In the New Testament we read, "Christ died for our sins" (I Cor. 15:3). Can you explain this concept?
A1 There are many notions about the blood of the cross. And it's especially easy to get transfixed by the crucifixion, considering it was so horrid, gruesome, and public. But we must remember that Jesus' crucifixion is merely one chapter in the story. The very next verse proclaims, "He was buried, and ... rose again the third day."
The key element, therefore, is not Christ Jesus' death, but his triumph over death. The gospel message of overcoming sin is not seen in the dead Jesus taken from the cross, but in the undying Christ. It is the message of salvation lived, witnessed, and proclaimed to all humanity, who can in turn live Jesus' example themselves and work out their own freedom from sin. The resurrection, therefore, shows us that his victory over death is also our victory.
