Yet it is not until Christ's death on the cross that his ministry reaches its fulfillment. Though he was without sin (II Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 4:15, I Peter 2:22), Jesus took the sin and guilt of the entire world upon himself and died on the cross, thus paying the price for our sin (I Peter 2:24, I John 2:2; 4:9-11). He died in our place in order to restore our relationship with God, and allow us to live with him forever (John 3:16, Romans 5:6-11, I Thessalonians 5:10). Through Christ's death we have received access to God through his Spirit (Ephesians 2:14-18).
He did not, however, remain dead (Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20-21). In his resurrection from the dead, Jesus defeated both sin and death so that they no longer have dominion over mankind (Romans 6:4,9-14, I Corinthians 15:54-57). By his triumph over the grave he was declared to be the Son of God (Romans 1:4). God has exalted him to the highest place so that "at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the Father." (Philippians 2:9-11)
The life, death, burial and resurrection of Christ call every man and woman to make a decision about Jesus. Jesus' claim is, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). His offer to all mankind is eternal life with God (John 3:16-17; 10:10). The offer of salvation which Jesus makes is an offer of unmerited grace which is received through faith in his atoning sacrifice on the cross (Romans 5). He calls us to become his disciples through repentance and baptism into his name (Acts 2:37-39, Romans 6:1-7).
As those who call Jesus, "Lord," we, like the first disciples, are to follow him (Matthew 4:18-22). To follow him means that we are to imitate him, to become like him (Matthew 10: 24-25, John 13:12-16). In fact, by the power of the Spirit at work in us, becoming like Jesus is the ultimate end for a follower of Christ (II Corinthians 3:17-18, I John 3:1-3). We are called to imitate his servanthood (Mark 10:42-45, John 13:13-16), his forgiveness (Matthew 18:21-35, Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13), his love (John 13:34) and his ministry (Matthew 28:16-20, John 20:21), to name just a few specifics.
