What Does the Death of Christ Mean?

In remembering the death of deaths in the death of Christ the question arises as to what His death means. Theologically and practically the death of Christ has far reaching implications.

The death of Christ means that the promise of Genesis 3:15 has been fulfilled. God has kept His word to Adam and Eve and to their posterity. In the Garden the Lord said to Adam “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” (NIV, Gen. 3:15).

The death of Christ means that the penalty for sin has been paid. Therefore,

“Let not conscience make you linger,
Nor of fitness fondly dream;
All the fitness He requireth
Is to feel your need of Him.”

The death of Christ means a way has been provided whereby fellowship with God the Father the Righteous One can be restored.

“There is a green hill far away,
Without a city wall,
Where the dear Lord was crucified,
Who died to save us all;
He died that we might be forgiven,
He died to make us good;
That we might go at last to Heaven”

The death of Christ means that no soul need ever despair of being lost forever.

“Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night:
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray;
I woke; the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off: my heart was free:
I rose, went forth, and followed thee.”

The death of Christ means the pollution sin brings to the soul can be washed away.

“Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood
Shall never lose its power,
Till all the ransomed church of God
Be saved to sin no more.”

The death of Christ means that the gospel should be preached unto the ends of the earth in any and every way possible. The best way to preach the gospel to those in foreign lands is face to face. There is no satisfying substitute for that for “as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Gen. 10:15). Jesus said “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). And so we are to go as the Lord puts it upon our heart and provides all that is necessary to obey His will. When we cannot go personally, we are to find other ways to get the gospel out. Dr. A. J. Gordon said, “Though our task is not to bring all the world to Christ, our task is to unquestionably bring Christ to all the world.”

The death of Christ means that He is worthy to be our Master for He is a worthy Savior. Someone who dies for me, Someone who takes my pain and my punishment is worthy of honor and respect. If Christ is not loved and obeyed and submitted to then the heart will be ruled by the lusts of the flesh and remain in sin. The heart that says to God, “I will not have this Man Jesus to rule over me” is a heart that will wallow in self-destructive behavior and be mastered by unbridled passions, excessive anger, a willful arrogance, and uncontrollable anger.

It is far better to appreciate the death of deaths in the death of Christ. It is far better to call Christ, “Lord and Master,” and to plead with Him to control the heart and command gospel obedience. Only then will the heart be happy and sing a sweet song with meaning.

“Every day with Jesus,
Is sweeter than the day before,
Every day with Jesus,
I love Him more and more.

Jesus saves and keeps me,
And He’s the One I’m living for,
Every day with Jesus,
Is sweeter than the day before.”

May the Lord cause your own hearts to sing, and say with gratitude,

“Christ died for me.”