Christus Victor
The apostle Paul understood that because of what God did through His Son, death will not have the final victory:
“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:55–57)
Through faith in Jesus, believers have victory over death and access to the hope of an eternity with God. In Christ, life is no longer a hopeless and endless progression of empty diversions, but a purpose-filled sojourn that prepares us for our eternal home.
The Story of Redemption
By the power of His word, the LORD created the universe in all its fullness ex nihilo (out of nothing). King David declares in a psalm how the heavens illuminate the divine nature of God:
The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. (Psalm 19:2)
Despite the natural beauty that surrounds us, we know that the creation, like our bodies, is subject to futility and decay (Romans 8:20–23). The fall of man brought brokenness and evil into the world. But there’s hope. There’s redemption. The heavens tell of the glory of God, but God speaks to us through His Son who came to redeem:
God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they. (Hebrews 1:1–4)
Because of who Jesus is and what He did, by faith in Him we have the hope of eternal life. This is a confident hope that will not disappoint and will not be put to shame (Romans 8:24–25). Though we die, yet shall we live because of Jesus Christ our Lord (John 11:25–26). Death is not the end.
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For further study, consider viewing Ken’s Voyage of Life series.
