Fundamental Biblical Beliefs - Bible Study - Part 7 - Three Days and Three Nights

This evening we are taking a look at Fundamental Belief No. 7, Three Days and Three Nights. Now, in one sense you might think, well, we already know that Jesus was in the grave three days and three nights, but do you realize that this sets us apart from essentially all other so-called Christian beliefs, of course, Christian religions? Three Days and Three Nights was done specifically by Jesus Christ, and as we'll see in the Scriptures, it has great importance.

And in one sense, it really shows who have the truth about and the understanding about his life, death, and resurrection. So let's begin by looking at Romans chapter 5 and verse 6. Romans chapter 5, and we'll begin in verse 6 and read two verses. For when we were still without strength, in other words, we were totally on our own without the strength to obey God, in due time, Christ died for the ungodly. We didn't have God's mindset, and yet the Messiah, the Christos, the Messiah died for those who were ungodly. There's a lot in that statement when you think about they were not his friends, they were not his supporters, they didn't love him.

He loved us first. And so it says, for scarcely will a righteous man die. When we think, oh, this is a good guy, I'll throw myself in front of danger, and I'll spare him because he or she are so great. Yet perhaps for a good man, someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love toward us, his own love, his, we call it agape love, but it's that special divine, right, holy love, his own love toward us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. So this is really important. He laid down his life for us, and he did it as a gift out of love.

He had nothing to gain from us. Now in John chapter 10 and verse 17 and 18, it says, Therefore my father loves me, that same love, because I lay down my life that I may take it again. It's important to know that nobody took Jesus's life from him. In verse 18, no one takes it from me. We didn't steal it. You didn't kill Jesus Christ. You know, the Romans didn't somehow figure out how to, you know, kill God. And Satan didn't just somehow scoop him up against his will and kill him. He said, No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.

This command I have received from my father. So now we're going to go to the second element of the statement, and Wayne Ward will lead us in that. Mr. Elliott, I have to say that I'm quite elated to be able to deliver this three days and three nights concept, because I remember in 1984 watching the World Tomorrow broadcast with Mr. Armstrong sitting there with those graphs and explaining the 12 hours, and it's like, it makes so much sense.

How does this not common knowledge? So it is a hallmark. It is a fundamental of our belief, this understanding of three days and three nights that other mainstream Christianity does not have. And it is vital to understand. And so part two here is basically examining the focusing in on the fundamental biblical teaching that the Father raised Jesus Christ from the dead.

This is fundamental to God's purpose, that Jesus needed to be raised from the dead. The need to perform this act was essential to the salvation of man. Let's turn to Matthew 16 verse 21. Matthew 16 verse 21. From that time, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and be raised the third day. So, yeah, so, but actually here then what is amazing is that his disciples could not see the need for this at the time, no matter how much Jesus pressed on them.

Verse 22 it says, then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him saying, Far be it from you, Lord, this shall not happen to you.

But this is not such a mystery to us now, as we know Scripture reveals that understanding the purpose of Christ is from the Father. Let's turn to Ephesians chapter 1 and verse 17. Ephesians 1 verse 17, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. So perhaps they came to this understanding at the discretion of the Father in time, as you and I do, and here it is by the same power that the Father raised Jesus from the dead. In verse 20, which he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at the right hand in the heavenly places. So raising Jesus from the dead is fundamental knowledge, revealed from the Father, that opens our eyes of the understanding that we may know this hope of his calling. So the disciples then, too, in time came to this knowledge very personally as they witnessed it. Turn to Acts 2, verse 32. Acts 2, verse 32, that Jesus, God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Jesus was raised up with those same doubting disciples, now witnesses to his resurrection. But in this resurrection, Scripture gives us a very interesting aspect to consider in who has the power to make it happen. We're going to go to the same Scripture that Mr. Elliott went to, John 10. And verse 17, it says, Jesus had the power to take his life back. How did he do that when it was the Father that resurrected him? It was in his willingness to surrender to the will of the Father. That was his power, to make his choice. And this should be an interesting take for us on who has the power in our lives to affect our resurrection. It's ourselves, and taking on Christ, and holding to truth, and holding to this amazing, amazing Word of God.

And we are given this power in our response to the willing sacrifice of Christ. This is to be our motivator. His sacrifice should be a powerful motivator to change our own lives.

Turn to Luke 24.

And verse 46. Luke 24, verse 46.

Verse 47.

And this is the reason that Jesus had to suffer and die. And knowing that he did it willingly in love for that cause. But amazingly, even after Jesus' resurrection, the disciples had trouble taking this all in. And that's why we have to be willing to suffer and die. And that's why we have to be willing to suffer and die. And that's why we have to be willing to suffer and die. And amazingly, even after Jesus' resurrection, the disciples had trouble taking this all in. Even being witnesses to him. Turn to John 21, verse 12.

