Why Did Jesus Die on the Cross?

WHY DID JESUS DIE ON THE CROSS?

By:  Randy Kea

 

Why exactly did Jesus die on the cross?  There are several scriptural reasons:

First, we note that it was God’s plan for Jesus to die on the cross.  In fact, it was a matter of Old Testament prophecy (Matthew 27:35; Isaiah 53: Luke 24:44-47).  Jesus himself foretold of His own death time and time again (Matthew 16;21; 20:17-19; Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:33-34; Luke 9:22; 18:31-33).

Jesus died on the cross to abolish the Old Testament Law (Ephesians 2:14-16; Colossians 2:14-16).  We now live and serve under the New Testament (Hebrews 10:9-10).

Jesus died on the cross to establish His New Testament (Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 9:15-17; 10:9-10).

Jesus died on the cross to reconcile us to God (Colossians 1:21-22; Ephesians 2:16; II Corinthians 5:17-21).

Jesus suffered and died on the cross to demonstrate God’s great and wonderful love for mankind (John 3:16-17; Romans 5:6-10; 8:32; I John 4:8-16).

Jesus died on the cross to draw us to God (John 12:32; John 6:44-45; I Peter 3:18).

Jesus died and shed His blood for the church (His church) (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:25).

Christ died for unity.  He died so that all could be united in one body, the church (Ephesians 2:14-16; Galatians 3:26-28; Colossians 1:18, 24; 3:15).

The Lord Jesus died for all people.  The old Calvinistic doctrine of “limited atonement” is false (Hebrews 2:9; I Timothy 2:6; John 12:47; I John 2:1-2).

Jesus died for the remission of our sins (I Corinthians 15:1-4; Matthew 26:28).

Jesus died so that God could be just in forgiving a person who becomes a Christian.  Paul said, “that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3:26).  It is crucial, however, that we understand that Paul, in Romans 1:5, 6:17 and 16:26, shows that faith must obey before it saves us.  Saving faith, in Romans, is an obedient faith per Paul’s definition.  (The saving faith of Romans 5:1 and 3:26 is the obedient faith of Romans 1:5; 6:17, 10:13-16 and 16:26).  Saving faith will lead one to repent (Romans 2:4), confess faith in Christ (Romans 10:9-10) and be baptized (Romans 6:1-4).

“Prove all things” (I Thessalonians 5:21).