An early stage of a child’s verbal and cognitive development is displayed by their discovery and questions. Children ask “Why?” to almost everything. Sometimes it is exasperating. Often the child asks questions we quit asking many years ago.
Why is the sky blue?
Why do we only one nose?
Why did God make lightning?
Why did Jesus have to die on the cross?
Christians in the early church also asked why Jesus had to die on the cross. The simple answer was because sin separated humankind from God. Early theologians gave three main reasons why Jesus died on the cross.
1. God’s love for humankind. The importance of Christ’s cross focused on the sinner. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world…”. If you were the only person on the earth – Jesus would go to cross for YOU.
2. God gained victory over evil. People belonged to satan because of sin. 1 John 3:8 “The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning.” The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. Through the birth, life, death & resurrection of Jesus Christ, God defeated the devil
3. God’s penalty for sin was paid on the cross. Sin is the breaking of God’s law and all have sinned. Romans 6:23 “The wages of sin is death.” Humankind is unable to pay the penalty. God must punish humankind or accept a substitute. The substitute must be human because humanity owes God, but it must be without sin to satisfy the penalty. Jesus, the sinless God/man is substitution. 2 Corinthians 5:21 “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Each view has scripture support.
Each view agrees about WHY – sin separates.
Each view agrees that the cross was needed to restore broken relationship.
Each view sees God as Holy, Righteous, Loving, Giving.
Accept by grace Jesus’ death for our sins because of God’s love, victory over evil and the penalty paid for our sin.
Why is the sky blue?
Why do we only one nose?
Why did God make lightning?
Why did Jesus have to die on the cross?
Christians in the early church also asked why Jesus had to die on the cross. The simple answer was because sin separated humankind from God. Early theologians gave three main reasons why Jesus died on the cross.
1. God’s love for humankind. The importance of Christ’s cross focused on the sinner. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world…”. If you were the only person on the earth – Jesus would go to cross for YOU.
2. God gained victory over evil. People belonged to satan because of sin. 1 John 3:8 “The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning.” The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. Through the birth, life, death & resurrection of Jesus Christ, God defeated the devil
3. God’s penalty for sin was paid on the cross. Sin is the breaking of God’s law and all have sinned. Romans 6:23 “The wages of sin is death.” Humankind is unable to pay the penalty. God must punish humankind or accept a substitute. The substitute must be human because humanity owes God, but it must be without sin to satisfy the penalty. Jesus, the sinless God/man is substitution. 2 Corinthians 5:21 “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Each view has scripture support.
Each view agrees about WHY – sin separates.
Each view agrees that the cross was needed to restore broken relationship.
Each view sees God as Holy, Righteous, Loving, Giving.
Accept by grace Jesus’ death for our sins because of God’s love, victory over evil and the penalty paid for our sin.
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