Get Your Pretense On!

Chapter 1: The Greatest Story in the Word • 29

At the climax of his life, he submitted himself and became obedient to death, even death on a Roman Cross. In a remarkable show of courage and grace, Jesus the Nazarene went to Calvary, freely taking on the sin and rebellion of humankind, suffering as the Lamb of God, the victim suffering on our behalf. Voluntarily, our Lord gave up his life and died, paying the penalty of our sin, and destroying the devil and his works. In his dying he eliminated death, and in his suffering he restored Creation back to the Father – and to the Father’s children. After three days, the Messiah of God, Jesus of Nazareth, rose again from the dead, bringing hope and new life to God’s entire creation, and to all humankind. Now, because of the Son’s obedience and his victory over the Curse and the Grave, all creatures will receive the blessings of God’s great salvation. Now, with the curse rescinded and the battle won, it is certain that God will create afresh a new heavens and new earth. Calvary fulfills the apocalyptic anthem: “all things are made new!” The Lord Jesus Christ himself becomes the beginning of a new creation, the literal firstborn from among the dead! Forty days after his resurrection, the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to the right hand of God as Lord of all. As Victor over hell and death, he is exalted to be Head of the Church, and Lord of the harvest. Having presently received all power from the Father, he with the Father sends the Holy Spirit to the earth. Jesus has won the victory, and at this very moment he is distributing the blessings of his saving work on the Cross. The Spirit of God comes upon the little company of disciples at Pentecost, and now through his divine regeneration and adoption of the believing, he establishes the Church. This new people of God represents the literal presence of the Kingdom in this world. With their Spirit-indwelt gatherings of faith, they show