2022-Q4-L7

2022-Q4-L7: Christ’s Victory Over Death

Read for This Week’s Study: Matt. 27:62-66; John 10:17, 18; Matt. 27:51-53; John 20:11-29; 1 Cor. 15:5-8.

Memory Text: “When I saw him, I fell down at his feet like a dead man. He put his right hand on me and said, ’Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the One who lives; I was dead, but look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys to death and to the place of the dead’” (Rev. 1:17, 18, NCV). [If Christ holds the key, then he can unlock the door.]

My basic principles of Bible interpretation

The literal interpretation is often the correct one. Some stories are allegorical as is evident in the text, but the majority of the stories in the Bible are not. The Creation Story is not allegorical. The Resurrection Story is not allegorical, but historical.

EGW was a Biblicist. She stayed with the plain reading of Scripture.

As best as you can, learn what the original language of the text has to say. I am often surprised to learn that the English translation and the original Greek or Hebrew do not agree. Find out why they don't agree and see if it legitimate or if there is translation bias.

Translation bias is when the translator's theological bias gets in the way of translating the text as it reads.

Jesus' death

JESUS' DEATH = Baptism of water/blood; Soul Sleep; God's glory hidden; Jesus takes our judgment

Water and blood metaphor.

1 John 5:6: This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood.

Jesus referred to his death as drinking the cup and being baptized with the baptism.

Mark 10:38: Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”

Separation from his Father. “Jesus was bearing the sin of the world; he was enduring the curse of the law; he was vindicating the justice of God. Separation from his Father, the punishment for transgression, was to fall upon him, in order to magnify God’s law and testify to its immutability. And this was forever to settle the controversy between Satan and the Prince of heaven in regard to the changeless character of that law.” (ST Dec 9, 1897)

“He suffered the death which was ours, that we might receive the life which was His. — Desire of Ages pg. 25.

“Sundering of the Divine Powers—The Captain of our salvation was perfected through suffering. His soul was made an offering for sin. It was necessary for the awful darkness to gather about His soul BECAUSE OF THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE FATHER’S LOVE AND FAVOR; for He was standing in the sinner’s place, and this DARKNESS EVERY SINNER MUST EXPERIENCE. The righteous One must suffer the condemnation and wrath of God, not in vindictiveness; for the heart of God yearned with greatest sorrow when His Son, the guiltless, was suffering the penalty of sin. This sundering of the divine powers will never again occur throughout the eternal ages” — Manuscript 93, 1899. {7BC 924.2}

Second death (the death of the wicked, evil angels and Satan)

The SECOND DEATH is in contrast to JESUS' DEATH. They are qualitatively and quantitatively different.

What is the second death?

Bible definition. Only two verses in the Bible define it: Revelation 20:14, "Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire." And Revelation 21:8, "But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."

EGW definition. 4SP 364.2: While life is the inheritance of the righteous, death is the portion of the wicked. The penalty threatened is not merely temporal death, for all must suffer this. It is the second death, the opposite of everlasting life.

EGW occurrences. There are 89 occurrences of the phrase "second death" in her writings. I read them all. They all say the same thing. Basically, the second death is annihilation by fire.

SECOND DEATH = Lake of Fire (annihilation by fire); opposite of Everlasting Life (EGW).

Jesus adds to this definition. According to Jesus, there are two types of death in the Bible: (1) soul sleep and (2) soul death (annihilation/extinction).

Matthew 10:28: And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell [Greek Gehenna]. See also Luke 12:5.

Gehenna. There are 12 occurrences in the NT. Jesus uses it 11 of the 12. In the OT, it was the place of child sacrifice.

Jesus on the second death. Jesus viewed the second death to be "soul death." And, this soul death is to occur in the Gehenna of fire.

Thus, also SECOND DEATH = + soul death;

God is present in the judgment. His glory and power are manifest. The Lake of Fire is from God the Father. He is a consuming fire and rains fire on the wicked. [Many texts to give evidence to this.]

God's wrath will be poured out in the presence of the Lamb, the angels and the redeemed.

Thus, also SECOND DEATH = + God's glory and power is manifest

Satan pays for the righteous sins (EGW).

Final (executive) judgment. The second death is the final (executive) judgment. What happens in the final judgment? Read GC 673.1. Effectively, Satan burns for the sins of the righteous as well as his own transgressions.

Thus, also SECOND DEATH = + Satan pays for the redeemed's sins

(So, in the end, who is really paying for my sins?)

