Solus Christus | The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Death would not be able to contain God. The death of Christ and The Father pouring His full wrath out on Jesus establishes the forgiveness of sins. Yet, when we talk about the death of Christ, for all the significance it holds, only provides half the story. After the death of Jesus Christ, He took reigned as the ruler over death and life. The captives held under the thumb of death would be released through their faith in the Messiah. While the death of Christ was a real event and pain endured by the Savior, His life pageant our path to our heavenly home and opens the doors to stand before the throne of God, not as a servant but as a child of God.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ brings hope to the people of God who could only receive salvation from Jesus Christ alone. His death would have only forgiven the sins leaving us forgiven but still not deserving of eternity. His resurrection, however, went above and beyond by extending grace that could only be given by Jesus Christ. Only an infinite and true God could be able to offer His life as a sacrifice to be wrung out fully and still defeat the power and grasp of sin. Furthermore, His unique role as fully Divine gives the sacrificed lamb the right to reign from the throne room of God and usher in the coming of eternity. Furthermore, Jesus send His Spirit to dwell within the hearts and souls of the people, empowering them to fulfill the mission and plan God has set before them.
Seated At The Right Hand of the Father
As Jesus ascends to heaven, He does so bearing the full weight of His divinity and His victory over sin and death. As our High Priest, Jesus stands before The Father interceding on our behalf, proclaiming with a joyful roar that our sins have been paid for and we belong to Him! Now, as the rightful heir to the throne The Son of God rules and reigns at the right hand of the Father. “When [The Father] raised [Christ] from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” (Ephesians 1:20-23 ESV). For God, who rightfully deserves the highest honor and praise, to have made Himself low, demonstrate the clear purpose of His coming; save and redeem His beloved creation. Every other god seeks for mankind to earn affection. Jesus Christ, however, came to us in order to bring us to Himself and establish our eternity on the foundation of His full divinity and humanity that only He can provide.
As the final events of time conclude, Jesus Christ advocates for the lives of the elect at the throne of God. We unite ourselves with Him through faith in Jesus Christ, believing that His work counted for us, and proclaiming that He is the Lord of our lives. He rules over all creation and bids us to come join Him. If the weight of our sin had fully extinguished the life of Jesus Christ, then we would still be held liable for our sins. However, since Christ defeated death, life will reign victorious in Him. Now, standing before the throne room of God, Jesus Christ advocates on our behalf, claiming the church as His precious bride. Just as when a man and woman come together, their flesh becomes one, we are united with Jesus Christ for all eternity, becoming one with Him as a member of the bride of Christ. Only Jesus Christ could meet the requirements of righteousness while still allowing for His life to stand in place of ours. He is the perfect expression of both justice and grace simultaneously.
Sending The Spirit
The Holy Spirit dwelling within the hearts of the believers gives the sign that we belong to Jesus Christ and share in His work and identity. “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” (John 16:7-11 ESV). As Jesus goes to the Father, the Spirit of God descends on the world as the presence of God inhabits the believers. Too often our view of the work of the Spirit is diminished to provide gifts for the people, an egocentric view that obligates God to give us gifts. Yet, the Spirit does more and produces fruit within the people that comes from a redeemed life, transformed by the presence of God and established in eternity as Jesus advocates on our behalf in heaven.
The story of God’s rescue mission involves the fullness of the triune Godhead unfolding towards mankind and bridging the gap between God and man. The Father send the Son, fully God and fully man, as the crux of human history as our prophet priest and King, to die for our sins and reign victoriously throughout all eternity. The Son sends His Spirit to dwell inside the soul of man as a mark and testament to the glory and power of Jesus’ saving grace and restoration, mirroring Christ’s taking on flesh and tabernacling with the people. We have been given the opportunity to choose life, true life, by putting our faith in the source of true life, Jesus Christ. Only Jesus Christ, being the person He is and doing the things He does is capable of providing salvation. The Gospel, the good news for all mankind, heralds the works and person of Jesus Christ being supremely important. No works done by man can produce resurrection. No other “gods” provide this grace for others. Thus, we focus on Christ and Christ Alone as the only one able and willing to pour Himself out, defeat death, and establish our eternity through the sending of His Spirit.
Who can save mankind from their sins? Solus Christus.
