 Corinthians 5:19. Sinless Jesus has become the ‘propitiation’ or the means of human salvation, Romans 3:23-26 & 1John 2:2. The whole plan of God, from Genesis to Revelation, is centered around the teaching about the Messiah. Without Jesus there is no forgiveness of sins!
To understand this further, in order for Jesus to fulfill the role of ‘Savior’, Genesis 3:15, it was necessary that he was a ‘willing sacrifice’. His sacrifice was not just his dying, but also his willingness to be offered for us. His death on the cross represents sin being put to death for all men. He even takes it further: for those who sin, he has become and advocate on our behalf to God, 1 John 2:1. He was not forced to do this, but willingly offered himself because he loved his Father and his fellow man! Through baptism into Jesus Christ, a believer is transferred from “having no hope and without God in the world”, to being brought near by the blood of Christ” Ephesians 2:12,13. All who come to God must come through Jesus Christ, as in Acts 4:12
The crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the son of God was brutal. Many of his enemies / accusers came to witness the end of this wonderful man!
In the effort to totally silence Jesus, his accusers were worried and went to Pilate to ask that he seal the tomb and set a guard (Matthew 27:65). Thus, Jesus was entombed, but the testimony is that he remained in the grave for only three days and nights, and fulfilled the sign given by the prophet as quoted in Matthew 12:40. We know this was not the end of Jesus! On ‘the first day of the week’, Jesus was resurrected to life. This was not just a spirit, or a soul rising up to God, but the physical body of Jesus stood up in a resurrection to life again! Witnesses were able to see him. The disciples and over five hundred others, were able to see and touch him, Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:6.
The Christian hope is based upon the fact that Jesus Christ will return to the earth! This is confirmed in Matthew 16:27; John 14:3; Revelation 22:12,20. His return will not be to ‘die again’ for the sins of the people. He did that “once for all”. Rather, when he comes again it will be with ‘judgement’ Acts 17:31; 1 Thessalonians 1:7-10.