The question is did Christ live for us?
Most teachers of systematic theology will say no. They will say all that matters in the salvation of fallen man is the death of Christ. His life is not relevant. My question is, what if Christ had failed to obey God's holy law? He would have been a transgressor and a sinner and his sacrifice on the cross would not have been acceptable to God. The law says, "We must love God with all of our heart, mind and strength and our neighbor as ourselves" Leviticus 19:18.
Was it necessary for Christ to fulfill this law for us? He fulfilled this law fully and completely for us just as though we fulfilled it ourselves. Jesus's mission was to come into the world to do for us that which we cannot do for ourselves. In our name and on our behalf Jesus has offered to God the Father a life of perfect obedience to his Holy Law. That was not enough, something had to be done about our sins. Again, in our name and on our behalf Jesus atones for our sins and the sins of the whole world, 1 John 2:2.
The trouble with just accepting the death of Christ and not his life leaves a void in the believers doctrine and either consciously or unconsciously the believer will try to fill this void with his own life. This will lead to legalism.
The voice from heaven said, "This is my Son in whom I am well pleased" Matthew 3:17. Christ has provided righteousness for us by his life. The scripture says, "For if by one man's offense, death reigned by one, but those who receive an abundance of grace and the GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS shall reign in life by Jesus Christ" Romans 5:17.
This life of Christ that offers everything to God that the law demands. This life that is perfect in word and deed, this is our life; it is the life that God imputes to us. The scripture says that Abraham believed that God and was able to do that which he had promised and it was imputed to him for righteousness, Romans 4:21, 22. This righteousness that was imputed to Abraham was the righteous life of Christ. "So by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous" Romans 5:19.
We need not only the life of Christ to save us, we need his death, his resurrection, his ascension into heaven, his presence at the right hand of God and his promise to come again and receive us into himself. If we say that any part of this is not relevant, we have done great damage to the Gospel.
Most teachers of systematic theology will say no. They will say all that matters in the salvation of fallen man is the death of Christ. His life is not relevant. My question is, what if Christ had failed to obey God's holy law? He would have been a transgressor and a sinner and his sacrifice on the cross would not have been acceptable to God. The law says, "We must love God with all of our heart, mind and strength and our neighbor as ourselves" Leviticus 19:18.
Was it necessary for Christ to fulfill this law for us? He fulfilled this law fully and completely for us just as though we fulfilled it ourselves. Jesus's mission was to come into the world to do for us that which we cannot do for ourselves. In our name and on our behalf Jesus has offered to God the Father a life of perfect obedience to his Holy Law. That was not enough, something had to be done about our sins. Again, in our name and on our behalf Jesus atones for our sins and the sins of the whole world, 1 John 2:2.
The trouble with just accepting the death of Christ and not his life leaves a void in the believers doctrine and either consciously or unconsciously the believer will try to fill this void with his own life. This will lead to legalism.
The voice from heaven said, "This is my Son in whom I am well pleased" Matthew 3:17. Christ has provided righteousness for us by his life. The scripture says, "For if by one man's offense, death reigned by one, but those who receive an abundance of grace and the GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS shall reign in life by Jesus Christ" Romans 5:17.
This life of Christ that offers everything to God that the law demands. This life that is perfect in word and deed, this is our life; it is the life that God imputes to us. The scripture says that Abraham believed that God and was able to do that which he had promised and it was imputed to him for righteousness, Romans 4:21, 22. This righteousness that was imputed to Abraham was the righteous life of Christ. "So by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous" Romans 5:19.
We need not only the life of Christ to save us, we need his death, his resurrection, his ascension into heaven, his presence at the right hand of God and his promise to come again and receive us into himself. If we say that any part of this is not relevant, we have done great damage to the Gospel.