After showing himself on the fishing boat, we can see how they were even afraid to even acknowledge it. John 21, 12. Jesus said to them, Come and eat breakfast. Yet none of them of the disciples dared ask him, Who are you? Knowing that it was the Lord. And Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them likewise the fish. This is now the third time Jesus showed himself to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. But soon, though, of course, we know the disciples became powerful witnesses. Turn to Acts 4, verse 10. Acts 4, verse 10. Let it be known to all of you all and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man stands before you whole.

And this is the stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone. Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. And the disciples, you see here, became the apostles and went on to become the foundation of the church in witnessing Christ to the world because they knew and they witnessed him die. Turn to John 19, verse 31. And they, John 19, verse 31.

And they witnessed his resurrection, and it is on their testimony that the church stands today. Okay, I'll pass part three back to Mr. Eliot. The next section, we're going to look at how Jesus's body lay three days and three nights in the grave. As I alluded to before, this is a special thing that his believers would understand. It is actually called a sign. Jesus uses that term, that this is a sign. So let's look at his sign in Matthew chapter 12 and verse 39. Matthew 12 and verse 39 and 40.

So if we go to Jonah chapter 1 and verse 17, I think it's good to not just remember that happened, but in Jonah chapter 1 and verse 17, we have the one who became Jesus Christ. It says, So Jesus is giving us a sign in which he was involved in creating the sign. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. So we can see this sign actually was prepared long in advance, and the connection here is something that he wants those who have faith in him to know. Now, a key to understanding how it was three days and three nights comes in because we keep the annual Holy Days. Others do not. They recognize the seventh-day Sabbath by noting the Sabbath, but they don't keep the Sabbath, and they say he was resurrected on Sunday morning.

But we understand that if we go to 1 Corinthians chapter 11 and verse 23, we understand this happens on a Tuesday evening. We might call it Tuesday night. He talks here about the Passover service.

And in the same manner, verse 25, he took the cup after supper, saying, this is the new covenant in my blood. This do as often as you drink it in remembrance of me. And so on that Tuesday evening, then, was the Passover. Now we know that he was crucified the next day on Wednesday, and then he had a burial before the first Holy Day. We find this in Mark chapter 15 and verse 42. Mark 15 and verse 42. Now, when evening had come, because it was the preparation day, that is the preparation day before the Sabbath. Now, everybody recognizes the Sabbath, so they think, oh, this is Friday night. He was crucified Thursday about sunset, or, sorry, Friday before sunset. And then he pops out of the grave on Easter morning. But what we know is there are two Sabbaths. One is an annual Sabbath, and this preparation day, in fact, it's the only place in the Bible where a preparation day is mentioned. And it's always the first day of Unleavened Bread, because it only refers to this one event. So when the evening had come, because it was the preparation day, that is the day before the Sabbath, the first day of Unleavened Bread, that Joseph of Arimathea came. So Joseph, then he comes down, and he's going to be burying him. And as we drop down to the Sabbath is about to start, in verse 46, he laid him in a tomb, and verse 47, Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Joseph, observed where he was laid. So now he's in the grave, Wednesday evening, we would call it, sunset, and that's the start of Unleavened Bread. It's a Holy Day. So all day Thursday, daytime, is the first Holy Day of Unleavened Bread. Now Friday, there's another day before a Sabbath, a common day. We come to Luke chapter 23 and verse 56. After the Sabbath, on verse 56 of Luke 23, then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. They prepared these, but they didn't do anything with them. And then they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment. So now this is what we call Saturday. So they rested all day Saturday. And now, of course, in Mark chapter 16 and verse 1, we see a parallel account with a little more information. Mark 16, now when the Sabbath was passed, this is the seventh day Sabbath now, Mary Magdalene, Mary, Mother of James, and Salome bought spices that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. In another account, you'll find that Mary came before the sunset while it was still dark. But we see them in this tomb visit, and very early in the morning, they came on what we would call Sunday. So Jesus was put in the grave just before the Holy Day began on Wednesday evening. And therefore, he was three days and three nights in the grave, which means he came out of the grave before the Sabbath ended, just as the weekly Sabbath was ending. And that's three days and three nights. Okay, back to Wayne now for the fourth part.

Thank you. Yeah, so this is part four, which kind of focuses on how it's a fundamental biblical teaching that his life, death, and resurrection made immortality possible for a mortal man. And scripture is rather plain about this. Let's turn to 1 Corinthians 6. And verse 14, and God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Turn to Romans 6. Romans 6 verse 4. It says, It's a very plain and fundamental thing that Christ is the forerunner of all those who follow him, and they will follow him into immortality. And it is by the power of the Spirit of God that first dwelt in Christ that now dwells in us that will raise us to life as Christ was.

