In this Easter season, in which we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, it is indeed a season of joy because of the hope it ushered in. The resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ brought about a transformation to the destiny of all men that chose to believe. Hitherto, man was made subject to the bondage of the devil. The scripture says in the book of Hebrews 2: 14-15 that: “Inasmuch then as the children (human race) are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise shared in the same that through death, He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is the devil. And deliver them who through fear of death were subject all their lifetime to bondage.” In the book of 1 Corinthians 15 verse 56 we read: “The sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law. Romans 4:5 explains that: “For the law always bring punishment on those who try to obey it. The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break.” The scripture however concludes in Romans 3: 23: “For all have sinned,” and also in Romans 6:23 that: “the wages of sin is death.” This was the lot of the human race until the resurrection of Christ.
At the birth of Jesus Christ, the angel announced in Mathew 1 verse 21: “And she will bring forth a Son and you shall call His name Jesus for He will save His people from their sin.” Jesus is the Lamb of God that was sacrificed from the foundation of the world. He was the propitiation given by God for the sins of the whole world (Revelation 13:8; 1John 2: 2).
All the scripture points to the fact that Jesus was to die for the sins of men. He had to die that all men might be justified freely by grace through the redemption that is in Christ (Romans 3: 24). Without the shedding of blood, that is without a propitiation, there is no forgiveness of sin (Hebrews9; 22). Verse 25 of Roman chapter 3 affirms that: “It is Christ whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God.”
Given this great hope and the goodwill of God that has come to all men through Christ, how come some faith deny the resurrection by denying the death of Christ? They argued that Jesus Christ did not actually die but that God substituted Him on the cross with an angel and so He was not the one crucified. Let us even indulge this doctrinal error and lay out the implications from this.
One, it affirms there was an event of crucifixion. What was the need for this crucifixion?
Secondly, if God substituted Jesus on the cross with an angel, it shows He is superior and that He is so precious to God that He cannot have Him die. If Christ is by far superior and precious to God, how come we esteem any man greater than Him?
Thirdly, if God substituted Him, it means He did not die, where was He after this. It means there was a divinity about Jesus both by reason of His birth and His not seeing death.
Fourthly, if God knew that He will substitute Jesus at the cross with an angel, why does He have to meander like a man. Why not appoint the angel right from the beginning?
Fifthly, if God aborted His crucifixion by substituting an angel in His place, what happened to what God said about Jesus, that He will save His people from their sins. This makes God a liar. God can never lie. God is not a man that He should lie or son of man that He should repent or change His word (Numbers 23: 19). This doctrinal error negates all scriptures about Jesus namely:
For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son that whosoever believe in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3: 16)
God set forth Christ as a propitiation for our sins. (Romans 3: 24).
I am He that lives and was dead and behold am alive for evermore. (Revelation 1: 18).
I am the good Shepherd, the good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep. (John10: 11).
You shall call Him Jesus for He will save His people from their sins. (Mathew 1: 21). There is never any error with God. The scripture says that God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all, neither shadow of turning (1 John 1: 5). He is absolute Truth as He is Holy.
The scripture in the epistle of John chapter 4 verse 6 clearly states there is a Spirit of truth and there is a Spirit of error. Any one that denies that God sent His Son Jesus and has set His forth as a propitiation for our sins is in error. God cannot give Christ as a propitiation for the sins of men and in a moment on the cross substitute Him. With men a promise is binding how much more with God.
Here is the danger in the spirit of error and all those who flow with it. They deny God’s integrity. The book of Revelation in chapter 22 verse 19 declares: “And if anyone takes words away from the book of prophecy, God will take away his part out of the book of life, out of the holy city and from the things which are written in the book.”
God has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son (1 John 5: 11), whom He set forth as atonement for our sins. He gave us His Son, and He can never exchange someone else for Him, justice demand He does what is righteous. Psalm 132:8 says: …for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” Meaning God backs His word by the honour and glory of His name. He also says in Psalm 89: 34: “My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips.” It is a grave error to say that God substituted Jesus Christ on the cross. If Christ was made to go through the court of injustice, the mocking, the stripes laid on Him, the mesh of thorn made into a crown for His head, the betrayal and abandonment by His followers, He could not be spared and substituted at the moment on cross. It is either He bears the full weight of judgement and punishment for our sins or man has no hope for redemption at all forever.
On the other hand, here is the beauty of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. His resurrection depicts that His sacrifice for our sins was acceptable offering unto God who raised Him from the dead. No more do we need to struggle with the law for Christ is the fulfilment of the law. Through faith we yield ourselves to Him to live in us a life without sin by the power of life giving Spirit that raised Him from the dead. The scripture says the life that I live in the flesh is not I that live any longer but Christ that lives in me, (Galatians 2: 20).
The book of Romans in chapter 5 verse 1 says: “Therefore since we have been made right in God’s sight (justified) by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.” Since we all will return to God, it is indeed salutory that we should have peace with Him before we appear in His presence. Our works do not bring about peace, it is a mediator that brings about peace between two opposing parties. We all have sinned against God and it is only a mediator who is also an advocate that can atone for us which is what our Lord Jesus did.
In the book of Revelation chapter 1 verse 18, we hear the Lord Jesus speak: “I am the Living One and I was dead and behold I am alive for evermore and I have the keys of death and of hell.” Our Lord Jesus Himself declares that He was dead and alive, so His death on the cross and His resurrection is not an idle tale. What He also made known that He holds the keys of death and hell becomes the game changer for the human race. It is no more the devil who is man’s enemy and who accuses us before God that holds the key any longer, the destiny of man is changed forever. The One who was made to atone for our sins have conquered death and hell which were the wages for our sin, is the one having the keys in His hand. Meaning that in Christ we all have been liberated from death and hell, this is the assurance He sets before us that we should have faith in Him and not stand in error and ignorance. In 1 Corinthians 15: 54 -55 we read: “…death is swallowed up in victory. O death where is thy sting? O grave (hell) where is thy victory.” Our risen Lord and Saviour Jesus has the victory and in Him we are victorious, this is our changed destiny. For God has given us eternal life (it is a gift not of works) and this life is in His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ (the Person of our faith), 1 John 5: 1, whoever has the Son has life. Our Lord Jesus called us out to have faith in Him in John chapter 14 verses 1 to 25. Our Lord Jesus is risen and faith in Him gives us assurance of eternal life. Hallelujah.
