Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
At Christmastime a couple of years ago, I wrote about Jesus’ virgin birth as a matter of truth stranger than fiction. The Bible clearly states Mary was a virgin, as prophesied long before Jesus was born (Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:26-35).
Although she wasn’t a virgin all her life because Jesus had brothers and sisters, Mary actually remained a virgin until the sacrifice for her purification after childbirth at which time Jesus also was presented to the Lord as a firstborn son to be redeemed, both according to Mosaic Law (Matthew 13:54-56; 1:18-25; Luke 2:21-24; Leviticus 12:1-8; Numbers 18:14-17).
Neither Jesus’ birth nor his death ever have been denied — only the facts of his virgin birth and his divinity, which also is a denial of his resurrection. That’s another truth many have considered stranger than fiction since shortly after it happened (Acts 17:32).
But the resurrection is actually a fact of history, just like Jesus’ birth and death, with more documented eyewitnesses than most events during that period could claim (Acts 1:21-22; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8).
Even the Jewish leaders didn’t deny the resurrection when it happened. In fact, to cover it up, they paid the guards at the tomb to lie about it (Matthew 28:1-15). Even King Herod Agrippa, the grandson of the king at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion, didn’t deny the resurrection when Roman governor Festus said Paul was crazy for stating its fact (Acts 26:1-26). Additionally, many of the Jewish leaders and their followers already looked forward to a resurrection (Acts 23:6-9; John 11:20-27).
During this Easter season, many are focused on Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, which gives all people access to forgiveness bringing a right relationship with God (1 Timothy 2:5-6; Romans 1:16-17).
Recognizing Jesus was born and died under Mosaic Law (the Old Testament Law) is critical to understanding his statement to the thief on the cross about being with him in paradise (Luke 23:32-43). That is, the requirements for a person to become a Jew so they could have the punishment for their sins set aside under Mosaic Law weren’t the same as for a person to receive forgiveness and become a Christian under the New Covenant that took effect upon Jesus’ death (Leviticus 16:1-34; Deuteronomy 10:14-16; 30:6; Hebrews 9:1-15; 10:1-10; Colossians 2:9-14; Romans 2:28-29).
Jesus was the firstborn son redeemed from God and the lamb that was slain for our sins, thereby, setting aside the Mosaic Law of atonement through his own death.
Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God who died for your sins and was raised again? If so, offer yourself as a living sacrifice by being united with Jesus’ in his death, burial, and resurrection through baptism resurrection (Romans 6:3-5; 12:1-2). That will bring about your rebirth as a child of God (John 3:3-8; Acts 2:38-39; 22:16; Titus 3:3-8; 1 Peter 1:3, 22-23).
So don’t let anyone deny your resurrection unto eternal life by covering up the purpose of baptism in salvation (Mark 16:16; Acts 19:1-5).
Leonard Lauriault is a member of the Church of Christ in Logan who writes about faith for the Quay County Sun. Contact him at [email protected].