This is the difference between Jesus and any other claiming they are Christ. Only Jesus died and rose again. This is the key of evidence showing who Christ is. He is the son of God.
None of the saints that had died before Christ had salvation. Christ showed that he was the Messiah by setting those free who had gone before. He lead captivity captive, and set the captives free. The cross was the beginning. Without the ressurection Jesus is just another prophet or crazy person claiming to be God.My personal opinion is that when Jesus descended into Hades he visited the righteous dead and then led them into heaven after his ascension. I also believe the Apostle's creed is referring to Hades when it states Jesus descended into hell.
Please explain how Christ's dying on the cross defeated Satan by itself. When Christ died even the father turned His back. Jesus gives up the ghost and dies. Everyone is weeping and sorrowful. How does death of itself defeat Satan? The what happens next is what defeats Satan. Without ressurection there is no defeated Satan; Just a dead Jesus. He didn't accend to the Father when he died. He told his diciples that he had not yet accended. So where do you think he went?
None can enter heaven except through salvation. Even the patriarchs cannot get in through their works. They were born into sin under the curse the same as we were. They had to receive salvation. God is not a respector of persons. He doesn't let some in and shut others out. He is just and fair and leaves no room for loopholes.
BTW The Bible does not say that Satan is in hell. the bible says Satan is roaming the earth to and fro.
[/quote]In the song creed it says the Jesus descended and set the captives free. Is descended metaphoric for he died and made the way for us to be saved. Because if it means he went to where satan is (hell) thats not truth..Jesus did not go to hell..He defeated satan on the cross. and rose defeating death.
In The song He came He Saw He Conguered. It says He conquered death and hell...Jesus didnt go to hell...He conquered death by rising, he defeated hell(satan) on the cross or satan..