Welcome to week 3 of our series called SYMBOLS.

There are three things that the open grave is a symbol of:

1. It is a symbol of FREEDOM.

• The open grave is like an open prison door.
• We were held as prisoners to the POWER OF SIN.
  • Romans 6:17-18 NLT: "17 Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. 18 Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living."
• We were held as prisoners to the TORMENT OF SATAN.
  • OPPRESSION
  • DEPRESSION
  • POSSESSION
  • Acts 10:38 NLT: "And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him."
• When Jesus came out of that prison, He didn't come out alone—WE WERE WITH HIM!

2. It is a symbol of ACCESS.

• The open grave is like an open door to a house.
• A closed door says, "YOU ARE NOT WANTED IN HERE!"
• The door between God and man had been closed.
• Revelation 4:1 NLT: "Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.'"
• Ephesians 4:8-10 NLT: "8 That is why the Scriptures say, ‘When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.' 9 Notice that it says ‘he ascended.' This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. 10 And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself."
• Hebrews 4:16 NLT: "So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most."
• When Jesus went through the door of heaven, He was not alone—WE WERE WITH HIM!

3. It is a symbol of VICTORY.

• The open grave is like a broken-down city gate.
• Colossians 2:15 NLT: "In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross."
• 2 Corinthians 2:14 NASB: "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place."
• What is trying to beat you right now? What is trying to conquer you? Is it sickness? Is it depression? Is it despair? Is it death?
• 1 Corinthians 15:54-57 NLT: "54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?' 56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ."
• When Jesus went through the gates of hell and took the keys of hell and death, He was not alone—WE WERE WITH HIM!