The Word of Faith Movement Right or Wrong? Part 4

Devotional

Day 1: The Darkness at Noon and Spiritual Separation

When Jesus hung on the cross, darkness covered the land at noon—a sign of God’s judgment as humanity’s sins were laid upon him. In that moment, Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” This was not merely physical agony but spiritual separation, the weight of sin severing his connection to the Father. His cry reveals the cost of bearing our rebellion: the spotless Lamb became sin so we might become righteousness. The cross was both a physical and spiritual battlefield, where Jesus endured what we deserved to reunite us with God. [16:03]

And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:33-34, ESV)

Reflection: When have you felt spiritually distant from God? How does Jesus’ cry on the cross assure you that he understands even your deepest isolation?

Day 2: Three Days in the Heart of the Earth

Jesus’ body lay in the tomb, but his spirit descended into the abyss—the heart of the earth—to confront the full penalty of sin. Just as Jonah spent three days in the fish, Jesus entered the realm of the dead, not as a captive but as a conqueror. He endured hell’s torment not for himself but to strip its power over us. This was no passive waiting period; it was the Son of God dismantling death’s claim, proving that not even the grave could hold him. [34:03]

For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (Matthew 12:40, ESV)

Reflection: What fears or struggles feel like a “heart of the earth” season in your life? How does Jesus’ victory in the abyss redefine your hope in darkness?

Day 3: The Firstborn from the Dead

At the resurrection, Jesus emerged as the “firstborn from the dead”—not merely revived but reborn. His spirit, once cut off from the Father, was fully restored, marking the birth of a new creation. This was not a metaphor but a cosmic reality: the man Christ Jesus became the prototype of redeemed humanity, guaranteeing that all who trust him will share in his resurrection life. The empty tomb is both a promise and a proclamation: death’s grip is broken. [01:01:43]

And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you.” (Acts 13:32-33, ESV)

Reflection: How does Jesus being the “firstborn” reshape your understanding of salvation? In what areas do you need to live more fully as part of this new creation?

Day 4: Loosed from the Pains of Death

The resurrection was not a reversal but a revolution. God “loosed the pains of death” because it could not hold Jesus—not just physically, but spiritually. His victory was a divine declaration: the debt of sin was paid, and hell’s authority was stripped. The empty tomb is proof that every chain of guilt, shame, and fear has been shattered. Jesus’ resurrection is not a historical footnote but the foundation of our freedom. [53:32]

God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. (Acts 2:24, ESV)

Reflection: What “pains of death” (shame, addiction, despair) still try to bind you? How can you walk in the truth that Jesus has loosed their grip?

Day 5: The Triumph Over Hell’s Gates

When Jesus rose, he carried the keys of hell and death—symbols of absolute authority. These were not trophies but tools, proof that every enemy is now under his feet. The cross was the battle; the resurrection was the coronation. The same power that raised Christ from the dead now lives in believers, equipping us to storm hell’s gates with hope. The victory is not theoretical; it is the inheritance of everyone who calls him Lord. [01:05:54]

I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. (Revelation 1:18, ESV)

Reflection: Where do you need to wield the authority of Christ’s keys today? How does his triumph redefine your approach to spiritual warfare?

Sermon Summary

Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection must be understood by what the Bible says, not by loyalty to the Word of Faith movement or rejection of it. Paul’s “word of faith” supplies the standard: doctrine must line up with Scripture. Outlandish statements about what happened between the cross and the resurrection go too far when they claim details the Bible does not give.

The gospel declares that Christ died for sins, was buried, and rose again. Faith in that gospel saves. Yet redemption includes both the natural side and the spiritual side. Christ’s beaten body, shed blood, and physical death are essential, but his cry of forsakenness also points to spiritual separation. Spiritual death, in this argument, means being cut off from the life of God. Jesus remained the sinless Son, fully God and fully man, while acting as humanity’s substitute.

The spotless Lamb and the lifted-up serpent supply two pictures of that substitution. Christ offered himself without sin, yet bore humanity’s sins and became a curse for others. He never became a sinner. His separation was “not for himself.”

Christ’s descent into the heart of the earth is understood as his spirit entering Hades, specifically the place of torment and the abyss. His suffering there is presented as substitutionary, satisfying the claims of a holy God. Scripture’s silence about further details sets a boundary against speculation.

The Father’s raising of Christ reverses that separation. “Begotten” and “firstborn” are read as his human spirit being “hooked back up” with the life of God before his bodily resurrection. Death could not hold the sinless substitute. His triumph disarmed principalities and powers, and his entrance into the heavenly holy place with his own blood obtained eternal redemption. Christ’s completed work calls sinners to repentance and faith, with confidence that his victory is more than sufficient to save.

