How you answer this question will determine whether or not you are a Christian. It may also determine whether or not you are saved.
Please don't tell that you believe in Jesus, but don't believe that he atoned for the sins of the whole world, 1 John 2:2. When you do that you are lying to me, other Forum members, the Holy Spirit and yourself. How can you have faith in Jesus and then deny that he has defeated sin, death and the devil? What you are is an unbeliever. Just because you believe that Jesus was a real live person does not make you a Christian, the devil also believes that Jesus is a real live person.
HOW DID JESUS DEFEAT SIN?
Jesus defeated sin in two different ways. The first way that Jesus defeated sin is when he fulfilled God's Holy Law. The law demands perfection. Jesus was the epitome of God's holy law. By his righteous, sinless life, he offered to God the Father a life of perfect obedience to his holy law. Jesus said, "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or tittle of the law shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled" Matthew 5:18. After Jesus fulfilled the law he abolished it, "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, EVEN THE LAW OF COMMANDMENTS contained in the ordinances; for to make in himself one new man, so making peace" Ephesians 2:15
WHERE THERE IS NO LAW THERE IS NO SIN.
The second way that Jesus defeated sin is that he atoned for the sins of the whole world, 1 John 2:2. If there had been one sin that Jesus did not atone for, God would not have welcomed Jesus back into heaven. God only accepts a perfect sacrifice for the sins of humanity. Jesus met all of the conditions.
HOW DID JESUS DEFEAT DEATH?
The resurrection of Jesus Christ happened only because Jesus met all of the conditions of God's holy law. If there was one part of the law that was not fulfilled or one sin not atoned for, Jesus would still be buried in Joseph's new tomb and we would all be without hope and still in our sins. Paul wrote, "If Christ be not raised, your faith is in vain and you are still in your sins" 1 Corinthians 15:17. Jesus has victoriously defeated death, Colossians 2:15. The grave will not have the victory over those who believe in Jesus. Christians do not die. They fall asleep "In Christ". "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead "In Christ" shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed" 1 Corinthians 15:52.
HOW DID JESUS DEFEAT THE DEVIL?
Satan was counting on God's law to defeat Jesus. The law says, "The soul that sins shall die" Satan thought that if he could get Adam and Eve to sin that God would have to honor his law and put them to death. Satan and all of heaven was surprised when Jesus died for their sins and the sins of all of humanity. Satan was defeated by the doing and dying of Jesus. Not only did Jesus atone for our sins, he provides us with his righteousness. "For he has made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" 2 Corinthians 5:21.
Please don't tell that you believe in Jesus, but don't believe that he atoned for the sins of the whole world, 1 John 2:2. When you do that you are lying to me, other Forum members, the Holy Spirit and yourself. How can you have faith in Jesus and then deny that he has defeated sin, death and the devil? What you are is an unbeliever. Just because you believe that Jesus was a real live person does not make you a Christian, the devil also believes that Jesus is a real live person.
HOW DID JESUS DEFEAT SIN?
Jesus defeated sin in two different ways. The first way that Jesus defeated sin is when he fulfilled God's Holy Law. The law demands perfection. Jesus was the epitome of God's holy law. By his righteous, sinless life, he offered to God the Father a life of perfect obedience to his holy law. Jesus said, "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or tittle of the law shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled" Matthew 5:18. After Jesus fulfilled the law he abolished it, "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, EVEN THE LAW OF COMMANDMENTS contained in the ordinances; for to make in himself one new man, so making peace" Ephesians 2:15
WHERE THERE IS NO LAW THERE IS NO SIN.
The second way that Jesus defeated sin is that he atoned for the sins of the whole world, 1 John 2:2. If there had been one sin that Jesus did not atone for, God would not have welcomed Jesus back into heaven. God only accepts a perfect sacrifice for the sins of humanity. Jesus met all of the conditions.
HOW DID JESUS DEFEAT DEATH?
The resurrection of Jesus Christ happened only because Jesus met all of the conditions of God's holy law. If there was one part of the law that was not fulfilled or one sin not atoned for, Jesus would still be buried in Joseph's new tomb and we would all be without hope and still in our sins. Paul wrote, "If Christ be not raised, your faith is in vain and you are still in your sins" 1 Corinthians 15:17. Jesus has victoriously defeated death, Colossians 2:15. The grave will not have the victory over those who believe in Jesus. Christians do not die. They fall asleep "In Christ". "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead "In Christ" shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed" 1 Corinthians 15:52.
HOW DID JESUS DEFEAT THE DEVIL?
Satan was counting on God's law to defeat Jesus. The law says, "The soul that sins shall die" Satan thought that if he could get Adam and Eve to sin that God would have to honor his law and put them to death. Satan and all of heaven was surprised when Jesus died for their sins and the sins of all of humanity. Satan was defeated by the doing and dying of Jesus. Not only did Jesus atone for our sins, he provides us with his righteousness. "For he has made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" 2 Corinthians 5:21.
