How did Jesus dying on the cross pay for our sins? How do you explain this?

Answer 1

Adam and Eve were created with the prospect of everlasting life before them. God warned them that the result of sin would be death. That is exactly what happened. As a result of their willful act against God, they were no longer perfect, and just as forewarned, they began to grow old and die. Adam and Eve had produced no children before they sinned, so none were born perfect. All of Adam’s offspring were brought forth in sin, and sin leads to death. If Jehovah had simply ignored this, that would have been a denial of his own righteous standards. He did not sidestep the requirements of absolute justice.

Without ignoring the requirements of justice, God made provision to deliver those of Adam’s offspring who would demonstrate loving obedience. If a perfect human was to die sacrificially, justice could allow for that perfect life to provide a covering for the sins of those who would in faith accept the provision. Since one man’s sin (that of Adam) had been responsible for causing the entire human family to be sinners, the shed blood of another perfect human (in effect, a second Adam), being of corresponding value, could balance the scales of justice.

But there was no such perfect human. Humankind could never meet those demands of absolute justice. So, as an expression of marvelous love and at great personal cost, Jehovah himself made the provision. God’s only-begotten Son was willing to do his part. Humbly leaving behind his heavenly glory and becoming a perfect human, Jesus died on behalf of mankind.

Illustration: A family head may become a criminal and be sentenced to death. His children may be left destitute, hopelessly in debt. Perhaps their kindly grandfather intervenes on their behalf, making provision through a son who is living with him to pay their debts and to open up for them the possibility of a new life. Of course, to benefit, the children must accept the arrangement, and the grandfather may reasonably require certain things as assurance that the children will not imitate the course of their father.

Answer 2

God is a God of love, but He is also a God of justice. In Old Testament times, a blood sacrifice was required to pay for a person's sins. The animal used had to be perfect with no blemishes. Christ's death on the cross ended the need to pay a blood sacrifice in order to be forgiven of our sins.

If we were to try to earn our way into heaven, it would mean that we would have to be absolutely perfect from the moment of birth. It would only take one wrong deed to keep us from heaven.

However, Jesus was God's Son and was perfect. There were no blemishes or stains on His record. His death on the cross was the blood sacrifice that was needed to pay for the sins of the whole world.

God did not make us as puppets. He gives us the choice of whether or not we will accept His gift. Do we freely accept God's gift or do we reject it? That is up to us. The choice we make determines our eternal destiny.

John 3:16 says, "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."

The choice is yours.

If you would like more information on this, read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John....the first four books of the New Testament.

I quoted from the King James Version because it is the version I've known all my life. There are more modern versions that are more easily understood.

Answer 3

God knows we all make mistakes, but instead of making each of us take a punishment for what we do, He decided His son would "take the rap" for us. Since Jesus was paying (is paying) for so many sins from so many people, he had to pay the ultimate price by dying a horrific death on the cross. Because Jesus was unselfish and took our blame, he was allowed to live again, this time in Heaven.

Answer 4

In the old testament the payment for sins was done by the shedding of blood ( i.e. an animal was sacrificed) When Jesus came and died on the cross He was the final sacrifice for our sins. I think you should talk with your Pastor in depth about this. I am sure he can enlighten you a great deal. God Bless!

Answer 5

Jesus is God in human flesh. He was spotless in that He never sinned. This is why He was the perfect sacrifice. There was no other good enough to pay the price of your sin and mine. He took the punishment that we deserved, because He loved us so much. By taking our place, He has bridged that gap between God and us, our part is to thank Him for dying in our place, and ask Him to forgive us for all our wrong doing, and our response then is to turn away from everything we know is wrong, and asking Jesus to come into our lives and take control. He says that if we ask Him, He will. He will then guide our lives. If you would like to know more please click on http://groups.yahoo.com/seeking_reality

Answer 6

Christians identify Messiah with Jesus and define him as God incarnated as a man, and believe he died for the sins of humanity as a blood sacrifice. This means that one has to accept the idea that one person's death can atone for another person's sins. However, this is opposed to what the Bible says in Deuteronomy 24:26, "Every man shall be put to death for his own sin," which is also expressed in Exodus 32:30-35, and Ezekiel 18. The Christian idea of the messiah also assumes that God wants, and will accept, a human sacrifice. After all, it was either Jesus-the-god who died on the cross, or Jesus-the-human. Jews believe that God cannot die, and so all that Christians are left with in the death of Jesus on the cross, is a human sacrifice. However, in Deuteronomy 12:30-31, God calls human sacrifice an abomination, and something He hates: "for every abomination to the Eternal, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods." All human beings are sons or daughters, and any sacrifice to God of any human being would be something that God would hate. The Christian idea of the messiah consists of ideas that are UnBiblical.

Answer 7

1. Speak to your pastor or priest etc.
2. Read the bible - it's throughout the new testament...
3. Below, brief version and I've tried to find some passages that might assist you...

In Jewish custom at that period in history, (I think) at Passover they would sacrifice an unblemished and perfect male lamb to God.

As the Son of God, Jesus was the perfect and final sacrifice to pay for our sins.

In the Catholic Holy Mass Jesus is referred to as the Lamb of God as he was the final sacrifice and paid for our sins then and now so that through His Love and Word we might enjoy everlasting life in the place he has prepared for us.

John 1, 1 Peter 1:19, a lot in Revelations, but it can be difficult to understand as it uses symbolism - so I'd speak to your pastor or priest about it.

Did that help any?

Answer 8

I'm a long-time student of the Bible, & the answer to your question is already on-line ... I agree with the Scriptures & this article that they are based on:

How Can Jesus Change Your Life?
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/1999/7/1/article_02.htm

I couldn't do better in explaining it if I tried all week!

Sincerely,
"Make Sure of All things; Hold Fast to what is Fine!"
1 Thessalonians 5:21

Answer 9

Before Jesus came to Earth, people had to sacrafice animals to pay for their sins. Different sins required different animals, but each one had to be clean. It could not have in phyisical impurities, such as a broken leg. People had to offer up the best animal they had.
Jesus was the ultimate sacrafice. He lived a completley sinless life, so he was perfect. When he was nailed to the cross, he took on the sins of the world. He felt the pain of every single sin that ever was or would be committed. In doing so, paid the price (death) for our sins, so we wouldn't have to.
If you have any questions, email me!

Answer 10

God forgave sins through sacrifice and the spilling of blood in the Old Testament.

There is a new covenant now, through Jesus, in which there is no more need to sacrifice. We simply believe in him and repent from our sins to be forgiven.

Repent: Turn away from sin