Key Takeaways

1. Scripture Must Outweigh Movement Loyalty. A church label cannot settle whether a doctrine is right or wrong. Even a respected ministry must be measured by the Word of God rather than defended in every detail. That distinction allows believers to receive what is sound without accepting truths twisted into error. [05:07]
2. The Substitute Never Became A Sinner. Christ’s bearing of sin must not be confused with Christ committing sin. The force of substitution rests on the spotless one taking the sinner’s place, not on his becoming personally guilty of wrongdoing. His being cut off “not for himself” makes the cost of redemption an expression of love rather than a penalty he owed. [31:03]
3. Redemption Includes The Spiritual Side. The beaten body, the blood, and the cross must never be minimized. The distinction between the natural and spiritual realms nevertheless presses believers to consider Christ’s spirit as well as his body. Redemption is presented as a whole work, with neither side treated as disposable. [17:12]
4. Biblical Silence Sets A Real Boundary. Confidence about redemption does not require an explanation of every unseen detail. Claims about Christ’s suffering and triumph become outlandish when they supply scenes and events that Scripture does not give. Reverence for Christ includes stopping where the biblical account stops, even when further details might sound exciting. [50:43]
5. The Risen Christ Cannot Be Held. Death’s inability to hold Christ is tied to his own sinlessness. His suffering was for the sins of others, and once the Father’s claims were satisfied, that suffering could not remain his condition. His release and resurrection therefore ground confidence in a sufficient redemption rather than an unfinished struggle. [56:39]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[04:24] - The Word of Faith and Scripture’s Standard
[07:49] - Three Questions About Christ’s Death
[12:36] - The Natural and Spiritual Sides of Redemption
[15:21] - Darkness and the Cry of Forsakenness
[19:17] - Spiritual Death as Separation From God
[26:20] - The Spotless Lamb Bears Humanity’s Sin
[33:34] - The Heart of the Earth and Hades
[42:06] - Christ’s Descent Into the Abyss
[49:01] - Suffering, Satisfaction, and Scripture’s Limits
[53:32] - Two Goats Picture Two Sides of Redemption
[56:39] - Death Cannot Hold the Sinless Substitute
[1:03:12] - Triumph Over Principalities and Powers
[1:06:17] - Paradise, Resurrection, and Captivity Led Captive
[1:12:13] - Heavenly Blood and Completed Redemption

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1 Corinthians 15:3-4
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” [14:24]

Matthew 12:40
“For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” [34:03]

Acts 2:24
“God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it” [56:39]

Observation questions

In 1 Corinthians 15:3–4, what events make up the gospel Paul received and passed on? What does Paul connect Christ’s death to, and what authority supports his account? [14:28]
What comparison does Jesus make in Matthew 12:40? What distinction is drawn between the location of his body and the destination of his spirit after his death? [35:33]
In Acts 2:24, who raises Jesus, and what is death unable to do? How is that victory connected to Jesus’ sinlessness? [56:52]

Interpretation questions

Why does Paul’s appeal to Scripture in 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 matter when Christians evaluate claims about Christ’s death and resurrection? What makes this a better standard than loyalty to—or rejection of—a church movement? [15:21]
What is the difference between Christ bearing the sins of others and Christ becoming a sinner himself? Why is that distinction essential to understanding his death for sins in 1 Corinthians 15:3? [31:03]
How is Matthew 12:40 used to support the understanding that Christ descended into Hades? Which details are stated in the passage itself, and which conclusions require support from other passages? [34:03]
How does God’s raising of Jesus in Acts 2:24 give a believer confidence that redemption is sufficient? Why does that confidence not depend on knowing every detail of what happened between Christ’s death and resurrection? [01:05:07]

Application questions

Scripture must carry more weight than a church label or a respected ministry. When have you found yourself accepting or dismissing a belief mainly because of who taught it? What would help you examine that belief fairly from Scripture? [05:21]
Think of a claim you have heard about what happened between the cross and the resurrection. How could you check its biblical support? If the evidence remains unclear, how comfortable would you be saying, “I don’t know”? [50:51]
Christ bore our sins without ever becoming a sinner himself. When you think about a sin you regret, how does his willing substitution help you approach God honestly rather than hide from him? Share only what you feel comfortable sharing. [31:03]
Christ’s suffering was for others, not for wrongdoing of his own. What part of his sacrifice have you tended to take for granted? How might you make room this week to respond with specific thanks? [52:32]
Death could not hold the sinless substitute. Where are guilt or fear making it hard for you to rest in Christ’s victory? What might trusting his completed work look like in that situation this week? [56:52]
Christ’s completed work calls for repentance and faith. Is there an area of your life where you are resisting turning to him or trying to earn his acceptance? What would a sincere next step toward trusting him look like? [01:16:26]

Sermon Clips

33s

#PreachTheCross

“I am not minimizing the cross. My I'm a I'm a cross. I I preach the cross of Christ. I claim to know nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified. You know what I mean like the apostle Paul, group me in with him. He preached Christ and him crucified and I emphasize Jesus and him crucified and he paid the penalty for our sins on that cross. Absolutely, he paid the price for our sins on that cross. He died on that cross. He's the lamb of God. He shed his sinless blood.”

24s

#TheGospelMessage

“Now, see, that's the gospel. And and he's talking about the natural side of it here, the death, burial, and resurrection, that's the gospel. And if that's all you ever hear, you believe that with all your heart and sell yourself out to Jesus and give yourself to him and serve him and live for him, you're saved. You you understand that?”

23s

#JesusIsEnough

“And it it it it it's all necessary and and and he did everything. And I don't know all of all the details of everything what the bible doesn't tell us all the details of everything but it tells us what it tells us and I know this whatever Jesus did was more than sufficient to get you and me saved. Can you say amen?”

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