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Fundamental Belief #9--Life, Death and Resurrection of Christ
In Christ's life of perfect obedience to God's will, His suffering, death, and resurrection, God provided the only means of atonement for human sin, so that those who by faith accept this atonement may have eternal life, and the whole creation may better understand the infinite and holy love of the Creator. This perfect atonement vindicates the righteousness of God's law and the graciousness of His character; for it both condemns our sin and provides for our forgiveness. The death of Christ is substitutionary and expiatory, reconciling and transforming. The resurrection of Christ proclaims God's triumph over the forces of evil, and for those who accept the atonement assures their final victory over sin and death. It declares the Lordship of Jesus Christ, before whom every knee in heaven and on earth will bow. (Read verses here. John 3:16; Isa. 53; 1 Peter 2:21, 22; 1 Cor. 15:3, 4, 20-22; 2 Cor. 5:14, 15, 19-21; Rom. 1:4; 3:25; 4:25; 8:3, 4; 1 John 2:2; 4:10; Col. 2:15; Phil. 2:6-11.)
The Story:
Saved From Death
Gareth was excited. He was going to Florida with several of his friends for a two week vacation. It would be great because this was no ordinary holiday he and his friends had planned. They had contacted a skydiving school and made arrangements for skydiving lessons. Just imagine, jumping out of an airplane, thousands of feet above the ground, and falling to earth at tremendous speeds, but just in time pulling the ripcord on the parachute, continuing the jump by floating to earth. What a thrilling two weeks this was going to be. Gareth and his friends had never done anything like this before but they were used to rough sports. Gareth loved the thrill of white water rafting and he was also a rugby player and took pleasure in the excitement of that rough and tumble game. Skydiving would be one more sport he and his friends could enjoy. Saying good-bye to family, Gareth and his friends boarded a jet that would take them from Briton to their vacation destination of Florida. Bright and early on a lovely June day the friends made their way to the air field where they met their instructor, Michael. He was much older than the young people–almost old enough to be their father. Michael had made thousands of jumps and was not only an experienced skydiver but was a good teacher with excellent recommendations.
Michael showed them the parachute they would be wearing, explaining how there were actually two parachutes together–a large main parachute that would take them safely to earth and a smaller emergency parachute which was provided just in case something went wrong with the main chute. He instructed them how to strap the parachute harness to their bodies so it would not slip off in midair. He also told them, because this would be their first jump, they would not jump alone. Michael would be strapped to each of his students as their turn came. He would show them how to manoeuver their bodies so they wouldn’t spin or fall head-first or get tangled in the parachute cords. He would safely steer them to ground and tell them when to pull the ripcord so the parachute would open in plenty of time so they could finish the jump, floating to earth, slowed down with the resistance of the air against the wide open parachute.
With thumping heart, fear and excitement mixed together, Gareth made his way to the small plane that would take him almost 4 kilometres (almost 2 ½ miles) above the earth for his first jump. As they flew higher and higher everything on earth became smaller and smaller until the air field and the surrounding buildings and vehicles looked like a toy village. When they reached the right altitude Michael motioned for Gareth to come and he strapped the two of them together, putting Gareth in the front. When the door of the plane was opened, the wind rushed in, slapping them in the face, teasing them to come and jump into the wide open space of the sky. Michael nodded at Gareth as a signal that it was time to jump from the plane. Gareth nodded back, barely able to breath with the fear and excitement he felt. And with that out of the plane they jumped.
Suddenly Gareth felt so light and free. Although they were hurtling to ground at a tremendous speed he felt as if he was floating. The wind was in his face, his arms and legs were spread out as if he were sprawled in bed on his stomach. Oh, this was wonderful. This was exhilarating. This was like nothing he had ever done before. It was only seconds but it felt like forever. Suddenly Michael, his instructor, motioned for him to pull the ripcord so the parachute would open. They were getting closer and closer to the ground and the parachute must be opened so they could finish the jump and land safely. Gareth pulled the ripcord but something didn’t seem right. They hadn’t slowed down. Frantically, he reached for the second emergency ripcord and pulled with all his might and still they were speeding to the ever nearing ground. Both parachutes failed to open and Gareth, paralysed with fear, knew certain death lay only seconds away. But then something amazing happened as the ground was rushing up to meet the young man and his instructor. Michael who was behind and strapped on top of Gareth, wrapped his arms and legs around his student, twisted and rolled over and hit the ground first with Gareth falling on top of him.
Pain reached and tore into every part of Gareth’s body and then nothing. Floating in and out of consciousness, Gareth was rushed by ambulance to the hospital where it was found his spine had been fractured and his leg was broken, but miraculously he was not paralysed. Several weeks later Gareth was able to go home.