Final equation:

SECOND DEATH = Lake of Fire (annih.; opp. Everlasting Life); Soul ~~Sleep~~ Death; God's glory manifest; Satan takes our judgment (scapegoat)

From the lesson (Thursday): Christ did not die just the natural death that every human being has to face. He died the second death, so that all those who accept Him will never have to experience it for themselves.

The above view in the lesson cannot be supported by the Bible or EGW.

Baptism duality (water and blood)

1 John 5:6: This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood.

Dual aspect to Jesus' death. Water and blood. His side was pierced and out issued water and blood.

Mark 10:38: Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”

Jesus shed his blood so the world could have forgiveness of sins.

Baptism of water and blood. There is a connection in baptism with water and blood. The blood sprinkling in the sacrificial system is typified.

Revelation 1:5 (NKJV): . . . To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,

Greek commentary: There is a textual variant. Some manuscripts read “freed” (“released,” “loosed;” Greek: lusanti) while other Greek manuscripts read “washed” (Greek: lousanti). “Freed” has better manuscript support, it better fits the Old Testament imagery (cp. Isa. 40:2 in the Septuagint), and it better fits the New Testament imagery of people being enslaved by sin but “freed” by Jesus Christ, so it is generally considered the original reading.

One letter difference between loosed and washed: "washed" (λούσαντι) and "loosed" (λύσαντι), both readings being very well supported

1 John 1:7: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

Blood sprinkling.

1 Peter 1:2: according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:

Hebrews 10:22: let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

The concept of Past, Present and Future. The blood cleanses us from our Past. The water washes us in the Present and for the Future.

Romans 6:3: . . . baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

Notes

Without the resurrection, the cross would have little to no meaning for us. We not only die to sin, we also LIVE TO LIFE as the resurrection typifies. The baptism typifies BOTH.

If there was no resurrection, our lives would be futile. Why? Not because the Christian life is a better life, but because Christ's life and resurrection assured victory over sin and the sinful nature and Christians have the power to live a righteous life. WIthout Christ's resurrection, there would have been no victory.

SUNDAY. A Sealed Tomb

Scriptures

Matthew 27:62–66 (NKJV): 62 On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, 63 saying, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ So the last deception will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.

EGW

DA 778.1: The priests gave directions for securing the sepulcher. A great stone had been placed before the opening. Across this stone they placed cords, securing the ends to the solid rock, and sealing them with the Roman seal. The stone could not be moved without breaking the seal. A guard of one hundred soldiers was then stationed around the sepulcher to prevent it from being tampered with. The priests did all they could to keep Christ's body where it had been laid. He was sealed as securely in His tomb as if He were to remain there through all time.

Notes

Sealed tomb. (1) encased in stone. (2) sealed with a heavy stone door. (3) protected by a group of Roman soldiers. (4) watched over by demonic powers. Satan understood the significance of the third day. He had heard Jesus' prediction. He didn't want this to happen.

The chief priests and the Pharisees knew of Jesus' prediction that he would rise from the dead.

"They did not love the truth." It's not about factual data, it's about loving the truth.

Those that love power and prestige are willing to compromise the truth above their own selfish ambition.

What can you prove with a miracle?

MONDAY. “He Is Risen!”

Scripture

Matthew 28:1–6 (NKJV): 28 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. 5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

From the lesson: The victory of Christ over Satan and his evil powers was secured on the cross and confirmed by the empty tomb. “When Jesus was laid in the grave, Satan triumphed. He dared to hope that the Saviour would not take up His life again. He claimed the Lord’s body, and set his guard about the tomb, seeking to hold Christ a prisoner. He was bitterly angry when his angels fled at the approach of the heavenly messenger. When he saw Christ come forth in triumph, he knew that his kingdom would have an end, and that he must finally die.” — Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 782. And though Christ’s humanity died, His divinity did not die. In His divinity, Christ possessed the power to break the bonds of death.

EGW

19LtMs, Lt 280, 1904, par. 9: Was the human nature of the Son of Mary changed into the divine nature of the Son of God?—No; the two natures were mysteriously blended in one person—the Man Christ Jesus. In Him dwelt all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. When Christ was crucified, it was His human nature that died. Deity did not sink and die; that would have been impossible. Christ, the sinless One, will save every son and daughter of Adam who accepts the salvation proffered them, consenting to become the children of God. The Saviour has purchased the fallen race with His own blood.

19LtMs, Lt 280, 1904, par. 10: This is a great mystery, a mystery that will not be fully, completely understood in its greatness until the translation of the redeemed shall take place. Then the power and greatness and efficacy of the gift of God to man will be understood. But the enemy is determined that this gift shall be so mystified that it will become as nothingness.

Notes

See notes on John 10:17-18 below in APPENDIX.

