The Work of Christ: Life, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension

Illustration: Imagine a diamond — it’s beautiful, but what makes it shine are its many facets. Christ’s work is like that. His life, death, resurrection, and ascension are not separate events but different facets of one glorious work of redemption.

In Christology, we cannot stop at who Jesus is (fully God and fully man). We must also ask: What did He do?

Main Point: The work of Christ is His perfect life, sacrificial death, victorious resurrection, and ongoing reign for the salvation of His people.

1. The Life of Christ: His Active Obedience

Biblical Witness:

Matthew 5:17 ESV

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

Romans 5:19 ESV

For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

Hebrews 4:15 ESV

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Theological Point:

His active obedience = living in perfect righteousness, keeping the Law fully on our behalf.

His passive obedience = His willing submission to the cross.

Church History Note:

The Reformers emphasized the imputation of Christ’s righteousness — not just His death covering sin, but His life counted as our righteousness (Luther: “the great exchange”).

Application: We don’t just need forgiveness of sin; we need positive righteousness. In Christ’s life, that is given to us.

2. The Death of Christ: His Atoning Sacrifice

Biblical Witness:

Isaiah 53: “He was pierced for our transgressions.”

Mark 10:45 — “to give His life as a ransom for many.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 — “He became sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Theological Point:

The cross is at the center of salvation history.

Key models of atonement through history:

Key Models of the Atonement in Church History

1. Christus Victor (Christ the Victor)

Timeframe: Prominent in the early church fathers (2nd–4th centuries).

Emphasis: Christ’s death and resurrection as the victory of God over Satan, sin, and death.

Biblical Basis:

Colossians 2:15 ESV

He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Hebrews 2:14 ESV

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,

Illustration: Think of a champion warrior stepping into battle on behalf of the people and crushing their enemy.

Strength: Shows the cosmic dimension of the cross — Jesus didn’t just save individuals, He overthrew the kingdom of darkness.

Limitation: Doesn’t clearly explain how sin is forgiven. Victory is real, but on what grounds?

2. Ransom Theory

Timeframe: Origen (3rd century), Gregory of Nyssa, Augustine in modified form.

Emphasis: Christ’s death as a ransom (Mark 10:45; 1 Tim. 2:6).

How It Was Explained: Humanity, through sin, had come under Satan’s dominion. The death of Christ was the ransom price paid to free us.

Problem in Some Versions: Some fathers suggested the ransom was “paid to Satan,” which makes Satan seem too powerful and God too bound. Later theologians (like Gregory of Nazianzus) objected: “To whom was the ransom paid? Certainly not to the evil one!”

Illustration: A prisoner of war released after someone pays the price for his freedom.

Strength: Captures the biblical language of ransom and redemption.

Limitation: Risks distorting the truth if we think Satan is owed anything. Ultimately, the ransom is paid to satisfy God’s justice, not the devil.

3. Satisfaction Theory (Cur Deus Homo? — “Why the God-Man?”)

Timeframe: Anselm of Canterbury (11th century).

Emphasis: Humanity’s sin dishonored God. Only a God-man could repay the debt of honor and restore the order of creation.

How It Was Explained:

Sin created an infinite debt of dishonor to God.

Humanity owed the debt but could not pay.

God did not owe the debt but could pay.

Therefore, the God-man (Jesus) paid the debt on behalf of humanity.

Illustration: Think of a subject who insults a king. The greater the person insulted, the greater the offense. The only way to restore honor is for a worthy substitute to make satisfaction.

Strength: Stresses the seriousness of sin against God’s honor and why the incarnation was necessary.

Limitation: More feudal than biblical in its categories (honor vs. wrath/justice), and doesn’t fully express substitution or penalty-bearing.

4. Moral Influence Theory

Timeframe: Peter Abelard (12th century).

Emphasis: The cross demonstrates God’s love in such a way that it moves us to repentance.

Biblical Basis:

Romans 5:8 — “God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

John 15:13 — “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”

Illustration: A firefighter rushing into a burning building to save others, inspiring others to live courageously.

Strength: Rightly highlights the love of God displayed in the cross.

Limitation: Makes the cross an example rather than an objective atonement. The issue of God’s wrath against sin is largely ignored.

5. Penal Substitution (Reformation Emphasis)

Timeframe: Luther, Calvin, and the Reformers (16th century).

Emphasis: Christ bore the penalty of sin in our place, satisfying God’s justice and reconciling us to God.

Biblical Basis:

Isaiah 53:5 ESV

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

Galatians 3:13 ESV

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—

Romans 3:25–26 ESV

whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Illustration: In a courtroom, the guilty verdict is read against us. Christ steps in, takes the full punishment, and the judge declares us righteous because justice has been satisfied.

Strength: Best fits the biblical teaching about God’s holiness, wrath, justice, and grace. Preserves both God’s love and His justice.

Limitation: Some critics argue it overemphasizes legal categories. Yet Scripture itself uses legal terms — justification, condemnation, propitiation — so this is faithful to God’s Word.

3. The Resurrection of Christ: His Victory and Vindication

Biblical Witness:

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 ESV

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

Romans 4:25 ESV

who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

Acts 2:24 ESV

God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

Theological Point:

Resurrection = God’s “Amen” to Christ’s “It is finished.”

Demonstrates:

The reality of new creation (firstfruits, 1 Cor. 15:20).

The assurance of our justification (Rom. 4:25).

The guarantee of future resurrection for believers.

Church History Note:

Early creeds (Apostles’ Creed, Nicene Creed) always include “on the third day He rose again.”

The resurrection was the heartbeat of early preaching (Acts).

Illustration: If the cross is like the payment of a debt, the resurrection is the receipt showing the payment was accepted.

Application: The resurrection means our faith is not in vain (1 Cor. 15:17). We can live with unshakable hope.

4. The Ascension and Ongoing Ministry of Christ

Biblical Witness:

Acts 1:9–11 ESV

And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Ephesians 1:20–23 ESV

that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Hebrews 7:25 ESV

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Theological Point:

Ascension = exaltation. Jesus is not idle but reigning.

Three aspects of His ongoing work:

King — ruling all things for the sake of His church.

Priest — interceding, applying His once-for-all sacrifice.

Prophet — speaking through His Word and Spirit.

Church History Note:

Augustine (City of God) stressed the cosmic reign of Christ.

Reformers emphasized His ongoing priestly ministry — a living mediator.

Illustration: Imagine a soldier who not only won the battle but now sits in the throne room, ensuring the peace continues. That is Christ for us.

Application: We do not worship a dead hero but a living Savior who reigns and prays for us.

Conclusion (3–4 minutes)

Recap: Christ’s work is one grand story — His life of obedience, His death in our place, His resurrection to new life, His ascension to reign and intercede.

Without His life — no righteousness.

Without His death — no forgiveness.

Without His resurrection — no hope.

Without His ascension — no ongoing intercession.

The work of Christ is our salvation, our assurance, and our hope.

End by reading together part of the Nicene Creed (381): “For us and for our salvation He came down from heaven…He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered death and was buried. On the third day He rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end.”