Faith In Jesus' Death

Minister:
Date: AM
Text: II Corinthians 5; Lord's Day 16
Psalters: 137, 140, 91, 28
  1. The character of His death.
    1. First, consider what death is.
      1. Death is the wages of sin (God?s just response of wrath against sin), and so it was in the case of Jesus.
      2. Death by crucifixion means that one was cursed of God (Deut. 21:23; Gal. 3:13).
      3. Burial completes the experience of death.
      4. Descension into hell shows the extent of death.
    2. Our familiarity with the fact that Jesus died can easily obscure the astounding character of this event.
      1. For Him it was God?s wrath against sin.
      2. More astounding is the fact that He is the eternal Son of God whose divine Person existed eternally.
    3. Another unique feature of Jesus? death is the way He died: voluntarily, of His own will.
  2. The benefits.
    1. The willing obedience (lovingly) of Jesus to die is a marvel of grace and love.
      1. God sent His own Son ?for sin? (Rom. 8:3), i.e., to deal with sin in all its nature and consequence.
      2. He sent Him to make an end of sin by bearing the penalty of sin.
    2. Jesus? death was the only and the most perfect sacrifice for sin.
      1. His sacrifice completely satisfied God's justice with respect to all of our sin, so no other sacrifice is ever again necessary.
      2. We are cleansed from the guilt of our sins (justification), so we have peace with God.
    3. How can death be considered ?abolished? (II Tim. 1:10) (brought to nothing) when it is still laid on God?s people?
      1. In Jesus Himself there is complete victory over death (Rom. 6:9,10), for He is living forever, having risen from the dead.
      2. Second, He took the sting out of death for His own, so they are delivered from the bondage of sin?s dread.
      3. Third, the final victory will be achieved in the resurrection (I Cor.15:54-58).
    4. Jesus? burial shows that Jesus left nothing out of our punishment (did not prove that He was actually dead).
      1. Though we are still buried, the grave does not have the victory over us (I Cor. 15:55). It is a garden for us.
      2. Though buried, the grave and its decay will not hold us, but will give up our bodies at the shout of Jesus (John 5:28,29).
    5. Jesus? death earned for us deliverance from hell's agonies and the presence of God's love.
      1. In all of our afflictions and in our greatest temptations we may know God has delivered us from hell's anguish.
      2. No matter how severe God's chastening may be, it can never be Divine punishment for sin.