Why did Jesus die on the cross?

[Yoder777]

What is the meaning and purpose of Christ's death on the cross? Are we saved by grace through faith in Christ's work on the cross? If abstention from sin is necessary for salvation, why did Jesus die on our behalf?

I think an overemphasis on Jesus' death as appeasing God's wrath makes Christianity out to be a Satanic death cult. I'd rather see Jesus' death and resurrection as enabling our spiritual rebirth in which we grow in his likeness. This understanding of salvation is rooted in Scripture and the early church.

MacDonald rejected the doctrine of penal substitutionary atonement as developed by John Calvin, which argues that Christ has taken the place of sinners and is punished by God in their place, believing that in turn it raised serious questions about the character and nature of God. Instead, he taught that Christ had come to save people from their sins, and not from a Divine penalty for their sins. The problem was not the need to appease a wrathful God but the disease of cosmic evil itself. George MacDonald frequently described the Atonement in terms similar to the Christus Victor theory. MacDonald posed the rhetorical question, "Did he not foil and slay evil by letting all the waves and billows of its horrid sea break upon him, go over him, and die without rebound—spend their rage, fall defeated, and cease? Verily, he made atonement!"

MacDonald was convinced that God does not punish except to amend, and that the sole end of His greatest anger is the amelioration of the guilty. As the doctor uses fire and steel in certain deep-seated diseases, so God may use hell-fire if necessary to heal the hardened sinner. MacDonald declared, "I believe that no hell will be lacking which would help the just mercy of God to redeem his children." MacDonald posed the rhetorical question, "When we say that God is Love, do we teach men that their fear of Him is groundless?" He replied, "No. As much as they fear will come upon them, possibly far more. … The wrath will consume what they call themselves; so that the selves God made shall appear."

However, true repentance, in the sense of freely chosen moral growth, is essential to this process, and, in MacDonald's optimistic view, inevitable for all beings. He recognized the theoretical possibility that, bathed in the eschatological divine light, some might perceive right and wrong for what they are but still refuse to be transfigured by operation of God's fires of love, but he did not think this likely.

In this theology of divine punishment, MacDonald stands in agreement with the Greek Church Fathers St. Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and St.Gregory of Nyssa, although it is unknown whether MacDonald had a working familiarity with Patristics or Eastern Orthodox Christianity. At least an indirect influence is likely, because F. D. Maurice who influenced MacDonald knew the Greek Fathers, especially Clement, very well.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_MacDonald

 

[sunlover1]

Kinsman Redeemer

 

[Yoder777]

If Jesus died in our place for the forgiveness of our sins, does that mean that after we believe, we cannot go to hell no matter what sins we commit? If his sacrifice doesn't cover any and every future sin, why did Jesus need to die?

 

[Deleteriousnonsense]

We are all sinners, each and everyone of us. That will never change until the world is made new. Christ died on the cross to pay that debt of sin which we inherited from Adam and Eve. Just as God is infinitely merciful so is He infinitely just. By sacrificing Himself for our transgressions, He ransomed us and satisfied mercy and justice at once. But remember that on the third day He rose. That's equally important. By paying our debt and rising again, he made it possible for us to regain our inheritance of paradise. All we have to do is have faith, and even that He gives to us. We demonstrate our faith through good works in emulation of Christ, among these is avoidance of sin. Even this we can only do with His help. when we fail, which we ultimately must, it His Spirit of love and Mercy that enables us to repent and keep trying. It gives us great joy to follow in the footsteps of Christ, as we would never wish to offend Him, not only for what he has done for us, but because He has planted the seed of love in our hearts. We actively seek to nurture that seed, so that it will flower and branch, and bring others to Him so that they may know the joy of His life in us.

 

[Yoder777]

We demonstrate our faith through good works in emulation of Christ, among these is avoidance of sin.

What about those who teach that, because Jesus paid for our sins on the cross, avoidance of sin is not a necessary component of saving faith?

 

[Deleteriousnonsense]

I do not know of anyone who says that. Sin separates us from God, as He cannot abide it, so it's important to avoid sin. It's really a gift of God, the Grace to face down sin; a sign that the Holy Spirit abides in us. If we go about sinning without even trying to follow righteousness, then we dishonour the faith. If we sin and are not repentant, we endanger our closeness with God.

 

[Yoder777]

I do not know of anyone who says that. Sin separates us from God, as He cannot abide it, so it's important to avoid sin. It's really a gift of God, the Grace to face down sin; a sign that the Holy Spirit abides in us. If we go about sinning without even trying to follow righteousness, then we dishonour the faith. If we sin and are not repentant, we endanger our closeness with God.

How much sinlessness is necessary to demonstrate the sincerity of our faith? 100%? 90%? 75%?

 

[Deleteriousnonsense]

Impossible to quantify. No human being can be 100% sinless IMHO, although some say that the Virgin Mother was redeemed ahead of time by Calvary and was born without sin. As a Catholic I am bound not to dispute that. However, for all the rest of us its circumstantial, I would think. Remember that repentance is very important. A man may have been a sinner all his life but if he truly repents and asks Christ to forgive Him, who among us is so righteous that we can dispute that it was granted him.

