HOW DID CHRIST DIE? Good News to Follow...

“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (I Corinthians 15:3-4, KJV).  


Note the word “how,” and consider the nature and quality of the death Christ died and what the Old Testament Scriptures have to say about His death.


1.  He died violently.  “He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter...He was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgression of My people was He smitten” (Isaiah 53:7-8).  Christ did not die from natural causes.  Because He had no sin in Him, He must die a violent death or He would never have died at all.  


In the Scriptures, no sacrifice was ever offered to God which had died a natural death, only that which was slain when it was in the prime of life and full of strength.  The broken law required the execution of death upon the offender for violating its precepts.  


With the sins of His people imputed to Him, the Lord Jesus Christ died a violent, bloody death in order to satisfy divine justice.


2.  He died voluntarily.  He was a willing Savior.  “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth” (Isaiah 53:7).  None could take His life from Him, He laid it down in the stead of His chosen people.  “Then said I, Lo I come: in the volume of the book it is written of Me” (Psalm 40:7).


3.  He died vicariously.  He was the Substitute Who died in the room, place and stead of His guilty people.  “Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows...He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities:  the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:4-5).  


God has exacted satisfaction from the blood and death of His Son, the Substitute of His people.  Justice cannot condemn those in whose place the Lord Jesus died.


4.  He died victoriously.  It is written in Isaiah 53:10-12, “The pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.  He shall see the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall My righteous Servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities...He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”   


His death was successful because it secured the salvation of all for whom He died.  He ransomed His people from the claims of offended justice.  By His death, Satan was defeated, sin was put away, righteousness was brought in, the integrity of divine law was upheld, the sheep were redeemed, reconciliation was accomplished and God was satisfied.  This is the Gospel that is “according to the Scriptures.”       

                                                                                            -preacher Jim Byrd of Thirteenth Street Baptist church located in Asheville, Kentucky USA

 

Sermon Audio site: https://www.sermonaudio.com/broadcasters/13thstbaptist/

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