But what became of Michael? Michael died that day. He took Gareth’s place and was killed instantly from the impact of hitting the ground. He had taken the brunt of the blow as the two hit the ground together. His actions that day saved Gareth’s life. He knew Gareth would certainly die if he hit the ground first so he made a wonderful decision that saved the young man’s life. He would take Gareth's place. He would die to save another person.
You know, boys and girls, Jesus did that for us. But He did so much more. He died to save not just one other person but everyone who ever lived on this earth. He knew we faced certain death and he stepped in to take our place, to be a substitute for each one of us.
When God created Adam and Eve they were supposed to live forever, eating from the Tree of Life that was in the Garden of Eden. Their children and all the people who would eventually be born were supposed to live forever. You and I were supposed to live forever. But all that changed the moment Adam and Eve disobeyed. Just as God said, Adam and Eve grew old and did die and so did their children and their children’s children and their children’s children’s children. That would have been everyone’s end– be born, live and die– with no hope of any other future. The wonderful life Jesus had planned for everyone was ruined. The people He had created and loved so much would not live. This would have been unbearably sad if there had not been a plan to save the ones He loved.
When Adam and Eve sinned, Jesus came to them and told them about a wonderful plan that had been made even before they had been created. Because Jesus was their Creator, He was the only One who could come to their rescue. Jesus would come and die just as if He had sinned. Pure and sinless Jesus would die for everyone. And that’s exactly what He did.
When Jesus came to this earth he came as a tiny, new-born baby, but little babies grow up and so did baby Jesus. He became a boy and then a teenager and finally a man. All through His life he was kind and gentle, obedient and loving. Even though He became human He did not sin. Satan tried everything to make Jesus sin but he failed. If Jesus had sinned even once He would not be able to be our Substitute and save anyone. Jesus was on a rescue mission to this world and Satan would not stop Him. He was the only One who could rescue His people.
Jesus’ life on earth was not easy. He often lived and slept outdoors. Even when he helped people by healing them or teaching about God’s love, some people were angry. They were so angry they arrested Jesus, beat him and told lies about Him and finally Jesus was taken by soldiers and nailed to a cross where He died. He died like someone who had done terrible, wicked things. Jesus, Who had never sinned, Who was pure and holy, died for the bad things I have done, for the bad things you have done and for the bad things anyone will ever do or did. He took my place and your place. He became our Substitute. When God looks at us and sees our sins, Jesus will say, “I died for him/her. My blood covers all those sins.” Because Jesus died for us we will not have to die forever.
Satan was furious and tried to keep Jesus in the grave so His death would be forever. But Satan has no power over God. Three days after Jesus died His Father called him out of the sleep of death and He came out of the grave with victory over death and Satan and sin. Jesus reclaimed this earth from Satan.
The whole universe can now understand what a wonderful gift Jesus has given to His poor, sinful people. Jesus longs for everyone to accept this free gift of eternal life. We will know how good and kind our Jesus is to forgive us and take our place. Because He loves us so much we will love and obey Him. We will change and become more like Jesus. And when Jesus comes to take us to heaven, we will be waiting for Him. People who died loving and waiting for Jesus to come will be awakened from their graves never to die again for Jesus died that “forever” death for each one of us. We will bow and declare “this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us.” Isaiah 25:9
Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for the wonderful free gift of eternal life. You have given us the victory over Satan. Amen.
The story of Gareth Griffiths and Michael Costello can be found on several news sites on the web. This was my main source for details: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-man-who-fell-to-earth-and-lived-to-tell-the-tale-1257796.html
The Bible Verse:
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (NKJV)
The Song:
Lord, I Lift Your Name On High
Lord, I lift Your name on high,
Lord, I love to sing Your praises.
I’m so glad You’re in my life,
I’m so glad You came to save us.
You came from heaven to earth to show the way,
From the earth to the cross, my debt to pay;
From the cross to the grave,
From the grave to the sky;
Lord, I lift Your name on high.
~Words and Music by Rick Founds
Picture Credits
Nativity: http://www.vastkid.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/xmas-coloring-pages-baby-jesus-nativity-scene.gif
Jesus and Child: http://www.raisingourkids.com/coloring-pages/printable/bible/free/027-jesus-coloring-pages-print.gif
Jesus with Cross: http://www.honkingdonkey.com/holiday-coloring-pages/easter-coloring-pages/09-easter-bible-coloring/easter-bible-pics/easter-bible-coloring-105.gif
Jesus and Mary at Tomb: http://www.newcoloring.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/easter-coloring-pages-jesus.gif
Jesus Ascension: http://img.oncoloring.com/the-ascension-of-jesus-in_4b8fa5169f082-p.gif
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