Today is Resurrection Sunday. The happiest day in my life. For today, more then two thousand years ago, Jesus won the battle over sin. The sin which leads to eternal death; the sin which cripples me with fear; the sin which kills me daily. Jesus, when he died from the cross then rose from the grave has won the battle with sin.
The song above encapsulates how wonderful His sacrifice is and what is means for all of us who believe – and who are called to believe – in Him.
We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin may lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.
And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with Him. We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and He will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him.
Romans 6:6-9
When Jesus died on the cross, he brought our sins with Him. For sin brings death. We will all die in the end – our lives are mortal. But because we are sinners, we will suffer eternal death. Picture it: eternal darkness – a darkness that doesn’t end; suffering and pain left and right. It is enough to make my heart break just picturing it. Jesus suffered that one for us. He became the sacrifice who took away all our sins. He went to hell. He experienced the eternal darkness.
And because He is God, He went back. He rose from the dead. He went back to life. He triumphed over death. He won the battle with eternal death. Why? So we can claim the eternal life He so freely offers those who believe.
It is a profound mystery that baffles me. But a mystery that is so clearly explained over and over in the Bible and so clearly becomes the basis of my faith and the source of my hope. That one day, when I physically die from this earth, I will not experience eternal darkness. But rather experience eternal life with the Savior who loves me so much, He suffered for me.
Who could imagine so great a mercy?
What heart could fathom such boundless grace?
The God of ages stepped down from glory
To wear my sin and bear my shameThe cross has spoken, I am forgiven
The King of kings calls me His own
Beautiful Savior, I’m Yours forever
Jesus Christ, my living hopeHallelujah, praise the One who set me free
Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me
You have broken every chain
There’s salvation in Your name
Jesus Christ, my living hope…Living HopePhil Wickham
