“You alone are the Lord;

You have made heaven,

The heaven of heavens,with all their host,

The earth and everything on it,

The seas and all that is in them,

And You preserve them all.

The host of heaven worships You.” Nehemiah 9:6

“For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe.” Deuteronomy 10:17

“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” Genesis 2:7

“in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,” Titus 1:2

“God is not a man, that He should lie,..” Numbers 23:19

Reconciled in Christ

“For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—  if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard,” Colossians 1:19-23a

Preeminence of Christ

“For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.  And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” Colossians 1:16-18

“WHY did Jesus die on the cross?” 

This is an incredibly important and momentous question and how we respond to the answer and the offer of salvation (John 3:16) – will determine our eternal destiny. Let’s take a conscientious look at the honest and heartfelt question – the answers are found in God’s revealed word to mankind.

1. SIN

Death in Adam, Life in Christ.

Although God is all merciful, all gracious, all powerful, all forgiving and all loving; God is also holy, righteous and just. Sin separates us from God. Sin and Holiness are Incompatible. At the cross of Calvary, the love and justice of God met.

Sin entered the world through one man’s disobedience – Adam. When Adam sinned, sin entered the entire human race. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.

Romans 3:23  “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Romans 5:12-19  “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—(For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)

Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.”

Isaiah 59:2 “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.”

2. Sin’s Punishment is Eternal Death.

God’s holiness and justice demand that sin and rebellion be punished. The only penalty or payment for sin is eternal death.

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 5:21 “so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

3. Atoning Sacrifice

Atonement requires a perfect, spotless sacrifice. Jesus, the one perfect God-man, came to offer the pure, complete and everlasting sacrifice to remove, atone, and make eternal payment for our sin. Only through Jesus Christ can our sins be forgiven, thus restoring our relationship with God and removing the separation caused by sin.

1 Peter 1:18-19 “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”

Hebrews 2:14-17  “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

1 Corinthians 1:30 “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—”

Romans 5:10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection in Mark 10:32-34 “Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him: 33 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; 34 and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”

Acts 4:12 “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Only through Jesus Christ can our sins be forgiven, thus restoring our relationship with God and removing the separation caused by sin.

How must the Messiah- Saviour die?

Jesus said in John 3:14-17 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

In the Biblical account about Moses lifting up the serpent – the serpent is used as a symbol for “sin,” and bronze a symbol of “judgment,” because bronze could withstand fire. We find in this verse that once the people acknowledged their sin, they only needed to look upon the serpent on the pole to be healed and saved. We are told Jesus “became” sin, like that “fiery serpent” on the pole, for us .

So, as those who looked upon the fiery serpent in the wilderness were saved from their sins, so will all who believe in Jesus on the Cross be saved . . . and welcomed into His Kingdom of Heaven, forever.

[Numbers 21:4-9 Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread.” So the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died.

Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord that He take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.]

It is noteworthy that after learning the story of the serpent in the wilderness, the ancient Greeks adopted this sign of the serpent on the pole as their symbol for healing. The symbol is still used by the medical profession. Note there is only one serpent on this ancient symbol, not two.

The Promise of the Cross is available to everybody.  The offer is extended to all.

Briefly, when we are “in Christ Jesus” we are covered by His blood through his sacrificial death, our sins are paid for, and we no longer have to die an eternal death. Our faith in Christ saves us – which looks backward to His act of salvation. Once we accept Jesus’ payment for our sin, His perfect sacrifice washes away our sin and restores our right standing with God. God’s mercy and grace provided a way for our salvation.

We receive eternal life though Jesus Christ for He was the only one who has ever loved you enough to substitute Himself for you on the Cross.  He shed His blood, suffered, and died on the Cross to save you from your sins and from the utter darkness and torment of eternal Hell, if you will accept it, believe it, and trust in it.  That is why Jesus is called Saviour.  He now lovingly and graciously offers you life in Heaven for eternity – the choice is yours to take it or leave it.

And this is how and why Jesus died for you, me and all of humanity. Jesus’ resurrection 3 days after His death proved that He is who He said He is – the great “I AM”.

Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” John 8:58

And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” Exodus 3:14

John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.  And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.

