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A Personal Devotional by Debbie Hall
Beyond His Death
Mel Gibson’s movie, the Passion of the Christ, has had the world talking again about Christ’s death for sinners. That is a wonderful thing! Romans 5:8 says, “God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” If you have seen the movie, you know that it briefly shows Christ alive after his death, and the movie ends. And if you don’t know the rest of the story, you are filled with questions about why Christ died. Let me briefly today add a few essentials to the gospel story, relating it to what each thing accomplishes for those who have received Christ as their Savior.
Jesus Christ’s death brought about my salvation. Ephesians 1:7 says, “In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins.” Hebrews 2:14-15 says “that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the Devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”
Jesus Christ’s sinless life brought about my righteousness. The Bible declares in both testaments that people are all sinners whose best deeds fall way short of God’s glory. During His entire life Jesus rendered the perfect obedience no human ever had. His sinless life was not just a footnote to his death- it was what made his death as a perfect substitute for us so meaningful. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “He made Him who knew no sin to become sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” At salvation a cosmic trade happens- our sin is left on the cross of Christ, and the righteousness of his perfect life is credited to us for judgment day.
Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead brought about my eternal life. I Peter 1:3-4 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in Heaven for you.” As a Pastor I preach many funerals each year. I am so thankful for the good news that for those who have received Jesus Christ as their Savior “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.”
Jesus Christ’s ascension to Heaven brought about my temporal security. The Apostle Paul prayed in Ephesians 1:19-21 that we would know “the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when he raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the Heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but in that which is to come.” I don’t serve a God who is in Heaven biting his fingernails about my well being. As His disciple I know that I am immortal until my time serving Him on earth is done. And so I serve Him knowing that my temporal security is in His hand.
Jesus Christ’s present intercession for me has brought about my eternal security. Hebrews 7:25 says, “He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Did you catch that? Jesus is right now interceding for those who are His! If you have become a born again Christian, you are saved forever not because of your own goodness but because of the completed work of Jesus Christ!
Jesus Christ’s imminent return for me has brought about my great anticipation. When I was a child I got so excited when I knew my grandparents were coming. Why? Because I knew when they got to where we were, they were going to make life better (usually involving presents!). Well, when Jesus comes back, he will set into motion the end of this sinful world as we know it. I can’t wait for the King to rule in perfect righteousness.
My hope for you this Easter is that you will celebrate the good news of Jesus Christ as never before! The old Hymn says it so well:
“living He loved me, dying He saved me, buried He carried my sins far away, rising He justified freely forever, one day He’s coming, O glorious day.”