The Death Of Jesus Christ
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 10/10/2010 AM |
Text: | Galatians 3; Lord's Day 15 |
Psalters: | 139, 321, 91, 29 |
- The death.
- What is physical death and what is the meaning of the grave and the burial of the body?
- Experientially death is the complete dissolution or end of our earthly existence.
- And the grave seals it, indicating that there is no return.
- Death is NOT a normal process, but a violent intervention of God as punishment.
- Jesus voluntarily (obediently) died – a most unique feature of His death.
- Jesus willingly obeyed (Phil. 2:8b); He performed the act of dying.
- As an act of perfect obedience in the love of God, He accepted God’s just judgment against sin (John 10:18).
- The extent of the death of the Son of God.
- The death of the Son of God was a crucifixion, which meant that He was cursed of God.
- Jesus burial was necessary because the grave is a part of the whole experience of death.
- Jesus was buried to show that He experienced and conquered every part of death.
- Because Jesus had finished the payment for sin, His body saw no corruption or decay in the grave (Ps. 16:10).
- Jesus’ descension into hell also shows the extent of His death.
- Jesus did not literally go to the place called hell after his death.
- This expression, while not to be taken literally, expresses the reality of Christ’s suffering and the horror of sin.
- Its benefits and comfort.
- Jesus’ death was the only and the most perfect sacrifice for sin.
- The Bible uses a variety of terms to express Christ’s atoning death: sacrifice, propitiation, reconciliation, redemption.
- His sacrifice completely satisfied God’s justice with respect to all of our sin, so no other sacrifice is ever again necessary.
- The practical significance of Jesus’ death.
- We are cleansed from the guilt of our sins (justification), so we have peace with God.
- And we are cleansed from the power of our sins, so sin no longer has the right to reign over us (Rom. 6).
- Further, Jesus’ victory means that He has taken the sting out of death for all His own.