Page 240 - Bible Writers Theology Original

224 ♦ Bible Writers'Theology Chapter Eight
Christ. It includes also His burial/ resurrection/ ascension/ and exaltation.
Each of these contributes significantly to the plan of redemption.
We look now at the importance/ nature/ credibility and results of Christ's burial. Since Jesus Christ was the "Word made flesh"/ the nature of Christ's body was not like the nature of the earthly Adam Qohn 1:1-3/14). Thus Christ's flesh did not suffer decay (Psalm 16:8-10; Acts 2:27). Some may say He can see corruption if His body would have stayed longer in the grave, but we must know that Jesus is the "living". In Luke 24:5 we are told not to seek the living among the dead; for the angels have said "Why seek ye the
Uving among the dead." (Isaiah 26:19) "Thy dead men shall live, togeth er with my dead body shall they arise." Jesus also said of himself: "1 am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead yet shall he live." Gohn 11:25).
It is prophesied in Hosea 6:1-3, that His burial was for the purpose of binding us up, reviving us, and raising us up after His own likeness. According to the prophecy of Isaiah 28:18, the work of Christ's death and burial was to disannul our covenant and agreement with death and hell. Again Isaiah prophesied that Christ's death and burial was to swallow up deathinvictory(Isaiah25:8). Christdescendedintothelowerpartofthe earth and "led captivity captive" (Ephesians 4:8,9; Psalm 139:7,8; 1Peter 3:18, 4:6), and took the keys of hell and of death from Satan (Revelations 1:18; Hebrews 2:14; 1Corinthians 15:55).
Christ went down to the grave to open the graves of the dead and caused them to come up out of their graves, for He has proved that He is the resur rection and the life (Ezekiel 37:12; Matthew. 27:52; 1Peter 3:18,19; 4:6; John 6:40-59). Christ went down to the grave for three days to accomplish His fruitful work, as Jesus Himself declared, "Verily, verily, I say unto you. Except a com of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but
if it die, it bringeth forth much fmit" (John 12:24; Isaiah 53:10,11). Christ did not suffer decay (Psalm 16:8-11; Acts 2:27). The greatest sign Jesus wanted us to know and see was "As Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale s belly; so shall the Son of man be( The living among the dead) three days and three night in the heart ofthe earth" (Matthew 12:39- 40; Luke 24:5). The Bible says, "...it was not possible that he should be holdenofit (Acts2:24). Hisdeathandthreedaystayinthegravewasfor our reconciliation, and His resurrection was for our salvation (Romans 5:10;
Colossians 1:21-22; Ephesians 2:16; Romans 8:3).
The most important mystery of His burial is that it provides a means of regeneration. TheBibleproclaims,"Thereforeweareburiedwithhimby