THE VICTORY OF THE RISEN CHRIST
The event of the death and resurrection of Christ took place about 2000 years ago. It was a triumphant victory over Satan, death, sin and hell. This event was God’s manifestation of His unconditional love for the salvation of the entire world. It also gives those who put faith in Jesus Christ, a sense of immortality. It has since became the bedrock of Christian faith; an indisputable fact of history. Despite the fact that the opinions of skeptics have continued to promote heresies and anti-Christ doctrines without proofs that otherwise support the evidences of Christ resurrection, the facts of Jesus’ resurrection stand taller than all the fabricated lies.
Many of those who propound these heresies have not answered questions like: If Christ did not rise from death, what happened to the body [corpse] 2000 years after? What could have caused fellow Jews who were His disciples to decide to stick their lives out and died for falsehood? What has been responsible for the changed lives of people who accept Jesus as Savior and Lord even in this era? Little wonder Apostle Paul who was a former enemy and persecutor of “the people of the Way” could say, if Jesus’ life ended in the cold dark tomb, then Christianity is truly dead, the gospel is false and has no power; there’s no hope of eternal life. Finally of all men, we are most miserable [1 Corinthians 15: 14-19].
I shall attempt to examine Christ victory under the following outlines:
i] The Purpose of Christ on earth;
ii] Jesus’ life, suffering and death;
iii] His Resurrection and victory.
a] The purpose Jesus came on earth:
a] The gospel of Matthew records,……..shall bear a son, shall call His name Jesus [Savior] for He will save His people from their sins [Matt. 1:21]; Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call His name, Immanuel – God be with us [Matt 1:23; Isaiah 7:14]. The child Jesus grew and waxed strong in Spirit, filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon Him [Luke 2: 40].
b] The gospel of John 1:29 says,…..the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Here John the Baptist identifies Jesus passing by to two of his disciples.
c] The Epistle of Apostle Paul to the Romans says “But God demonstrated His own love towards us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us…..For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His son, much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life [Romans 5: 8, 10]. The birth of Jesus was the beginning of the end for death.
b] Jesus’ life, sufferings of Christ and death [Isaiah 53:1-7]:
Jesus grew up a young person [tender plant]; came from Nazareth where nothing spectacular ever happened. There was nothing attractive about Him – a son of a carpenter; had no form of royalty or kingly disposition. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrow and acquainted with pains, grief and sickness; bore our sins, sufferings and death. They did not appreciate his worth nor had any esteem for Him. He was denied, betrayed and forsaken by His disciples and friends. Jesus was wounded for our transgression, bruised for our guilt’s and iniquities. Our chastisement was upon Him and with His stripes we are healed and made whole. On the cross He felt less of the Father and cried, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me” [Matthew 27:46].
Jesus was taken to the place called Golgotha and there they crucified Him. He died leaving His soul in the hands of His Father. Death is one of the things man fears most. Since after the great fall, sin entered human life and sin causes death. We all died through the sins of Adam and Eve. Through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross and His resurrection from death, we have been delivered from death and hell. God forms, Satan deforms and Jesus Christ transforms [1 Corinthians 15: 55-56; 2 Timothy 1:10].
c] His Resurrection and victory.
Jesus resurrection is the most victorious day and significant event in human history. It was the day Jesus overpowered and defeated sin, death and hell. That Easter morning, Jesus Christ rose from the death and accomplished the greatest victory for humanity. Hallelujah, we are Easter people. He’s alive and has fulfilled the purpose and mission of the Father, God Almighty – the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John1:29). Those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior and Lord of their lives should celebrate Easter:
i) Are made holy because Jesus obeyed God and offered himself once and for all (Heb.10:10; 2 Cor. 5:21). Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself (1John 3:3).
ii) Christ offered Himself as a sacrifice that is good forever. By this once sacrifice he has forever set free from sin, the people He brought to God (Heb. 10: 12, 14; Rom. 6:4-7; Rom. 8:10-11).
iii) Brought life and immortality through his death and resurrection so that death is swallowed up in victory and no longer has a sting (1 Cor. 15:53-57; 2 Tim.1:10). For believer death has been destroyed – reduced to inactivity rendering incapable of doing what it did (John 3:3b; 11:25b).
iv) Begotten a living hope and an incorruptible inheritance (1 Peter1:3-4; Heb. 6:19). The night Jesus was born, their hope was fulfilled (Luke 2:1-14). Christians look forward to the future because the baby in the manger was and still is the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope (1 Timothy 1:1). We must always be ready to give a defense to everyone who ask us reasons for the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3:15).
v) Victory over the devil (Luke 10:10; Rom 8:31, 37). F. J. Huegel in his book, “Forever Triumphant” said, “We must learn to stand on resurrection ground, reckoning dead the old-creation life over which Satan has power, and living in the new creation over which Satan has no power whatever.” The lordship of Satan over men had been broken by the death and redemption of Christ (Heb 10:10).
vi) Redemption from the law. Apostle Paul affirms, “God sent forth His son born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law” (Gal 4:4-5). “The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:56-57).
vii) Hidden Treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col. 2:3; Prov. 2: 4). You can acquire much knowledge but true wisdom comes only from God. “For the Lord gives wisdom: from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding.” He stores up sound wisdom for the upright (Prov.2:6-7; 1 Peter 1:13).
viii) Victory over grief and sorrow. Jesus was “a man of sorrow, and familiar with sufferings. He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows…..pierced for our transgressions…crushed for our iniquities…….”(Isaiah 53:3-5; 51:11; 1 Thess. 4:13-18). Anything Jesus bore on the cross must be resisted (Heb 2:9-18; Phil.3:9-10; 1 Peter 4:12-14; James 4:7; 1 Sam 30:6).
ix) Master over the circumstances of life (1 Tim. 4:8). In Christ we are called by God to become masters over every circumstances of life.
x) Overcome fears of life by the word of God, the power of the Holy Spirit and His faith in His heavenly Father (1 John 2:5; 4:17-18).
xi) Become God’s property (bought and paid for in full) – Lev 25:55; Gal 4:4-7; Rev. 1:4-6.
xii) Total freedom: from the slavery of Satan (Rom. 6:14; Col.1:12); sickness and diseases (Gal. 3:13; Due 28:61); debt to Satan and to the world’s system (Col 2:13-14).
xiii) Total victory in Jesus stands for total redemption (Rom.5:17). On account of Jesus’ victory over Satan, we have a legal right to accept Jesus as our personal Savior and enter into the kingdom of God’s dear son. We have legal rights to all that Jesus accomplished:
– Eternal life and home in heaven, victory over Satan, demons, sin, fears and death.
– An inheritance in the new heaven and new earth.
– To sit with Christ and the Father throughout eternity and rule the world.
– To use Jesus’ name in prayers (John 14: 13-14; 16:24).
– To have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
– To be translated at the appearance of Christ. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom (Luke 12:32).
Reach: Evangelist Ogbonnaya, Godswill @ Weefreeministries.org or P. O. Box 720035, Houston, Texas, 77272.