TUESDAY. Many Arose With Him.

Matthew 27:51–53 (NKJV): 51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

EGW

DA 786.1: As Christ arose, He brought from the grave a multitude of captives. The earthquake at His death had rent open their graves, and when He arose, they came forth with Him. They were those who had been co-laborers with God, and who at the cost of their lives had borne testimony to the truth. Now they were to be witnesses for Him who had raised them from the dead.

DA 786.4: To the believer, Christ is the resurrection and the life. In our Saviour the life that was lost through sin is restored; for He has life in Himself to quicken whom He will. He is invested with the right to give immortality. The life that He laid down in humanity, He takes up again, and gives to humanity. “I am come,” He said, “that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” “Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 10:10; 4:14; John 6:54.

“This is a great mystery, a mystery that will not be fully, completely understood in all its greatness until the translation of the redeemed shall take place. Then the power and greatness and efficacy of the gift of God to man will be understood. But the enemy is determined that this gift shall be so mystified that it will become as nothingness” (Letter 280, 1904). {5BC 1113.3}

WEDNESDAY. Witnesses of the Risen Christ.

John 20:11-29: [Christ Appears to Mary Magdalene; Christ Appears to the Disciples (Thomas Absent); Christ Appears to the Disciples (Thomas Present)]

1 Corinthians 15:5–8 (NKJV): 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

Notes

Witnesses/Testified. (1) Roman soldiers and angels (good and bad); (2) risen dead; (3) women and disciples;

THURSDAY. The First Fruits of Those Who Have Died. Deuteronomy 26:1-11.

1 Corinthians 15:20 (NKJV): 20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

From the lesson: The offering of “the first fruits” was an ancient Israelite agricultural practice with deep religious significance. It was a sacred recognition of God as the gracious Provider, who had entrusted His stewards with the land where the crops grew and were ready to be harvested (see Exod. 23:19, Exod. 34:26, Lev. 2:11-16, Deut. 26:1-11). The first fruits indicated that the harvest was not only starting but also revealing the quality of its products.

According to Wayne Grudem, “in calling Christ ‘the first fruits’ (Gr. aparchē), Paul uses a metaphor from agriculture to indicate that we will be like Christ. Just as the ‘first fruits’ or the first taste of the ripening crop show what the rest of the harvest will be like for that crop, so Christ as the ‘first fruits’ shows what our resurrection bodies will be like when, in God’s final ‘harvest,’ he raises us from the dead and brings us into his presence.” — Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1994), p. 615.

Notes

DA 77.1: The Passover was followed by the seven days’ feast of unleavened bread. On the second day of the feast, the first fruits of the year's harvest, a sheaf of barley, was presented before the Lord. All the ceremonies of the feast were types of the work of Christ. The deliverance of Israel from Egypt was an object lesson of redemption, which the Passover was intended to keep in memory. The slain lamb, the unleavened bread, the sheaf of first fruits, represented the Saviour.

1 Corinthians 15:21-23: For as by a man came death, iby a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming lthose who belong to Christ.

FRIDAY. Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “In Joseph’s Tomb,” pp. 769-778; “The Lord Is Risen,” pp. 779-787; “Why Weepest Thou?”, pp. 788-794; “The Walk to Emmaus,” pp. 795-801; “Peace Be Unto You,” pp. 802-808; in The Desire of Ages.

APPENDIX

So, how do we reconcile these seemingly contradictory statements from the previous ones that say it was the Father who raised Christ? Did Christ raise Himself or did the Father raise Him?

When we consider all the inspired statements under consideration, we can be true to the Scripture in saying that the Father raised Christ from the dead. And yet, we can also say Christ raised Himself for it was the Father who initiated the resurrection by calling Him forth from the grave by the voice of an angel and giving Christ the “permission” to be “released” from his “sleep” thus allowing Him to have the access TO the life that was in Himself to come out of the grave BY the life that was in Himself.

If you look at the Bible and the testimonies holistically I believe you will see that God the Father raised Jesus by calling Him back to the life that was still within Himself. You can liken this to someone waking someone else up from his or her sleep. The external source is the impetus that wakes the person up but they do not provide life to them for that is already there.

2. "Christ's humanity died, His divinity did not die". This is a problem.

Divinity did not die, nor can it die. So, then, who died on the cross? If only Jesus' human side died, then it was a "human" who paid for all human sin. If that is true, then what did God have to do with it? Or, asked another way, Why did God have to become flesh, when God never participated in death.

