The events in the life of Jesus, God’s Son, were not mere happenings but the unfolding of God’s great plan for the eternal welfare of mankind. The state of the natural man is sinful which unfits him for an entrance into Heaven. However, God does not wish to see anyone die in his sins and perish. It is His desire that all men tum from their sin and be saved.
For this cause God ” … gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3: 16). Jesus gladly paid the price of the sinner’s redemption on the cross of Calvary. Therefore, having met the righteous demands of the law, God raised Him up from the dead and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. How beautiful the co-operation of the Father and Son! All this to win a lost race back to God. Yes, eternal life awaits all those who put their trust in Jesus Christ, the One who was dead, but now lives forevermore; and, because He lives, we shall live also.
But God had another purpose in raising His Son from the dead. Here it is: “Who was delivered for our offences and was raised again for our justification” (Romans 4:25). How wonderful! Not only saved from sin but delivered from the condemnation and penalty of sin. On Jesus was laid the iniquity of us all. Therefore, death and the grave were His portion for you and for me. But God, being satisfied with the full payment His Son made for sin, raised Him up from the dead and set Him free. Now our God is a just God, and by His grace freely justifies all those who believe in Jesus. He cannot requite those for whom a ransom has already been paid. “Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5: 1). O rest, sweet rest! This is the believer’s portion in this life, free from all condemnation!
But let us consider the blessedness of the life to come when we stand before the just Judge. Were we to stand before God alone, there would be no hope for anyone, but Jesus will be there, the One who paid the price of our redemption and is now at the right hand of the Father making intercession for the saints. At that day, He will plead our cause, and no charges will be able to stand against us. For while the saints walk the dusty highways of this earth by faith, He will keep them from falling, and at that great day will present them faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. What a wonderful hope! Are you looking for that blessed hope?
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” ( 1 Peter 1 :3-4).