So far in this series, we have seen how the CHRIST-centred story of the gospel is rooted in and guided by the foundation of Scripture; how the God we worship reveals himself and has provided the way of redemption for us; how he changes us from the inside out; and how he sets us apart for his purposes in the world. Major Brian Slous shares how the CHRIST-centred story gives the disciple a true and confident hope in the ultimate triumph of God’s redemptive plan in the world through Jesus Christ.

When planning a journey, a clear idea of the destination is necessary. This is also true in the journey called life. Setting our sights on our eternal destiny will greatly inform the decisions we make along the way.

The Army’s 11th doctrine—“We believe in the immortality of the soul; in the resurrection of the body; in the general judgment at the end of the world; in the eternal happiness of the righteous; and in the endless punishment of the wicked”—truly speaks to our eternal destiny.

Therefore, it is not difficult to understand the feelings of uncertainty and fear that so many experience when facing death, especially if their default position has been to define ”righteousness” by public opinion and the social norms of secular society, citing, “If I am truly loved by God, I will not be rejected by God.”.

God’s love can only be understood in the context of God’s holiness. Sin—the result of the fall (see Genesis 3)—is our innate tendency toward disobedience, even rebellion, against God’s holiness. It’s against this backdrop that the Apostle Paul reminds us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

Christ’s triumph over both sin and death, therefore, becomes the hallmark of the gospel, the hope we profess. The cross of Christ signifies his triumph over sin, and the empty tomb, his triumph over death.

Doctrine 6 states: “We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has by his suffering and death made an atonement for the whole world so that whosoever will may be saved.”

Christ’s triumph over sin was not simply a historical event. His worthiness to become the sin-sacrifice for us was only made possible by a life of perfect obedience to the Father. Paul reminds us of that truth when he writes, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). The undeserved death Christ experienced on the cross was in place of our death, earned through disobedience.

This doesn’t give followers of Christ licence to do whatever we wish. On the eve of his Crucifixion, Jesus told his disciples, “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love” (John 15:10). Faithful obedience to Christ remains the true indicator of our love and devotion to God. For the Christian, obedience is a love-response to God, in which there is no fear—for the wrath (punishment) of God has been satisfied by the sacrifice of Christ.

Christ’s triumph over death is symbolized by the image of the empty tomb. The words of the angels ring true for us, even today: “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!” (Luke 24:5-6).

The Resurrection gives us absolute certainty in the eternal hope we profess. How many times, when a loved one passes on, do we long for a sign or a message to confirm this gospel is true? Christ’s Resurrection provided the first disciples the evidence they needed to boldly live and profess the gospel.

It’s this message of triumph over sin and death that affirms the eternal destiny of all who are in Christ. It motivates us to live in faithful obedience to God, in love-response to the invitation to share eternity with the one who created us. Through Christ, every believer can truly enjoy and have confidence while on the journey of life, keeping this destiny in view.

Major Brian Slous is the corps officer at Mountain Citadel in Hamilton, Ont.

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