Let's turn to Romans 8. And verse 11. Romans 8 verse 11. So understanding the importance of his life and death and resurrection is essential to us, is vital to us, because it's the only act that can make for our salvation. We don't have the capacity to do this. We can't do this for ourselves. It's only the shed blood of an unblemished lamb, something that is of value to God that can do this.

This, of course, shows the value of anyone who lives such a life, a sinless life. This has exceeding the high value to God, one who does this. And for such a one, willing to sacrifice himself for the stead of others, is worth enough to God to absolve the whole world of sin.

This is how much value Jesus Christ has. He is worthy to absolve the whole world of sin who follow after him. Let's turn to Romans 5. Romans 5 verse 17. First Thessalonians 5 verse 9.

The symbols he left us, then, of course, of the Passover. These have great, awesome and immense meaning for us.

They need to be taken with a solemnity of mind, of seriousness, of how precious this gift is to us. Let's turn to John 6. 2 Timothy 1 verse 9. 2 Timothy 1 verse 9 and 10. 2 Timothy 1 verse 9 and 10. All right.

This is what he did before Abraham, that he would provide such hope for mankind to be redeemed before him. So the surety for man would be God himself, which was realized by this very act of Jesus Christ, that was and is a tremendously good news for mankind. And by this act, the power and authority to bestow life has been placed on Jesus Christ. It is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit, it is he who intercedes and advocates for us, and it is Jesus Christ who will authorize your resurrection by the Spirit of God. It's turned to John chapter 5, verse 25. It says, Most assuredly I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted to the Son to have life in himself, and has given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear his voice, and come forth, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of condemnation. So there can be no doubt then that Jesus is. He is life. He is the way, the truth, and the life. I'll pass the next part back to Mr. Eliot. Okay, in the fifth point here this evening, after his resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven. Now, this is an action. It is an event, but it also has tremendous meaning. This is really the purpose of humanity, is to follow Jesus Christ into the spirit realm, and ultimately be with him in the kingdom forever. So it's important that we understand, believe, and trust that he did ascend into not only the sky going up, but into the spirit realm, what is called heaven, or the third heavenly realm, the Bible also calls it. In Acts the first chapter, we see a story here of Jesus Christ, and he appeared to the disciples, and he spoke with them in the first few verses. And then down in verse 9, when he had spoken these things, while they watched, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly up toward heaven as he went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel, who said, men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? The same Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven will so come in like manner as you saw him go into heaven. So there's quite a lot riding on his ascension. He's going to come back the same way he went. And now let's go to Acts chapter 3 and verse 20. Acts 3 and verse 20. Talking about Jesus Christ, God would sin Jesus Christ who has preached to you before. Verse 21, whom heaven must receive, the heavenly realm must receive until the times of the restoration of all things. So Jesus Christ is in heaven and he is there at the right hand of God. In 1 Peter chapter 3 and verse 22, notice here, there is also an antitype which now saves us. Baptism. It is the answer of a good conscience toward God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Now verse 22, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers, having been made subject to him. So we can have absolute confidence as to what happened to him.

And ultimately, as we'll find, God's plan of salvation is for us to follow him. And now back to Wayne for the sixth element. Okay, which basically follows the point five, but point six, basically that Christ now sits at the right hand of God the Father. We need to remember every day what Jesus has done to make himself worthy of the highest regard.

He sits with God now with power and authority. Let's turn to Hebrews chapter 8.

And verse 1, it says, now this is the main point of the things we are saying. We have such a high priest who is seated at the right hand of the throne of majesty in the heavens.

Hebrews 12.

Verse 2, so looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God, and he is now glorified. And our salvation is assured by this, that Jesus is now glorified, and he is now your judge.

He is now your judge, and he knows who are his. Let's turn to 1 Peter chapter 3, verse 21.

1 Peter 3 and verse 21.

There is also an antitype which now saves us, baptism, not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

And verse 22, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to him.

And many scriptures then show this current status of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let's turn to Mark 16.

And verse 19.

Mark 16, verse 19. So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, he was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.

Romans 8.

And verse 34.

Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

Luke 22.

And verse 69.

Luke 22, verse 69. Hereafter, the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God.

And we remember Stephen, he was so filled with the Spirit of God before he was killed, he actually witnessed Jesus in this place in heaven. Let's turn to Acts 7.

And verse 55.

But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God.

Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, Look, I see the heavens open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.

Jesus is now glorified, and we are to regard him as our Lord on high.

This should give us such a high and noble aspiration that we too have a high calling in him, as his brother individually, but as his bride collectively too. And it should always remain, this should be our aspiration in life, what we seek in life to be like what the Lord is.

Colossians chapter 3.

Colossians 3 verse 1. It says, If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God.

And I'll pass back part number 7 to Mr. Eliot.

So we are looking at the things that have happened to Jesus Christ, and we might say, Well, that's great for him, but what about us?

