9. The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Christ

9. The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Christ

In Christ’s life of perfect obedience to God’s will, His suffering, death,

and resurrection, God provided the only means of atonement for human

sin, so that those who by faith accept this atonement may have eternal life,

and the whole creation may better understand the infinite and holy love of

the Creator. This perfect atonement vindicates the righteousness of God’s

law and the graciousness of His character; for it both condemns our sin

and provides for our forgiveness. The death of Christ is substitutionary

and expiatory, reconciling and transforming. The bodily resurrection of

Christ proclaims God’s triumph over the forces of evil, and for those who

accept the atonement assures their final victory over sin and death. It

declares the Lordship of Jesus Christ, before whom every knee in heaven

and on earth will bow. (Gen 3:15; Ps 22:1; Isa 53; John 3:16; 14:30; Rom

1:4; 3:25; 4:25; 8:3, 4; 1 Cor 15:3, 4, 20-22; 2 Cor 5:14, 15, 19-21; Phil

2:6-11; Col 2:15; 1 Peter 2:21, 22; 1 John 2:2; 4:10.)