The Bonds of Death Could Not Hold Him

The bonds of death could not hold our Lord Jesus. This has been proven by His resurrection. Because of this, there are many truths about Christ that have been proven and show us that it was never possible for Him to be held by the bonds of death. Here are four of those truths.

1.) The bonds of death could not hold Him because of his inherent power. Christ told us in John 10:18 No man taketh it (my life) from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. Having such inherent power he cannot be subject to death, instead death is subject to Him.

2.) Death could not hold him because of the dignity of His person. He gave His life because no one could demand it from Him. Christ had not sinned and therefore was not under its wages. This simply means that death had no authority to take Him or hold Him.

3.) Death could not hold Him because His redeeming work was done. He was hostage to our debt, but that debt had been paid on the cross. The sins of His people demanded death as a payment because of God’s justice. Christ died to pay for those sins (propitiation) and rose for our justification.

4.) Death could not hold Him because He had His Father’s promise that it would not, and who can stay His hand. If he opens a door, who can shut it (Rev. 3:8)?

Since Christ cannot be held in bondage, neither can anything that belongs to Him. Christ’s resurrection is with such force and power that He pulls up with Him the dead souls of all who are His Children. He not only defeated death for himself but for all of the Children of God. He is the “first fruits” of many brethren.

We serve a Christ of inherent power who can not fail in His work in our lives, and if death could not hold Him either can any bond that hold us. We serve a Christ of perfect righteousness who has imputed it to us for our justification. We serve a Christ who did not fail in his redeeming work for us and will not fail in its application to us through faith. And God the Father works in concert with Him to save us, and who can stay His hand.

What a mighty God we serve!

-Doug Eaton-