"No matter how exalted the pre-existent Son was; no matter how glorious, how powerful, or even eternal; if the manhood only died, the sacrifice was only human." (J. H. Waggoner, 1884, The Atonement In The Light Of Nature And Revelation, pages 164, 165)

Divine or human, but not both. Logically, a person is either divine or human but not both:

A person cannot be present everywhere (omnipresent) and, at the same time be limited to a body in a single location.

A person cannot be all-powerful (omnipotent) and, at the same time, be limited in power.

A person cannot be all-knowing (omniscient) and, at the same time, be limited in knowledge.

Consider this statement from EGW regarding divinity and humanity:

"In Christ divinity and humanity were united, and the only way in which man may be an overcomer is through becoming a partaker of the divine nature ... Divinity and humanity are blended in him who has the spirit of Christ." (SD 24)

But having those character traits does not make us divine, just partakers of divine characteristics. Neither does Jesus who is divine by virtue of being the Son of God, become merely human because He has a physical nature like ours. So, "divinity did not die" is not talking about the physical being who did die but about the physical characteristics which did not "die" as He was not in possession of them at the time of His death.

Separation from the Father. Similar to the "second death" to be experienced by the wicked.

“Sundering of the Divine Powers—The Captain of our salvation was perfected through suffering. His soul was made an offering for sin. It was necessary for the awful darkness to gather about His soul BECAUSE OF THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE FATHER’S LOVE AND FAVOR; for He was standing in the sinner’s place, and this DARKNESS EVERY SINNER MUST EXPERIENCE. The righteous One must suffer the condemnation and wrath of God, not in vindictiveness; for the heart of God yearned with greatest sorrow when His Son, the guiltless, was suffering the penalty of sin. This sundering of the divine powers will never again occur throughout the eternal ages” — Manuscript 93, 1899. {7BC 924.2}

“…Christ would take upon Himself the guilt and shame of sin–sin so offensive to a holy God that IT MUST SEPARATE THE FATHER AND THE SON.” — Ellen G. White, Signs of the times, 4th November 1908

Divinity in the tomb did not die, therefore. If Christ raised Himself from the dead and if He is responsible for His own LIFE then it could not be the divine side of Christ that died, but only the human. Moreover, you would have to attribute a live cognitive function to Christ’s divinity while He was supposedly dead in the grave in order for Christ to raise Himself. The original divine life therefore was untouched. In that case, the inherent life of the Second Person of the Trinity (Jesus) was never in jeopardy. He faced no real, eternal risk to His divine life (contrary to Inspiration); His humanity in that case was merely a temporary garb He put on which did not have any material effect on His divine personage.

{6MR 112.3}. It is that blending of the two natures that makes His death efficacious; a divine life in human flesh unites man with God. Only thus can atonement be made. But to divide Jesus at the cross into two separate natures negates the effect of the Incarnation. Thus the idea that Christ’s divinity can be independently immortal from His humanity, entirely separate from the Father’s Life, greatly compromises the integrity of Christ’s death and resurrection.

Only divinity could atone. “only one equal with God could make atonement for its transgression.” Not even an angel could pay it, let alone a human being. This is noteworthy in that a mere human sacrifice (Christ’s humanity alone) would have been infinitely inadequate. Again please note the emphasis – “it must separate the Father and the Son”.

“In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” Men need to understand that DEITY SUFFERED AND SANK UNDER THE AGONIES OF CALVARY. Yet Jesus Christ whom God gave for the ransom of the world purchased the church with His own blood. The Majesty of heaven was made to suffer at the hands of religious zealots, who claimed to be the most enlightened people upon the face of the earth (MS 153, 1898).—Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p. 907.

Christ's human nature.

“As God He could not be tempted: but as a man He could be tempted, and that strongly, and could yield to the temptations… HIS HUMAN NATURE WAS CREATED; IT DID NOT EVEN POSSESS THE ANGELIC POWERS. It was human, IDENTICAL WITH OUR OWN.” {6MR 111.1}

2) “A complete offering has been made; for “God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son,”– NOT A SON BY CREATION, as were the angels, nor a son by adoption, as is the forgiven sinner, but A SON BEGOTTEN IN THE EXPRESS IMAGE of the Father’s person, and in ALL THE BRIGHTNESS OF HIS MAJESTY AND GLORY, ONE EQUAL WITH GOD IN AUTHORITY, DIGNITY, AND DIVINE PERFECTION.” {ST May 30, 1895 par. 3}

“In Christ were united THE DIVINE and THE HUMAN—THE CREATOR and THE CREATURE. THE NATURE OF GOD, whose law had been transgressed, and THE NATURE OF ADAM, the transgressor, meet in Jesus—THE SON OF GOD, and THE SON OF MAN…” {EGW, Manuscript 141, 1901}