Scripture Reading: 2 Tim. 1:9-10; Heb. 2:9, 14-15; Matt. 27:51-53; 1 Cor. 15:52-54
Ⅰ
We may experience and enjoy Christ as the One who nullified death and brought life and incorruption to light in order that we might know life and incorruption and, in Christ, be able to conquer death and corruption— 2 Tim. 1:10.
Ⅱ
The grace of God was given to us in Christ Jesus before the times of the ages, but it was manifested and applied to us through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus; this grace is God's provision in life given to us so that we may live out His purpose—vv. 9-10; 2:1; John 1:16.
Ⅲ
Christ nullified death, making it of none effect, through His devil-destroying death and death-swallowing resurrection—Heb. 2:14-15; 1 Cor. 15:52-54:
A
Through His death on the cross, Christ destroyed the devil, who has the might of death—Heb. 2:14:
１
The Greek word translated "destroy" also means "to bring to nought, make of none effect, do away with, abolish, annul, discard"—Gen. 3:15; 1 John 3:8; cf. John 3:14.
２
After the devil, the serpent, seduced man into the fall, God promised that the seed of the woman would bruise the head of the serpent—Gen. 3:15:
ａ
In the fullness of time the Son of God came to become flesh by being born of a virgin so that He might destroy the devil in man's flesh through His death in the flesh on the cross; this was to abolish Satan, to bring him to nought—v. 15; John 1:14; Rom. 8:3; Gal. 4:4; John 3:14; 12:31.
ｂ
By faith we should take the fact that through His death on the cross, Christ destroyed the devil, and we should praise the Lord that Satan has been abolished and done away with—Heb. 2:14.
３
Since the Lord Jesus destroyed the devil, who has the might of death, we who were held in slavery through the fear of death have been released by Him—v. 15:
ａ
Death reigned over us, and we were under its slavery, continually fearing death—Rom. 5:14.
ｂ
Because the Lord destroyed the devil and nullified death, we now have no more fear of death and are released from its slavery—2 Tim. 1:10.
B
Hebrews 2:9 says that the Lord Jesus tasted death on behalf of everything, not only for humans but also for every creature; this indicates that Christ's redemption was accomplished not only for people but also for everything created by God, and thus God could reconcile all things to Himself through Christ— Col. 1:20; Gen. 7:13-23.
C
Matthew 27:51-53 describes the effectiveness of the Lord's crucifixion:
１
"The veil of the temple was split in two from top to bottom" (v. 51a): this signifies that the separation between God and man has been abolished because the flesh of sin (the flesh being signified by the veil) taken by Christ in its likeness (Rom. 8:3) has been crucified (Heb. 10:20).
２
"The earth was shaken" Matt. 27:51b): this signifies that the base of Satan's rebellion was shaken.
３
"The rocks were split" (v. 51c): this signifies that the strongholds of Satan's earthly kingdom were broken.
４
"The tombs were opened" (v. 52a): this signifies that the power of death and Hades was conquered and subdued.
５
"Many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised" (vv. 52b-53): this signifies the releasing power of the death of Christ.
Ⅳ
Christ nullified death, bringing it to nought, doing away with it, abolishing it, annulling it—2 Tim. 1:10:
A
Christ not only defeated death—He nullified it.
B
Christ was manifested to nullify death and to bring in eternal, indestructible life—v. 10.
C
Christ could nullify death because He destroyed the devil, the one who has the might of death, and through His resurrection, death has become of none effect— Heb. 2:14; 1 Cor. 15:52-54.
D
By overcoming Satan and nullifying death, the Lord Jesus also defeated Hades and the grave—Acts 2:24; Rev. 1:18.
E
Christ's resurrection declares that He is victorious over death, Satan, Hades, and the grave—1 Cor. 15:55-57.
F
To nullify death does not mean to remove death but to make it of none effect; death, the last enemy, will not be removed until it is cast into the lake of fire after the millennium—v. 26; Rev. 20:14.
Ⅴ
Having nullified death through His death and resurrection, the Lord Jesus brought life and incorruption to light—2 Tim. 1:10:
A
Life in verse 10 refers to the eternal life of God, which is given to all believers in Christ and which is the main element of the divine grace given to us—1 Tim. 1:16; Rom. 5:17, 21:
１
Life is the divine element, even God Himself, imparted into our being; incorruption is the consequence of life's saturating our body—8:10-11.
２
This life has conquered death and will swallow up death—Acts 2:24; 2 Cor. 5:4.
B
This life and the incorruption that is its consequence have been brought to light and made visible to men through the preaching of the gospel, and now this life and incorruption are able to counter death and corruption—2 Tim. 1:10.