 

[MARKedByChrist]

We are all sinners, each and everyone of us. That will never change until the world is made new. Christ died on the cross to pay that debt of sin which we inherited from Adam and Eve. Just as God is infinitely merciful so is He infinitely just. By sacrificing Himself for our transgressions, He ransomed us and satisfied mercy and justice at once. But remember that on the third day He rose. That's equally important. By paying our debt and rising again, he made it possible for us to regain our inheritance of paradise. All we have to do is have faith, and even that He gives to us. We demonstrate our faith through good works in emulation of Christ, among these is avoidance of sin. Even this we can only do with His help. when we fail, which we ultimately must, it His Spirit of love and Mercy that enables us to repent and keep trying. It gives us great joy to follow in the footsteps of Christ, as we would never wish to offend Him, not only for what he has done for us, but because He has planted the seed of love in our hearts. We actively seek to nurture that seed, so that it will flower and branch, and bring others to Him so that they may know the joy of His life in us.

Very well said!!

Jesus paid the ultimate price for us and there is not enough time left in this world to thank Him for his wonderful, loving gift!

 

[ebia]

By allowing the worst in us to do it's worst to him on the cross, and by coming out the other side in the Resurrection Jesus defeated evil, sin, death... And began a new creation, a whole new reality. But we still have to start living in that new reality.

 

[MARKedByChrist]

And we also have to remember to thank Him for everyday that we live, because we live in Him and He in us. We can't afford to forget the gift He laid before us as he breathed His last on the cross.

 

[Sarrapin]

How much sinlessness is necessary to demonstrate the sincerity of our faith? 100%? 90%? 75%?

I think that's more a lifestyle and a matter of the heart than a percentage of our lives. If your faith is genuine then you won't want to sin. You won't be comfortable sinning, let alone continue doing it. There'll be that part of you that just makes you want to run out of a sinful situation and that's the part that will convict you if you do fail and sin.

Unbelievers generally have no such reservations because they are simply acting in line with their depraved nature. As Christians, we have a new nature that opposes sin and so genuine Christians can never be comfortable by going to the things of the world that are sinful. We live for something higher. Change, even if it takes a while, will happen in the life of a Christian. It is simply causality.

 

[PROPHECYKID]

What is the meaning and purpose of Christ's death on the cross? Are we saved by grace through faith in Christ's work on the cross? If abstention from sin is necessary for salvation, why did Jesus die on our behalf?

Christ paid the penalty for our sins which is death. He paid it because we cannot be perfect and save our own selves. We are saved by grace through faith in Christ' work on the cross. Abstinence from sin is not necessary for salvation but sin separates us from God. That is why the bible tells us to confess our sins for God to cleanse us. If we are not cleansed by his blood we cannot be saved.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Subscribing

 

[Jpark]

What is the meaning and purpose of Christ's death on the cross? Are we saved by grace through faith in Christ's work on the cross? If abstention from sin is necessary for salvation, why did Jesus die on our behalf?

Access to His blood and access to His Spirit (John 16:7) through which we can have access to His presence (Heb. 10:22) by keeping His commandments from a clean heart (1 Peter 1:22). For to obey Him is to abide in Him. To continuously abide in Him is to be saved.

Also, He died to grant repentance and salvation to the Gentiles (Eph. 2:12-18).

Eph. 2:13-14 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,

Eph. 2:18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.

Basically, so we could abide in Him and know Him. For that is the true worship of the Father.

 

[Deleteriousnonsense]

Very well said!!

Jesus paid the ultimate price for us and there is not enough time left in this world to thank Him for his wonderful, loving gift!

Amen and amen! Dying He destroyed our death. Rising He restored our life. Glory be to God forever.

 

[Hentenza]

What is the meaning and purpose of Christ's death on the cross? Are we saved by grace through faith in Christ's work on the cross? If abstention from sin is necessary for salvation, why did Jesus die on our behalf?

Romans 5 answers your questions.

 

[Deleteriousnonsense]

Subscribing

No one is too far gone.

 

[Yoder777]

Abstinence from sin is not necessary for salvation but sin separates us from God.

Does this mean that once saved, we are always saved, no matter our conduct after accepting Christ's work on the cross?

If turning away from sin is necessary for salvation, why was it necessary for Jesus to die for our sins? Couldn't people turn from their sins before Jesus was crucified?

 

[Optimax]

Impossible to quantify. No human being can be 100% sinless IMHO, although some say that the Virgin Mother was redeemed ahead of time by Calvary and was born without sin. As a Catholic I am bound not to dispute that.

I agree with a lot of what you say, however your post did not include details necessary that tell a person how to be saved.

Also the above statement about Mary is impossible. No on, that includes Mary could be redeemed before redemption was available.

No one born of a man and a woman as Mary was, could be born without sin as was stated in the above post.

Jesus was born of a woman, but not man.

The idea any of that could happen shows a complete lack of understanding on what the issues were that required something as unimaginable as Jesus needing to die.