Life, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ [What Hope Do They Bring?] – Pastor Ted Wilson

In this episode, Pastor Ted Wilson talks about Jesus Christ. He focuses on His life, death, and resurrection, the central focus of the Scriptures and the ninth fundamental belief of the Seventh-day Adventists.

This belief is at the very heart of Christianity because Christ's life on earth, death on the cross, and glorious resurrection give us hope of salvation.

In the beginning, when God created Adam and Eve, they were perfect. Unfortunately, when they chose to disobey Him, sin entered the world. Thankfully, God had devised a plan to save them. That is, "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel" (Genesis 3:15).

This beautiful promise signified that God the Son, Jesus Christ, would come to earth, be born of a virgin, and take on our humanity. He would die in our place, taking the penalty of our sin by dying on the cross that we could be reconciled. He suffered the condemnation that should have been ours to set us free from sin and allow us to live forever with Him.

"The cross of Christ will be the science and the song of the redeemed through all eternity. In Christ glorified they will behold Christ crucified. Never will it be forgotten that He Whose power created and upheld the unnumbered worlds through the vast realms of space, the Beloved of God, the Majesty of heaven, He Whom cherub and shining seraph delighted to adore—humbled Himself to uplift fallen man; that He bore the guilt and shame of sin, and the hiding of His Father's face, till the woes of a lost world broke His heart and crushed out His life on Calvary's cross" (The Great Controversy, p. 651).

But Jesus was not alone in this great sacrifice. He was with God the Father. John 3:16 says, "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."

God gave the gift of His Son so that we might have eternal life. We must accept this gift and allow Him to change our hearts. Not only did Jesus die for us but He also lived a sinless life that serves as an example for us to live by. His life, death, and resurrection gave us salvation and showed us what love really is.

The Seventh-day Adventist fundamental belief #9 states: "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."

What an amazing, incredible God we serve! He has provided a way for our salvation. As Paul put it, "For since by man came death, by Man (that is, Jesus) also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive" (1 Cor. 15:21, 22).

There's so much to learn from this fundamental belief by visiting www.adventist.org/life-death-and-resurrection-of-christ/ and reading The Desire of Ages by Ellen G. White.

As an appeal, Pastor Wilson invites you to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Jesus is waiting for you with forgiveness freely available to all who come. Now is the time to come to Him.