The Death of Christ

The death of Jesus Christ was absolutely unique, it stands alone. There has never been a death like his and there never will be again. Jesus Christ’s death was unique not because he died on a cross, thousands were crucified. Christ’s death was unique because he alone was the Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world (John 1:29). His death was a vicarious sacrifice. The Old Testament prophesied this declaring,

 Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

(Isaiah 53:4-6)

 The New Testament confirms this in these words about Jesus, “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed (1 Peter 2:24).” We are saved by the mercy of God in the sacrifice of Christ. Therefore, if people reject the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, they then reject the only remedy for the penalty of their sins. And yet there are people who do reject the sacrifice of Christ on the cross for salvation. They just don’t get it.

 For example, 1 Corinthians 1:18 says, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” To some people the message of the cross is foolishness. The Greek word translated foolishness is moria, which basically means, moronic. Some people think the message of the cross, someone dying to pay the penalty for our sins, is just extremely silly, it doesn’t make any sense.

 These people ask, “Why can’t we pay for our own sins?” That’s a very good question. Here’s the answer. The wages of sin is death (Genesis 2:17; Ezekiel 18:4, Romans 6:23). And every person dies, but this is not the full payment for sin. Everyone dies even those who are saved because our bodies are frail; we are mortal, not immortal. God alone possesses Immortality (1 Timothy 6:16). The payment for sin is the second death that happens at the great judgment of God at the end of time (Revelation 20:14, 15). If you are judged guilty, deserving of everlasting death, you will be annihilated. You will cease to exist.

 Therefore, if you pay for your own sins at that second death, you can never be saved. Why? The answer is simple, you are dead forever. So, I either have to pay for my sins, which means everlasting death.  Or I have to live righteously, as holy as God, in order to be saved. But I cannot live a pure, holy and blameless life! So in grace and mercy God provided a substitute to die on my behalf—and yours, Jesus Christ. The most famous verse in the Bible, John 3:16, reveals this truth.

 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

 According to 1 Corinthians 1:18 (quoted above) everyone is in the process of one of two things. You’re either in the process of being saved, which begins with faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. At his return you will receive a new body and everlasting life (1 Corinthians 15:20-23; Philippians 3:20, 21). Or you’re in the process of perishing, a process that will be completed at the return of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:9). Every human being is in one of those two groups. You’re either being saved by the Lord Jesus Christ or you are perishing.

 The Scripture says, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).” If you have not yet claimed Christ as your Lord and Savior, do it now. If you have, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice (Philippians 4:4).”