In a resent poll result published by a UK based newspaper, it was reported that half the people in Britain do not know the meaning of Easter. The poll result showed that 52 per cent of those asked why Easter is celebrated had no idea it was to commemorate the death and resurrection of Christ, the central part of the Christian faith.
This is of concern to me for two possible reasons:
- it could mean that at least 52% of people in Britain have not heard the gospel of Jesus.
- it could mean that many who have heard the gospel and possibly embraced it, do not understand the purpose of Jesus – His coming, death, resurrection, ascension and second coming.
In this message, I hope to share with you important truths about why Jesus came, died, rose again and the Power that raised Him from the dead.
Why Jesus came
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth….. So God created man in His own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them…Genesis 1-2 (New International Version)
In the beginning God the Supreme and Almighty created man perfect in His image and blessed him and gave him dominion and placed him in Eden. There everything was perfect and God had communion with man on a constant basis. God also gave Adam clear instructions not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, with the warning that if he disobeyed he will surely die.
Seduced through the cunning craftiness of the devil, man was deceived into disobeying God. As a result of this sin, God judged, condemned and drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden. “…So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken”…Genesis 3:23). This separation of man from God in whose image man was created marked the beginning of man’s spiritual death. The consequences of their sin did not stop there. It had a knock on effect on mankind , namely – we all became guilty –“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned–”(Romans 5:12). So Jesus can to achieve two main things:
One: Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. 1John 3:8 says; He that committed sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. (KJV). To destroy means: to “loosen” (literally or figuratively): – break (up), destroy, dissolve, (un-) loose, melt, put off. Jesus came to destroy sin which the devil introduced in Eden and to also destroy the consequence of sin – death.
Two: Jesus came to restore the abundant life of communion with God and blessings that man lost when he was banished from Eden. In John 10:10he said “but I am come that ye may have life, and life abundantly”. “Life” here is from the Greek word Zoë, and it means the life of God, salvation health, peace, joy etc. everything God originally intended, but which the devil stole.
Why Jesus died
The nature of sin is such that God in His sovereignty requires blood for the remission of sins, and without the shedding of blood there can be no remission. The bible says in Hebrews 9:22; “…without shedding of blood is no remission.” (KJV). Remission of sins also requires that like be sacrificed for like. So it had to be the blood of man for the sins of man. Not only that, but it had to be the blood of the sinless for the guilty. That is why it is impossible for the blood of bulls and rams to cover sin – Hebrews 10:4. Every effort by man to save himself proved futile. The bible says it is impossible to the Law to save man because it acted through frail humanity – Romans 8:3. In fact the more we attempt to save ourselves or be saved through all else but God’s master plan of faith through Jesus Christ, the more guilty we become before God Romans 3:19-20. man’s good works are as filthy rags before God –Isaiah 64:4.
Jesus Christ was the only one qualified to be offered as sacrifice for us. The bible says in Revelations 5:9 “…Thou art worthy…for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation…” Jesus meets God requirements for the acceptable sacrifice in three ways.
- He came in the form of sinful man. Romans 8:3 says; “…God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh…” (KJV). This was necessary in order for Jesus to be our saviour (Hebrews 2:14-17).
- Jesus was without sin (Hebrews 4:15). Here, we begin to see the significance of the virgin birth. Mary conceived Jesus through the Holy Ghost. Mary was simply the channel through which God sent Jesus into the world. Jesus came as sinless God in human flesh.
- The New covenant of salvation is in His blood. Jesus said in Matthew 26:28; for this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
The objective of Jesus’ death was to “Destroy” and he did it with His life. Only His life had the potency to destroy sin (Romans 6:6-8) and death – (Heb 2:14-15, 1 Corinthians 15:54).
Now you can see why Apostle Paul says”…I glory in the cross of Jesus…only…” (Galatians 6:14). Now you can see why if the devil had known, he would not have crucified Jesus (1 Corinthians 2:8), because unknown to him, he was not destroying Jesus, he was destroying himself.
Why Jesus rose again (The power that raised him)
The resurrection of Christ is the linchpin of the Christian faith — the historical event upon which Christian doctrine stands or falls. The apostle Paul makes this clear in his first letter to the Corinthians: But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is futile and your faith is empty. … For if only in this life we have hope in Christ, we should be pitied more than anyone (1 Corinthians. 15:13-14, 19).
Having destroyed the works of the devil through His death, Jesus rose again so that we may have a new life. In other words His resurrection was designed to restore Zoë (the abundant life of God) to us. The bible says in Romans 6:3-4 “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life”.
