Lesson Eleven

GOD'S SALVATION

CHRIST'S LIFE-GIVING RESURRECTION (1)

Burden to Impart:

Through sin, man's fall brought him under the power of Satan, who eventually brought him fully into the bondage and corruption of death. The Lord Jesus boldly entered into death and conquered the one who had the power of death, the devil. Now, the Lord Jesus has the keys of death and of Hades (Rev. 1:18). Christ is Victor! Now, because He has both defeated Satan and has overcome death, He is also able to save all who are His from the power of death. The fact of the Lord's resurrection is the most vital truth in the gospel.

Memory Verse: "Whom God raised up, having loosed the pangs of death, since it was not possible for Him to be held by it" (Acts 2:24).

Facts to Teach:

  1. Christ's death on the cross solves all of our problems concerning sin. He came as the spotless Lamb of God and shed His precious blood to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29), to redeem us back to God (1 Pet. 1:18-19), and to justify us before Him Rom. 3:24-25). However, an even more serious problem than sin must also be solved, which is the issue of sin: death. As the death of the Lord Jesus upon the cross and the shedding of His redeeming blood saves us from sin and judgment, so also His life-giving resurrection saves us from death and corruption.
  2. Through sin death came into the world and "reigned" over all men (Rom. 5:12, 14). All men are eventually subdued under its power and forcibly brought into its domain, Hades. The Bible reveals to us that death is not simply an event that occurs because people get old. Death is Satan's greatest weapon. Death is Satan's greatest power. There is a person behind death, Satan, the devil.
  3. The Lord Jesus did not fear death for He is the "resurrection and the life" (John 11:25). He willingly laid down His life for us (John 10:18) and entered into death. He challenged and defied the power of death. After spending three days in Hades and fulfilling the Scriptures, the time had come for the Lord to take up His life again. His soul and spirit arose victoriously out of Hades; His body was quickened and He arose out of the grave (Acts 2:27, 24). It was impossible for death to hold Him! His resurrection conquered death!
  4. Not only had Satan, death, and Hades been conquered through the Lord's resurrection, but all those who had been held in slavery by them were released (Heb. 2:15). The Lord's resurrection "abolished death and brought life and immortality to light" (2 Tim. 1:10) for all those who believe on Him through the gospel.