Pastor Caleb Klinge declared in his sermon, April 8, 2012:
Jesus stepped out of eternity into time and died
so that we could step out of time into eternal life.
Paul writes about this in Philippians 2:
5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11 NASB)
The essence of His sacrifice for us is proclaimed in these two verses:
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
(John 3:16 NKJV)He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
(2 Cor. 5:21 NASB)
Jesus described his mission predicting his resurrection in John chapter 10:
17 For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. 18 No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”
(John 10:17-18 NASB)
In the next chapter, Jesus proclaims and demonstrates that he is “the resurrection and the life”, by raising Lazarus from the dead.
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.” (John 11:25-27 NASB)
As Paul explains in 1 Thessalonians 4, when the risen Lord returns he will first raise the believers who have died: “he who believes in Me will live even if he dies”. After that, believers who are living will be transformed and will meet him in the air: “everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.”
This is the account of Jesus’ resurrection in John chapter 20:
1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” 3 So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb. 4 The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; 5 and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. 6 And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. 10 So the disciples went away again to their own homes.
11 But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; 12 and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. 13 And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.
(John 20:1-18 NASB)
This encounter with the risen Lord was the inspiration for C. Austin Miles’ hymn, “In the Garden”. Pastor Caleb Klinge comments on this passage:
Just as Jesus called Mary Magdalene by name, he calls you by name! The resurrection pierces through the blinding power of broken dreams. Don’t live with a mindset of defeat during the day of victory. We live on the other side of the cross. Jesus is risen from the dead. His blood paid for the eternal life of all who believe, for your life and mine. You are precious to God.
Jesus had explained to the disciples, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NKJV) Those who abide in Christ also are overcomers by His power, as Paul declares: “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1 NASB) He adds, “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37 NKJV)
If our hearts are given to Him, we will rebound from failure or loss as described in Proverbs 24: “For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, but the wicked stumble in time of calamity.” (Prov. 24:16 NASB)
Those who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved:
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for “whoever will call on the name of the LORD will be saved.” (Romans 10:12-13 NASB)
He makes all things new, here and now and for all eternity. Let him come and make all things new for you today!
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
(2 Cor. 5:17 NKJV)
David Krause, dhkrause@neteze.com, 4/13/2012
Compelling Love 
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