4. The Scriptures declared that Christ would die “victoriously “. “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 bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors “ (Isa. 53:10-12). 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 Christ’s 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.”
HOW DID CHRIST DIE
“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 “ ( 1 Cor. 15:3-4). Note the word “how”, and consider the nature of the death Christ died and what the Old Testament Scriptures had to say about His death.
1. The Scriptures declared that Christ would die “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 “ (Isa. 53:7-8). Christ did not die from what we typically call natural causes. Because He died for the sins of His people. He must die a violent death. In the Scriptures, no sacrifice was ever offered to God which had died a quiet and peaceful death, only that which was slain when it was in the prime of life and full strength. The broken law required the sentence of death upon the offender (or a God-approved substitute 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. The Scriptures declared that Christ would die “voluntarily.” He was a willing Savior. “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth “ (Isa. 53:7). None could take His life from Him, He laid it down in the stead of His chosen people (John 10:18). “Then said I, Lo I come: in the volume of the book it is written of Me” (Psa. 40:7).
3. The Scriptures declared that Christ would die “vicariously” ( in place of others). 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 “ (Isa. 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.
“Only one life to live and soon is past
Only what’s done for Christ will last!”
Hoping to make the time I have left count for the glory of God.
HOW DID CHRIST DIE