Did The Lord Jesus Indeed Die For Our Sins?
Uplook – July/August 2020 — Grace & Truth Magazine
Did The Lord Jesus Indeed Die For Our Sins?
Some time ago I was asked this question: “I was brought up as a Christian and from an early age, I heard that the Lord Jesus had died for our sins. Now I’m getting older and wonder whether this is just fanciful thinking. Of course He died, but did that not happen as a result of the jealousy of the Jews, who handed Him over to be crucified by the Romans? After all, they did not want to acknowledge Him as their Messiah, as the King of the Jews, nor as God’s Son!”
It is good for us to ask critical questions about what we have heard from childhood. In doing so, we must refer to the only source that can speak authoritatively: the Bible. Hold to what the Word says; do not allow human theological reasoning, philosophy, science or even the weakness of old age to produce doubt in your heart!
Aspects Of The Crucifixion
Rightly, the person who asked me this question mentioned that the Jews rejected their Messiah out of jealousy, envy and hatred. Because the Jews had no political power then, they had to have the death penalty pronounced and executed by the Romans, who at that time occupied the land and practiced crucifixion. This means that all people, even those who were not Jews, became guilty of the death of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Life. If they had understood who He was, they would not have crucified Him (1 Cor. 2:8).
When we read the Gospels we come to the conclusion that the people very consciously closed their eyes to reality – the truth – and murdered God’s own Son out of hatred. Still, this is not what God’s Word says. Hanging on the cross, the Lord Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Lk. 23:34 NKJV). They had rejected the Prince of Life and asked for a murderer, Barabbas, to be released to them. But in his speech in Acts, the apostle Peter showed that God still offers salvation to the Jews, because “in ignorance” they crucified the Lord (Acts 3:17). We see in this God’s pure grace.
Mankind unwittingly made himself guilty of the death of God’s only Son, but there is another aspect: He was delivered unto death “by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God” (Acts 2:23). God’s eternal ordinance – incomprehensible to us – was that He would give His only begotten Son for us. Why? His love brought Him to do this. A very important reason why God had to send His Son was the problem of sin and our sins.
What Does God’s Word Say About This?
Consider what the Bible says:
- “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures ... And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!” (1 Cor. 15:3-4,17).
- “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood” (Rom. 3:23-25).
- “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 Jn. 1:7).
- “To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood ...” (Rev. 1:5).
- “Christ came as High Priest ... with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption ... How much more shall the blood of Christ ... cleanse your conscience?” (Heb. 9:11-12,14).
- “Without shedding of blood there is no remission” (Heb. 9:22).
- “Christ ... bore our sins in His own body on the tree” (1 Pet. 2:21,24).
- “Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many” (Heb. 9:28).
The word “blood” occurs frequently in the quoted verses. When the Scriptures talk about the blood shed by the Lord Jesus, it refers to the fact that He gave His life for us. He died in our place. Similarly, during earlier days in Israel, the life of a person who sinned was associated with his presenting a sin offering or guilt offering – an animal slain in place of the sinner. Through God’s judgment, the Lord Jesus experienced the full weight of God’s justice; He bore the entire punishment from the holy God for our sins. He was even made to be sin (2 Cor. 5:21), which means He was dealt with and condemned as if He Himself were the source of all evil, although He has always been and forever will be holy and just (Acts 3:14).
God’s Word also says, “If we confess our sins, He [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1:9). Dear reader, I hope that you already have confessed your sins to God with sincere repentance, that you saw yourself before His holy countenance as a lost, depraved sinner.
Now, may we keep in our hearts and minds what the Bible, God’s Word, says. Jesus having died for our sins is not fanciful thinking at all. God forgave us on the ground of Christ’s redemptive work; He made us to be His children (Jn. 1:12) and gave us His Spirit as a pledge of the glorious future that awaits us in Him (Eph. 1:13-14).
Medicine For The Doubts
Who can ever understand such a love for depraved sinners, like we were? No one can explain God’s love and grace. Yet, if I reflect on this in the realization of who I was, this moves me to offer praise and thanksgiving – and to worship our great Savior God. This is perhaps the best medicine for the doubts that the liar, Satan, wants all too much to sow in our hearts. Instead of doubting or reasoning about your salvation, simply to go down on your knees and sincerely thank God for this inexpressible gift of His Son, who was handed over for our sins and rose for our justification.
By Erwin H. W. Luimes
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found; Was blind but now I see.
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved; How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed!
Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home.—John Newton (1725–1807)