 Rejoice He Has Risen!
Christians throughout the world celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ because we know He accomplished what He was sent to do. How do we know? As the crucified Savior was ready to give up His Spirit while hanging on Calvary's cross, he cried out in victory "It is finished." With these words He declared that His mission to seek and save the lost was completed. Those three words, "It is finished," represent the culmination of all He did to save His people completely and forever. Blood had to be shed, divine justice had to be satisfied, atonement had to be achieved, sins had to be forgiven, redemption had to be paid, reconciliation had to be accomplished, dead had to be conquered, righteousness had to be perfected, salvation had to be secured and heaven had to be opened.
Blood was shed - According to the Law all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness (Heb. 9:22). The scarlet thread of blood which began in the Garden with the first shedding of blood, continued through the atoning sacrifices of the OT and came to an end at Calvary's cross. Life is in the blood and the Savior's blood was poured out to bring dead sinners to life.
Divine justice was satisfied - A just and righteous God must judge and punish all sinners. God's justice made it necessary for sinners to be punished or for sins to be expiated whereby their condemnation could be removed. Divine justice was satisfied when Jesus who knew no sin became sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5:21). This is why John could write, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
Atonement was achieved - Atonement was necessary because "all have sinned" and therefore deserve divine wrath and punishment (Rom. 3:23). The Lord Jesus Christ became a substitute for sinners to atone for their sins. "He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5).
Sin was forgiven - The eternal sin debt was cancelled. When the Savior died, He "canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us." They were nailed it to the cross (Col. 2:13-14). He paid a price He did not owe because we owed a price we could not pay. Finite beings could never pay an eternal sin debt. That is why hell is eternal. After a thousand years of agonizing punishment, the eternal punishment still remains to be paid for those who die without Christ.
Redemption was paid - "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us" (Gal. 3:13). What was the price He paid for man's redemption? Peter gives the answer. "You were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold...but with precious blood...the blood of Christ" (1 Pet. 1:18-19). Since everyone is born under the curse of the law and are slaves to sin, our only hope for redemption is to trust the blood of Jesus as full payment (Rom. 6:17). Reconciliation was accomplished - God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself not counting their trespasses against them (2 Cor. 5:19). Since man is born separated from God because of sin, someone must mediate reconciliation. As God's perfect man and man's perfect God, Jesus changes every believer's relationship with God from one of enmity and hostility to one of peace and harmony.
Death was conquered - The triumphant cry of our Lord "It is finished" was a declaration that "death is swallowed up in victory." Paul wrote, "O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 15:57).
Righteousness was perfected - From the cradle to the cross, from His incarnation to His crucifixion, Jesus lived His life in perfect obedience to the law. God's righteousness requires perfect righteousness for entrance into heaven and no man can ever achieve God's standard. For this reason Jesus Christ gives His righteousness as a gift to those who trust Him (Rom. 5:17). It is imputed to everyone who is in Christ Jesus. Because of Christ, all believers have a permanent right standing before God. "By one offering He has made perfect forever those who are being sanctified" (Heb. 10:14). "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1).
Salvation was secured - The Lord Jesus did everything necessary to save sinners completely and forever. Eternal, everlasting, never ending life with our Creator does not depend on any human effort or merit, but is grounded in the gracious promise and sovereign power of almighty God. To every believer Jesus said, "I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand" (John 10:28). As the good Shepherd of the sheep, He protects His flock and loses not one that the Father gives Him.
Heaven was opened - The veil that once blocked access to God in the temple was torn open when Jesus gave up His Spirit. This miracle at Calvary provided access to God. Repented sinners can approach God through faith in the shed blood of Jesus. Paul confirmed this when he wrote: "This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which God carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him" (Eph. 3:11-12). We know there are no more offerings for sin, no more sacerdotal priests, no other mediators and no other way to the Father.
The Lord Jesus Christ is our all-sufficient Savior. He did it all! His mission was completed at a great price so that He could offer salvation as the most precious gift of His grace. This is indeed the greatest news ever told about the greatest gift anyone could ever receive!
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