Jesus’ crucifixion is the central focus of Christianity.  We read in John 3:16, “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that all who believe in him should not perish but have everlasting life”.  But, why specifically, did Jesus die?  Why did he have to die?  Why was a “Jesus” even necessary?  What was the problem?  How was Jesus a solution?  And how does his death cover our sins? 

[Thanks to the Alpha Program for some aspects of the framework used below.  Content is original.]

GOD’S INTENTION

Scripture tells us that God made human beings in his image.  What does this mean?  It means that human beings are very like God.  We are even made to be like God.  God is loving, we are loving.  God is creative, we are creative.  God acts with free will, human beings act with free will.  God is intelligent, purposeful, knowing and spiritual in essence, and so human beings.

God’s intention for humanity is and always has been that we would shine in resplendent glory for all eternity by finding ourselves completely in him. 

THE PROBLEM

This destiny sounds truly glorious.  But there is a problem.  How do we get from here to there considering our spiritual condition? 

         The Pollution of Sin

We have all had the experience of sinning and feeling dirty afterwards, like we have thoughtlessly smeared a pure white soul with a handful of mud. This is the “Pollution” of Sin. 

         The Power of Sin

Have you ever tried not to sin?  Have you tried to go a day or even a few hours without a single selfish, self-serving thought, without thinking meanly about someone, without willfully resisting holy impulses, without sinning either in action or omission?  Sin has real power over us, dominating us in ways we cannot break.  This is the “Power” of Sin.

         The Penalty of Sin

Let’s say someone breaks into your house, robs you, wounds you, and then tears up your home...  What if that person paid no penalty at all for those actions?  How would that sit with you?  Probably not very well.  From your soul you would cry out for some kind of justice, that some penalty be enacted, some penalty be paid.  So also for our sins against God.  It would be wrong for us to pay no penalty at all.  Some penalty must be enacted against us, some penalty must be paid.  This is the “Penalty” of Sin.

         The Partition of Sin

By definition God is perfectly Good and perfectly Holy.  “In him there is no darkness at all” reads scripture.  If human souls are darkened and stained, under the power of sin and owing a penalty because of sin, how can human souls dwell for all eternity with Him?  The answer is that we cannot.  Sin separates us from God.  This is the “Partition” of Sin.    

THE IMPLICATION

Sin’s dominion over human beings presents a real problem in our relationship with God.  It also presents a real problem in God’s plan for us.  Sin separates us from God, while neither we nor God want that separation.  Yet it is so.  Even worse, in our weakness we cannot solve the problem ourselves, and in his perfection he cannot simply ignore it.

In our weakness:

 We cannot cleanse ourselves;

 We cannot break sin’s power ourselves;

 We cannot pay off the penalty ourselves;

 We cannot remove the partition ourselves.

In his Perfection:

         He cannot pretend we are clean;

         He cannot overcome our Free Will;

         He cannot pay a penalty that is not his own, but ours;

         He cannot dwell with us while we are in this soiled state.

THE SOLUTION

How could this be solved?  Thinking theoretically you could come up with the answer without reading a word of scripture.  On the one hand the problem would have to be solved by a human being since the problem is humanity’s.  On the other hand the only one powerful enough for such a salvation is God.  Therefore the only way for such a salvation to occur would be by a God-Man, fully human to tie the effect completely to humanity, but fully God to express the perfection necessary to pull it off.

     Only a human being fully clean could clean us. 

     Only a human being apart from the domination of sin could free us. 

     Only a human being without penalty could pay ours. 

     Only a human being not under the partition could remove it.

The solution to the Problem of Sin was the God-Man: Jesus Christ, fully human, yet in every way fully indistinguishable, revealing, and one with God.

“He bore our sins on the wood of the cross so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed, for you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” 1 Peter2:24

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a truly good person one might possibly dare to die.  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8

THE RESULT

Pollution Removed 

To remove a wrong, human beings make sacrifice.  Sacrifice has a real spiritual power.  The husband sacrifices time and money to buy flowers to say sorry.  That sacrifice makes the words more powerful.  The crook sacrifices days or years of freedom by going to jail.  That sacrifice is agreed to be a fair payment for the offense.  The one who hurts another makes a sacrifice, as the Psalmist puts it, of “a contrite heart”.  These sacrifices are not perfect, but in some way they do clear away some of the pollution.  Jesus is referred to as the “lamb of God”, a “perfect sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins”.  Through his perfect self-sacrifice a real spiritual power comes to bear.  We are cleansed.  Through trust and faith in Christ our pollution is removed and our souls are “washed white as snow”.

Power Broken

Have you used Rain-x on your windshield?  Muddy water and dirt may fall on your windshield, but if it has been rain-x’ed the mud and dirt run right off leaving nothing behind.  Jesus is Rain-x for the soul.  Sin will always have power in this world to the last day.  Even for the “saved” sin asserts itself constantly in our lives.  Yet for those who are “in Christ” who have bound themselves to him by faith and trust, sin’s power has been removed.  The sins may come, but they do not stick. Through Christ, Sin’s present power over us has been weakened as we are “changed, day by day, into His likeness.”  Through Christ Sin’s ultimate power has been completely broken.

Penalty Paid

“The wages of Sin is death” writes Saint Paul.  By this he means that the result of sin is eternal separation from God who is life. 

Have you ever wondered why Jesus “descended to the dead”?   At his death he should have gone straight to heaven.  He owed no penalty.  For him there was no separation. Jesus owed nothing for he never sinned, but on the cross he died “for us”.  He took our penalty onto himself.  “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?” is traditionally interpreted as Jesus experiencing this penalty, which as we have just said, was separation from the Father. 

The wages of sin are death.  Jesus took onto himself that death so we could have his part, which is movement directly from earth to heaven. In Baptism “we are united in a death like his,” writes Saint Paul. Christ’s death becomes our death through our trust and faith in Him.   Our penalty is paid by Jesus Christ.

Partition Removed

Paul goes on to write that “if we are united with him in a death like his” meaning baptism, wherein the going under the water is like a death, “we will also be united in a resurrection like his” which is our going from physical death to eternal life with God. Jesus “opened for us the way of freedom and peace”.  When he teaches his disciples to pray “Our Father” it is because he is removing the partition between humanity and God, making us, “children of God, and if children then heirs of His heavenly kingdom”.  Through trust and faith in Christ we are united with him spiritually and given the hope of perfect communion with God.  This communion begins in this life with the coming into us of God the Holy Spirit.

OUR RESPONSE 

Our problem has been solved…  It has been solved by one of us; it has been solved by God:  It has been solved by He who was both one of us and God. 

We have been given the promise of salvation.  But how do we claim it as ours?  You might win Lotto, but you must to make a claim and show the ticket to have the reward.  How do we make a claim on Christ’s work and have the reward?  Since the problem comes from within the answer also comes from within:  It is Faith; that is, Belief; that is, Trust. Romans 10:9 says, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved.”

Putting our whole trust in him is an act of the heart.

A STEP OF FAITH

There are no perfect words for this “putting” of our hearts.  Here are some words that have worked for many.  If you pray them, let me hear about it.  I would like to do all in my power to support you in your life in Christ.

Lord Jesus Christ, I am sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life.  [Take a few moments to ask his forgiveness for anything particular on your conscience.]  Please forgive me.  I now turn from everything that I know is wrong.  I now turn to You.  Thank You that You died on the cross for me so that I could be forgiven and set free.  Thank You that You offer me forgiveness and the gift of your Spirit.  I now receive that gift.  Please come into my life by Your Holy Spirit, to be with me forever.  Thank You, Lord Jesus.  Amen.