He Descended into Hell

How do we make sense of the tragedy of Charlottesville? How do we make sense that the things in our world right now seem purely evil? Is God failing? Are churches dying? Is Christianity a fade that soon will pass?

Intro

We live in an upside down world right now

1st Century AD Docetism - Belief that Jesus' physical body was an illusion, as was his crucifixion; that is, Jesus only seemed to have a physical body and to physically die, but in reality he was incorporeal, a pure spirit, and hence could not physically die

“Swoon Theory”

18-19 Century AD

Early proponents of this theory include German Karl Friedrich Bahrdt, who suggested in around 1780, that Jesus deliberately feigned his death, using drugs provided by the physician Luke to appear as a spiritual messiah and get Israel to abandon the idea of a political messiah.

Today - 2016

Crucifixion’s a Doddle by Julian Doyle

10 reasons why Jesus death was not real

Uses ancient text and dare I say Monty Pythons “The life fo Brian” as references.

We do live in a world where anything goes.

Relativism is prevelenet even lending itself toward lawlessness and evil is now good

Destruction of property is justified, killing of innocent children, killing of police officers is justified, and even free speech is only free if others agree it is OK.

How do we make sense of this?

Christ’s death is not negotiable in our belief system

If Christ did not die then God’s wrath still exists and we stand guilty for our sin

Drama

Jesus is buried

Joseph of Arimathea - A senator and a rich man (Matt and Luke)

Nicodemus - - nobleman and rich

They were afraid to claim to be a disciple of Jesus in the past

So, at Jesus death something happened to change that - something “heavenly” as Calvin calls it

So, what kept these men from coming forward before?

SIN

“Swoon Theory”

18-19 Century AD

Early proponents of this theory include German Karl Friedrich Bahrdt, who suggested in around 1780, that Jesus deliberately feigned his death, using drugs provided by the physician Luke to appear as a spiritual messiah and get Israel to abandon the idea of a political messiah.

Today - 2016

Crucifixion’s a Doddle by Julian Doyle

10 reasons why Jesus death was not real

Uses ancient text and dare I say Monty Pythons “The life fo Brian” as references.

We do live in a world where anything goes.

Relativism is prevelenet even lending itself toward lawlessness and evil is now good

Destruction of property is justified, killing of innocent children, killing of police officers is justified, and even free speech is only free if others agree it is OK.

How do we make sense of this?

Doctrine

Depravity of Man

Deuteronomy 21:22–23 ESV

“And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance.

We must first understand the depravity of man

The Westminster Confession of Faith: Edinburgh Edition Chapter VI. Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment Thereof

IV. From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil, do proceed all actual transgressions.k

V. This corruption of nature, during this life, doth remain in those that are regenerated: and although it be through Christ pardoned and mortified, yet both itself, and all the motions thereof, are truly and properly sin.m

Deuteronomy 21:22 ESV

“And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree,

Romans 8:7 ESV

For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.

If we know that Original sin effects the whole man and that man is depraved then we can understand how these evils around us happen.

We can also understand the need for Jesus death

Covenant with Abram

Genesis 24:9–10 ESV

So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning this matter. Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed, taking all sorts of choice gifts from his master; and he arose and went to Mesopotamia to the city of Nahor.

Genesis 15:9–10 ESV

He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other. But he did not cut the birds in half.

Gen 24:9

Genesis 15:17 ESV

When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.

Gen 15:

God basically took the curse and responsibility of death upon himself

Atonement of Christ

Deuteronomy 21:22–23 ESV

“And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance.

“He descended into Hell”

Calvin - Jesus died a real death and experienced the pains of hell separated from God for a time while in the tomb

This was a part of the atoning sacrifice - God’s wrath on Jesus, His Son, for you

The Westminster Confession of Faith: Edinburgh Edition Chapter VIII. Of Christ the Mediator

IV. This office the Lord Jesus did most willingly undertake; which that he might discharge, he was made under the law, and did perfectly fulfil it;a endured most grievous torments immediately in his soul, and most painful sufferings in his body;c was crucified, and died; was buried, and remained under the power of death, yet saw no corruption.e On

Galatians 4:4 ESV

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,

Philippians 2:8 ESV

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

The Lexham Analytical Lexicon to the Greek New Testament θάνατος

θάνατος (thanatos), death. Cognate

120 times used in the NT to refer to dead or being dead

This is an important belief in the Christian faith because without it we have not received atonement for sin

We are still under the curse

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.

Romans 5:12 ESV

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

Rom 5:19

Rom 5

Jesus death was so important that John mentioned more detail than we might expect

Doxology

Through death Jesus brings a quickening to life

Illus: Joseph and Nicodemus

Something happened to where they did not fear public ridicule

They did not fear being at odds with their own political party

Jesus death provided a quickening and regeneration in one who was plagued with sin

Now, they carrying Jesus to the tomb make a outward profession of faith

As Christians, we still struggle with sin

We are not immune to the war within - the tug between sin and righteousness

App:

We should be so bold as to be willing to profess our faith publically, knowing that men are deprave and in need of Christ

It should cause us to have urgency in sharing the gospel to those in need, still unregenerate and lost

We need to realize that of all of the sinners out there there is one that you are most responsible for - you

Jesus death is set apart and special

Set apart in the fact that it is unique and could only be accomplished by him

God established a new tomb where no one had laid

Since he is the first-born from the dead () and first-fruits to rise () as Paul says

His death is greater than any other death

It’s abnormal, and it is real

It is special in the sense that it accomplished the atoning work through sacrifice the appeasing of God’s wrath against sin for you and for me

This is what we mean when we say Christ died for you

He had to in order for you to be saved.

App: We should praise him for this gift of grace

Jesus death won the victory over sin for us

Conclusion

Death is a part of life, without it we will never experience the resurrection

At every level you cannot escape the fact that something has to die in order for life to take place

John 12:24 ESV

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

Jesus is telling us that in order for life to occur death has to happen first

Spiritually, in order for the new life in Christ to begin there has to be death within us - death to the old self and old ways

If we have never been quickened to even know what sin is and that we are in need of Christ we will not experience the resurrection - Justification

If we have never and are not continually dying to the depraved self we will not experience the resurrection - Sanctification

Physically, we will all die in order to be raised again on that last day - glorification

How is all of this possible? Through the completed and real death of Jesus Christ, who descended into Hell for you and for me.