Well, actually, it's all about us. Everything that he has done is for us and about us. Let's go back for a moment to Romans chapter 8 and verse 33.

Here we find a direct correlation between where he is, who he is, and what he's done with you and me.

And it comes in the form of a question.

Who shall bring a charge against God's elect?

Now, Passover's coming up.

Are you and I guilty of anything? Of course we are.

Days of unleavened bread are coming up. We're going to be putting leaven out of our homes, and symbolizing that duty we have to find and put sin out of our lives. Do we have any? Yes, we do.

And who's going to bring a charge against God's elect?

It is God who justifies. Wow. So Jesus Christ is there to justify us. How? By making us just, by forgiving us and cleansing us of the sins we repent of.

Verse 34. Who is he who condemns? We know who condemns.

All of us even can join in that at times. But it is Christ who died and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who makes intercession for us.

He is there interceding for us. And yes, we do sin.

But he is there when we're repentant, somehow interceding to the Father, and making an appeal for us.

And I imagine sometimes we make that difficult for him to make a case.

But nevertheless, he works hard at that.

Then begins to ask, who's going to separate us from the love of Christ?

Will Christ give up on you and me?

In verse 38, for I'm persuaded that neither life nor death nor angels, principalities, powers, things present, things to come, height, depth, created thing, nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

So what that statement is, it's not a one-way statement. It's if we love God with our heart, soul, and might, and love our neighbor as ourself, we won't have that love separated out of us. And at the same time, Jesus said, if you love me, then my father and I are going to come and dwell with you. So it's a reciprocity there in this love and this covenant that God has made with us. And they're not going to give up on their part, and they trust that you and I won't give up on our part.

Let's look in Hebrews chapter 4 and verse 15 and see how much love and commitment Jesus Christ has as He sits on the right hand of God. Hebrews chapter 4 and verse 15, For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was himself in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. So He's been there, and even when we fail at times, we are weak, it says.

He can sympathize with our weakness. Now He's not condoning lawlessness and saying, oh, it's okay. No, but He can sympathize with our weakness in those temptations and in our weak human state.

Therefore, He says in verse 16, let us come boldly to the throne of God's grace, His gifts, that reciprocal covenant, that we may obtain mercy. Mercy for what? Well, we have weaknesses, and in our weaknesses and in our sins, we are still to come boldly to the throne of God's gifts.

Penance, forgiveness, you know, the whole thing, forgiveness of sin, that we may obtain mercy and find more of those gifts and favors and the armor of God, all those principles that will help us forge ahead and win this battle in time of need. So God is there for us. He never gives up on us.

In chapter 7 of Hebrews in verse 25, just moving forward a little bit more, Hebrews 7 verse 25, therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. You know, this isn't about just being perfect, oh I'm perfect, and therefore I'm good. No, no, no. Even our righteousness is a filthy rags. This is about those who come to God through Christ, striving. He's able to save as He lives to make intercession for us. For such a high priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, has now become higher than the heavens. This is a wonderful, wonderful God, who does not need daily as those high priests to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people's. For this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. So God is not trying to throw a guilt trip on you and me. God has not sort of given us the law and stands back and says, ah look at Him fail. Not at all. There is a really strong relationship that God has in all of Jesus's life, death, and resurrection and continuing to come and help us. And we find that there's a powerful combination. If we go to 1 John chapter 2, in the first two verses, 1 John chapter 2, My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin, and we strive not to. And if anyone sins, and we do, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. It's like an attorney. Even more than that, He's our best friend. And He Himself is also the propitiation, or He is the sacrifice, the payment for our sins.

Wow, this is pretty good. The one who is there advocating for us on our behalf is also the one who gave His life for us to pay for our mistakes. And not for ours only, but also for the whole world. But now, just before we think, oh well, that's nice, I've got Him there, I don't need to work very hard. The next verse is, now by this we know that we know Him if we keep His commandments. It's for those who are striving, you see, those who are striving, that He's always there, He's never going to give up, and we're not going to give up on Him. So in conclusion, what we look at when we see the Passover, we should see a really, really good friend. And let's remember John chapter 14 and verse 15 as we conclude. This will be our final verse tonight, John chapter 14 and verse 15. Jesus said, if you love Me, keep My commandments. You know, you are My friends. If you do whatever I tell you, and we want to be His friend. He is our friend. You don't get a better friend than someone who laid down His life for you. And this is God's entire goal, to love God and keep His commandments. And we really love God by keeping His commandments. And that's the great goal that God has for us, to keep His commandments, obey Him, and ultimately be like Him in mind, in spirit, and ultimately in composure in His kingdom. Next time, we'll look at fundamental belief number eight, which is repentance, which that's very meaningful in the time of year we're coming up to.

That's our part, one of our parts of this great plan of salvation.