BS6H- HOW DID WE DIE WHEN JESUS DIED?
There is a curious fact that scripture gives about everything in existence –which of course includes you and I. What is this fact?
Colossians 1:16-17
God the Father was the “universal architect” but Jesus was his carpenter. It’s IN JESUS that all things were created – both in heaven and on the earth ---- and it’s IN HIM that all things hold together.
Perhaps it’s the mothers amongst us that can grasp this easier than the rest of us. Our physical body was formed inside of our mother’s body. As we grew inside of her, we squirmed and moved --- sometimes giving her a swift kick as if to say, “Let me out of here!” For 9 months our mothers felt every movement and kick that we jabbed at her. But she patiently bore whatever we did to her because we belonged to her and she loved us.
In a similar way, God created every one of us in His Son Jesus. The deepest part of every person is their soul and spirit---- and it’s that carnal nature that kicks and jabs at Jesus making him feel the pain of every sin we partake in. Unlike our mother who only had to bear it physically for nine months, Jesus bears with us, and keeps on doing so until we stop.
If all the independent actions of mankind did not take place in Jesus, this universe would long ago have spun out of control and self-destructed. But this universe keeps on track because we are all in Christ.
Now comes a second curious fact. It’s stated in:
2 Cor. 5:19
“In Christ -- God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them…” So----- While Jesus was dying, along with all of us in Him, God was there reconciling all of us to himself. He had not abandoned Jesus or us but instead He was there performing the greatest miracle of all --- our redemption.
Therefore, when Jesus died, we died too.
Romans 6:6
No, we didn’t die physically ---- but the sinful nature that we inherited and keeps us sinning was crucified (or in Greek: rendered inoperative) with Jesus at the cross. This means that sin no longer needs to control us.
Romans 6:7
We can be free from those forces that hold us captive – like evil habits, false beliefs, and other foul things that spoil our world.
On the cross Jesus not only cancelled the legal demands against us, but he “disarmed” the evil principalities and powers that Satan uses to keep us in bondage to our sins and addictions.
Colossians 2:15
As Jesus hung on the cross, it sure didn’t look like he had cancelled the power of Satan or triumphed over him in any way. BUT --- in just 3 days it would!
The real enemy was not the dreaded Romans ….. or the Jews. The prince of darkness --- called Satan --- is the power behind the evil in this world and it’s with him that Jesus determined to contend with and triumph over.
1 John 3:8
He did it so that you and I could be completely FREE from the things that keep us in bondage – IF we want that. Let’s talk a little more about how this can affect our lives today.
Next Study: BS6I - Jesus Covers Our Past and Present Sins