You are of great worth, never under-estimate your true worth because to God, you are worth so very much. God, the lover of your soul thinks you are worth to die for – Jesus died for you.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:26

Our Creator GOD, the Triune God’s (“ONE GOD in 3 persons” viz God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit) Revelation to us in Hebrews 1:1-13

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

For to which of the angels did He ever say:

And again:

But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says:

And of the angels He says:

But to the Son He says:

And:

But to which of the angels has He ever said:

Jesus said in Luke 6:46-50  “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?  Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like:  He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.  But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”

Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’  And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matthew 7:22-23

Salvation is not a license to sin. Do not use the grace of God for evil.

Those who declare that they are eternally secure and then go out and continue to sin on purpose in any manner they so choose are not saved (to begin with) since this is contradictory to what Scripture teaches.  1 John 2:4 says, “The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

“…I will show you my faith by my works.” James 2:18

Our faith is invisible and can only be expressed outwardly to man by our works.   We do not work for our salvation – faith that is not accompanied by works is not living faith. Abraham showed his faith by his work of offering up his son. (God stopped Abraham in time and the test’s for Abraham to know without a shadow of doubt that he believed and trusted God and among others – for us to see Abraham’s faith’s,  as shown by his action). True faith it is alive, all works are acts of faith which one must possess beforehand. Actions are a result of what we believe, James 2:18 is saying show me what you believe.

Good works comes from being in Christ, good works do not put us in Christ. We are not justified before God from the works we do. Our works have no merit before God for salvation.  We are not doing good works to earn salvation and be created in Christ; we are doing good works because we are already “in Christ.”

“not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.” Titus 3:5

The Bible makes the point time and again that man does not earn his salvation as its origin is found in God who saved us – salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone. There is nothing we can do to merit salvation.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9

In the light of the aforesaid, let us pay heed again to….Those who declare that they are eternally secure and then go out and continue to sin on purpose in any manner they so choose are not saved (to begin with) since this is contradictory to what Scripture teaches.  1 John 2:4 says, “The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

Jesus said in John 6:47-52 

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.  I am the bread of life.  Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead.  This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die.  I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”

 

Today God offers us to enter His ultimate place of rest – our eternal joy. He invites us to come to Christ and therefore have peace with Him now and have eternal life. In order to enter His rest, we must believe that God has this relationship in mind for us; we must believe – trust and have faith in Christ. Today is the best time to find peace with God for tomorrow may be too late.

“Do not boast about tomorrow,
For you do not know what a day may bring forth.” Proverbs 27:1

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”  Jeremiah 29:11

Do not let the shadow of sin continue to shade our future. We can all have the future God has planned for us if we choose to repent and turn to God so that  our sins may be wiped out —if we choose to grow and develop a relationship with God,  the times of refreshing may come from the Lord.

 

When the unhelpful past calls, switched it off – delete it.  We may need to accept some finite disappointments, but never to lose infinite hope – make it a point to let the disappointments fashion and shape us into a resilient and stronger person for the future; the responsibility  for our future is upon each of us and is impacted by our actions going forward, and with the help of God, we will triumph. We do not need the approval of others especially when what they approve of is wrong, and when what we have done is right in the light of the revealed word of God.

Philippians 3:13, “…this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,”

Let’s not be shackled by the past, cut it loose and press forward towards the future!

Forgiveness of sins by God

God is rich in love and mercy. The confessing our sins before God alone and repentance is the key to being forgiven.

It is God’s deep desire to see you turn to Him and receive forgiveness for your sins! “Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him.” Isaiah 30:18

Read more of what God said in the passages as quoted from God’s manual for mankind:

“…..Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.”  Jeremiah 31:3

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  1 John 1:9

“He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13

In John 8:3-11, an actual story is narrated where a woman was caught in the very act of adultery and they brought this woman before Jesus. Jesus said unto them in verse 7,

“He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

In verse 7

So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”

In verse 9 –verse 11

9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”

11 She said, “No one, Lord.”

And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

 

Titus 2:14 “who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”

Jesus told us a parable to demonstrate how our heavenly Father God wants to love, accept and forgive us when we turn to Him. In the parable, Jesus told of the son who took half his dad’s money and ran away, then returned home bankrupt and his father saw his son and was moved with compassion.

Luke 15:20, tells us how the father received his son, .. “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. ..”

That is how God, our heavenly Father sees us, welcomes us, forgives us and loves us even after we’ve really messed up, and then turn back to Him! He is moved with compassion and welcomes us with open arms.

“I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins.” Isaiah 43:25

“And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Hebrews 10:17

AGAIN… God is rich in love and mercy. The confessing our sins before God alone and repentance is the key to being forgiven.