God’s plan has always been to multiply the fame of his own name by giving new life to the spiritually dead (Ephesians 1:4–2:5). The price that this plan required was nothing less than the slaughter of a perfect substitute—a gift too great for anyone but God to give, with a price too high for anyone but God to pay. And so, God the Son became flesh, and his sinless body was stapled to a wooden beam. There, the Son died the death that the living dead deserve, but God refused to let death speak the final word. Three days after the Son released his final breath, a spike-torn hand twitched. A blood-crusted eyelid opened, and the living Lord checked himself out of his own tomb, alive and well.
The Good News: The Gift of God’s Grace Is Free for the Asking
Ever since that first resurrection day, all the goodness of Jesus himself has been available as a free gift to every person who will submit to the reign of the crucified king—and that’s good news for us all! (Romans 10:5-15). Nothing remains for us to do to earn God’s favor, because Jesus has already delivered everything that God’s justice demands. Joined with Jesus in his death, our zombie selves are laid to rest (Romans 6:4-7). Through faith in the risen and reigning Christ, we are raised with him to endless life (Colossians 2:12).
Want to know the bad news? Continue reading here.