Why Christ Died

Why did Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, die on the cross? What was the purpose of the Cross?

We learn from the Bible that Christ died:

1. Because of Man's Sins.

"All have sinned..." (Romans 3:23) and man's sins separate him from God (see Isaiah 59:1-2). Thanks be to God that Christ died for my sins and your sins. The Bible says, "Christ died for the ungodly." (Romans 5:6) "...Christ died for our sins...he was buried...he rose again the third day..." (I Corinthians 15:3-4) "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many..." (Hebrew 9:28) "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body..." (I Peter 2:24) "Christ...hath once suffered for sins..." (I Peter 3:18) Dear reader, Jesus Christ died for your sins.

2. In order to fulfill the Old Testament.

The Old Testament was a convenant between God and the children of Israel (see Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:13, 6, 15). The death of Christ fulfilled the Old Testament. "He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second." (Hebrews 10:9) "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross." (Colossians 2:14)

3. In order to ratify or bring in the New Testament.

At the institution of the Lord's Supper, Jesus said, "For this is my blood of the New Testament..." (Matthew 26:28) "And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth." (Hebrews 9:15-17) Christ's death on the cross fulfilled that Old Testament and ratified the New Testament. Today we live under the Now Testament, the law of Christ.

4. To show God's love for mankind.

God loves us in spite of our sins.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." (John 3:16-17).

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, white we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)."In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into, the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (I John 4:9-10).

Christ death on the cross demonstrates God's love for you and me.

5. In order to purchase the church with his own blood.

When I talk about the church I'm not talking about some, man-made religious denomination but I'm talking about the church that you read about upon the pages of God's Word, the church Jesus built. (See Matthew 16:13-18 and Acts 2).

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it..." (Ephesians 5:25). Paul told the elders of the Ephesian church "...to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." (Acts 20:28).

Dear friend, the church that you read about in the Bible is the most important institution in all the world because it is the only institution that has been purchased with the blood of Jesus Christ.

6. Because His blood was necessary for man's salvation.

"...being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." (Romans 5:9).

"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace..." (Ephesians l:7).

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold...But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot..." (I Peter 1:18-19).

Each one of us need to understand that it is the blood of Jesus Christ that washes away our sins. (See Matthew 26:28 and Revelation 1:5).

7. So that repentance and forgiveness of sin could be preached in the name of Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, "...Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." (Luke 24:46-47).

This is exactly what occurred in the city of Jerusalem on the first Pentecost day following the death, burial, resurrection and the ascension of Christ back to heaven as recorded in Acts chapter 2. On that day Peter preached the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (see Acts 2:22-24). As a result of hearing the message people became believers in Christ and these believers asked the apostles "What shall we do?" (Acts 2:37). Dear Reader, notice the inspired answer that Peter gave them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins..." (Acts 2:38). On that same day 3,000 believers gladly received his word and were baptized and the Lord added them to His church. (See Acts 2:41 and 47).

In Mark 16:15-16 Jesus said, "...Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."

Jesus died so that forgiveness/remission of sins could be preached in His name.

Dear Reader, Jesus died and shed his blood for you. Won't you as a penitent believer, confess your faith in Christ and be baptized into the death of Christ. (See Romans 6:3-4). We would be happy to assist you in your obedience to Christ

If you would like to enroll in a free Bible Correspondence course, email us using this link, or write to the Mauldin Church of Christ, PO Box 731, Mauldin, SC 29662. You are cordially invited to attend our services.

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