CHRIST “died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.”
What words of blessing are here! The death of the blessed One―and the substitutionary character of His death―the assurance of our full blessing, whether we die, or whether we live till His coming again―and our eternal blessedness with Him.
Yes, Christ died! He surrendered His life, with the crowd deriding Him, and God having forsaken Him. Yet why?
For us, so that by His death our sins might be cleansed away. In these words, “for us,” is the explanation of Calvary. He endured all its agonies in order that His choice wish might be realized, and
That we should live together with Him. And this shall be realized, whether by our being raised up from death, or being translated without our dying into His presence at His coming.
By our Lord’s death we know that our sins will never bar us out of heaven, for Christ died for our sins, and by our Lord’s resurrection we are assured that, our living Christ watches over us day and night as He sits upon the throne of God. Ah! if when we were sinners Jesus so loved us as to die for us, how much more shall we, now that we are His friends, be saved by His life! He loved us unto death; He loves us after such a sort that He will bring us home to Himself.
On the cross the whole question of sin was settled for all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. The tomb where He lay is empty, and He is now seated upon the throne of God. By Christ’s death, sin is condemned and our sins are put away, everlasting righteousness is brought in and secured to the believer. By His death the law is magnified and made honorable. By His death God is glorified and Satan is defeated. By His death, death has lost its sting and the grave its victory, and the believer is eternally saved. Christ “died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.”