WHY DID JESUS DIE ON THE CROSS?

This is one of my favorite topics.

WHY DID JESUS DIE ON THE CROSS?

Q. What happens when a sinner believes in Jesus Christ?

A. He receives God's free gift of everlasting life. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

Q. How can believing in Jesus Christ give everlasting life to a sinner?

A. A sinner cannot come to God on account of his own righteousness for "we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind has taken us away." (Isaiah 64:6). But Jesus Christ provided redemption for men by dying on the cross and offering Himself as the payment for our sins (Matthew 20:28; Hebrews 9:26-28; Hebrews 10:9-12). So when we believe in Christ, Jesus' divine righteousness shall be "imputed [on us], if we believe in Him that raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered for our offenses, and was raised up again for our justification" (Romans 4:24-25). Therefore, having this divine righteousness, we can now come to God and "receive eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

Q. What is the meaning of Jesus' death on the cross?

A. Jesus' death on the cross is an offering to God. God is holy (I Peter 1:16) and He hates sin (Habakkuk 1:12,13; Hebrews 1:9). Because we sinned, God's wrath abides in us. "The soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezek. 18:4,20) "...for the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). God demands that sinners must die. But even the death of a sinner cannot please God (Ezek. 18:32). However, Jesus' sacrifice is acceptable to God as the payment for sins because He is sinless and righteous (Heb. 4:15; I John 2:1,2).

And because Jesus is God, His death is applicable to every man who believes. "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ. He gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Titus 2:13,14). "But we see Jesus who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor: that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man" (Hebrews 2:9). "This Man [Jesus], because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:24,25).

Because of Jesus' sacrifice, God's wrath is appeased. God is no longer angry with those who trusted in Christ. The Lord’s death served as the peace offering and covering for man's sins: "Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God" (Romans 3:24,25). "And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world" (I John 2:2).

Jesus died in the sinner’s place. "For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5:21). "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:5,6). His death is vicarious and substitutionary sacrifice.

Q. What is the guarantee that the sinner who believed in Jesus Christ will be with God in heaven?

A. Jesus' resurrection from the dead is the guarantee that all who placed their trust in Him shall be with Him in heaven. "But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified" (Hebrews 10:12-14). "But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you" (Romans 8:11; See also I Cor. 15:13-23). Jesus is indeed risen from the dead. His resurrection is physical resurrection. He said to His disciples "Why are you bothered? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when He had thus spoken, He showed them His hands and His feet." (Luke 24:38-40; John 20:25-28). It is not mere apparition nor hallucination of a few disheartened disciples. More than 500 believers have seen His glorified body and heard Him (I Cor. 15:6). He ate with them and talked with with them (John 15:5-22; Luke 24:41-48).

Q. What must I do knowing that He suffered and died for me?

A. Believe that He died in your place, bearing your sins on the cross, and receive Him as the Lord and God of your life. And you will be saved: "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:9,10)

Q. How should I live knowing that He died for me?

A. Live to please Him. "And that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again" (2 Cor. 5:15). "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Gal. 2:20). Knowing that Jesus gave His life for us, we should not allow sin to take control of our lives. But rather yield ourselves to God as instruments of righteousness unto God (Romans 6:8-13).