That is why If any man be in Christ (receives Jesus as Lord and saviour), he becomes a new creature, old things pass away and all things become new… (2 Corinthians 5:17). In other words, God nullifies the works of the devil concerning that person’s life and replaces it with a new life of blessings, goodness, mercy, grace, joy, righteousness and peace.
The Key Articles of the New Covenant – Hebrews 8 10-12: As new creatures;
- We receive a new heart with the laws of God imprint (vs. 10). This means we have the capacity to walk with God without failing. The bible says in Psalm 37:31; …the law of the Lord is in his heart, none of his steps shall slip.
- God will become our God and we His People (vs. 10). This means we become blessed people. The bible says in Psalm 32:12; Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord and the people who he has chosen for His inheritance.
- We shall know God (vs. 11).That means we will no more work in our strength but in God’s strength. Daniel 11:32 say; the people that know their God shall be strong and do exploits.
- We will obtain mercy (vs. 12). Not only have our sins been forgiven, but we will have unlimited access to Godly help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16 says; Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Jesus was able to rise from the dead because death COULD NOT hold him captive! The bible says in Act 2:24 “Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it”. The Good News translation says; “But God raised him from death, setting him free from its power, because it was impossible that death should hold him prisoner.” There was no way death could overcome one who is called the resurrection (John 11:25). He made it very clear to His disciples that no one could take His life from him. God has given him the power to lay down His life, and the power to take it again. (John 10:17-18).
Jesus was raised from the dead by the awesome power of God the father, and along with him all those who accept His sacrifice on the cross and put their faith in him for their salvation (Romans 6:4). The bible tells us that same mighty power that raised Jesus from the dead is the same mighty power that is at work in every believer (Ephesians 1:17-20). That power is at work in us to:
- Make us to will and do of Gods good pleasure – Philippians 2:13
- It works in us that which is well pleasing in God’s sight – Hebrews 13:21
- The power is at work in us to give life to our mortal bodies – Romans 8:11
Why Jesus ascended and why he is coming back
The plan of salvation does not end with the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Jesus also ascended in the heavens, the purpose of that being to prepare a place of eternal rest for all who have received him, so that we can be with him where he is. The bible says in John 14:1-2; Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
While Jesus is away preparing a place for us, he has ensured that we are not left without help in this dark and perverse world. So he promises to send us the Holy Spirit (The Comforter) John 16:7 says; …Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
Before Jesus ascended he made one more promise – “I WILL BE BACK”. Jesus is coming back to get those who belong to him. He said in John 14:3; “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also”. The day is coming when we will all be change and mortality will be swallowed up by immortality as we are caught up in the heavens to be with Jesus.
The return of the Lord Jesus is also going to be a time when our works will be judged by him. In a clear warning to the church Jesus said in Revelations 22:12; “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be”. It is therefore wise that we heed Apostle Paul’s warning: “let every man take heed how he buildeth… Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is” (1 Corinthians 3:10-13)
What should we make of all this?
The death of Jesus was not an accident or a plan gone wrong. Jesus died by divine design. His death was the only way that everything that stood against us – sin, death, could be taken away. If you understand why Jesus came, through to why he is coming back, then:
- You will stop trying to manage your sinful nature or the works of the devil. Instead, you will submit them at cavalry for total destruction through the cross of Jesus Christ. The cross is the only answer for man’s sin and the resulting spiritual death.
- You will stop yielding your body as an instrument of unrighteousness unto sin and start walking in newness of life by yielding your body as instruments of righteousness unto God. (Romans 6:12-14). Because you are raised with Christ to a new life sin shall no more dominate you. Instead you should live the rest of your time in the flesh according to the will of God (1 Peter 4:1-2).
- If you understand why he rose from the dead and why he ascended, then you will seek those things which are above, where Christ is sited on the right hand of God. You will set your affections on the things that are above, not things on the earth (Colossians 3:1-2).
- If you understand that Jesus is coming back, then you will keep your self pure for him. The bible says in 1 John 3:2-3; but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
Prayer of Salvation
If you want to receive Jesus now, and accept His gift of salvation, it’s a matter of believing in Jesus Christ, repenting of your sins, and turning the rest of your life over to Him. This is not a ritual based on specific words, but rather, a prayerful guideline for your sincere step of faith.
“Heavenly Father, I come to you admitting that I am a sinner. Right now, I choose to turn away from sin, and I ask you to cleanse me of all unrighteousness. I believe that, Jesus died on the cross to take away my sins. I also believe that He rose again from the dead so that I might be forgiven of my sins and made righteous through faith in Him. I call upon the name of Jesus Christ to be the Saviour and Lord of my life. Jesus, I choose to follow you and ask that you fill me with the power of the Holy Spirit. I declare that right now I am a child of God. I am free from sin and full of the righteousness of God. I am saved in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
“Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38)