He Abolished Death!

He Abolished Death!

“Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Heb. 2:14-15.

It was fallen mankind that was subject to this judgment: Whoever sins shall die! There is no one who has not sinned, which is why they all are afraid to die. “For if you live according to the flesh you will die . . . .” Rom. 8:13.

There was no one who fully managed to resist the passions and desires of the flesh so that he was set free from death, which is why God had to send His Son. And inasmuch as the children partook of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same. He was not only going to set Himself free from death, but also all those who feared it. Jesus was to conquer death and bring life and immortality to light.

Jesus also lived in fear of this enemy—death—all the days of His life. The battle in which He was engaged was terribly serious. “Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear . . . .” Heb. 5:7.

Jesus was not saved from physical death, but He was saved from the death that is the result of living according to the flesh. Because He had never lived according to the flesh, physical death could not hold Him. He has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 1 Cor. 15:20. Enoch and Elijah were raptured without having to die, which is why they could not destroy the power of death and give hope to mankind. On the other hand, Jesus went into death, but death could not hold Him. He broke the chains of death and gave hope to mankind. His name be praised for all eternity!

How did Jesus overcome this physical death that had entered through sin? He did it through death, thus destroying him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.

Jesus came with a new death that destroyed the first death, which is why this new death is called the dying of Jesus. 2 Cor. 4:10. This is a death over the flesh with its passions and desires—over our self-will. This is a death that we can die while we are alive. In order to make this death a way of redemption for mankind, Jesus Himself had to partake of flesh and blood just like the children. He did not come to give aid to angels and become like them, but He came to give aid to the seed of Abraham. Therefore He had to be made like His brethren in all things (not His brother, as if it was Adam before the fall). He Himself had to suffer and be tempted in order to be able to help those who are tempted. To consecrate this new and living way for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, He also had to fight, with the result that He offered up prayers with vehement cries. Heb. 10:20. He feared death—He feared giving in to the flesh the least little bit—that flesh which He had received as the Son of Man. He was so faithful that, in spite of the fact that He was tempted in all points as we are, He did not fall. He did not give in the least little bit; He was without sin. Heb. 4:15.

The battle in Gethsemane testifies to Jesus’ self-examination before He delivered the last and decisive blow against death. He did not fight like that because He was afraid of the physical sufferings He was about to undergo. In that case He would have had to have been more afraid than many martyrs who suffered much more physically. But the question with regard to Jesus was: Have I done all God’s will to perfection? Am I a perfect, blameless, and faultless sacrifice according to God’s light so that death cannot hold me? Then an angel came and strengthened Him. He received this testimony: You were faithful until now and Your mission as Savior has succeeded. Then Jesus arose and went, strengthened and with boldness, the last part of the way that was left for Him to go, until He called out on the cross, “It is finished!” God confirmed this call by raising Him up on the third day. The prince of this world had nothing in Him. Jesus had destroyed the devil by dying to the flesh. Death could not hold Him.

None of us could consecrate this way. Jesus had to do it; yet He did not go this way in our stead. We are to follow Him. We could not have done that either if He had not given us the Spirit in which He offered Himself. We can now put to death the deeds of the body in the power of this Spirit, so we can live. Rom. 8:13.

Jesus disarmed principalities and powers on the cross. Therefore the person who has crucified the flesh with its passions and desires—the person who has died with Jesus—cannot be overcome by Satan and all the spirit powers in the world. They are disarmed on the cross.

Brothers! This is the message with which to go out into the world to those who are dying. Fear not! Satan is able to kill the body, but just as it was impossible for him to keep Jesus in the grave, so it is impossible for him to keep Jesus’ followers in the grave.

Those who follow Jesus on this way will be in the bride and will be raptured. They are like Him. When we think about this as we see the Day approaching, we, too, will have our Gethsemane battle, our self-examination. Are we faithful to the workings of the Spirit? Do we always bear in our bodies the dying of Christ so that Jesus life can be manifested in our mortal flesh? Then it is good to know that the Spirit witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God. Rom. 8:14-16.

Brothers, let us proclaim this in the power of the Spirit so that the people can receive hope and consolation.