I know people say that with such passion and understanding, but I never could understand why that is...I ask, cuz I read someone ask if I've asked God for forgiveness for sinning. So I don't know...
2006-09-28 16:23:01 · 8 answers · asked by Jesse Lee 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
This is how it works.
We all owe a debt to God for sinning against him. Since he created us and gave us all that we have, and we have sinned against him, we owe a price. Problem is, none of us--since all of us are guilty--can pay the price.
God sent his Son into the world to become a human being and learn, though experience, what it was like to be tempted to sin. Before God was flesh, he could not know from the inside what it was like to be tempted. Being God--100% good--he was never tempted. But in the flesh, he was tempted. And it is through this having been tempted that mercy was born. How? Because having firsthand experience of how difficult it is to be tempted and to not sin, God experienced mercy for those of us who are tempted.
Jesus, then, could pay the price for sin because he was tempted and did not do it. He was sinless, so he was the only one "qualified" to pay the debt of our sin. Only one who does not owe the debt can pay it off for someone else.
Before Jesus died, he took on the sins of humanity. God turned his back on him momentarily, in judgment...because the fact is that God is a judge, and justice must be done. God's judging of humankind's sins was completed with Christ's death on the cross.
When I ask God for forgiveness for my sins, I ask in Jesus' name, since Jesus bore my sins, bore God's judgment for them, and pleads my case with mercy to his Father.
I hope that this helps explain it to you. If you have any further questions, please email me and ask.
2006-09-28 16:40:31 · answer #1 · answered by Gestalt 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When we break the law, a penalty must be paid. How could we respect any judge that allowed us to murder then just let us off the hook? For justice to happen, a penalty must be paid.
We have all sinned. Many people mistakenly think that we sin against each other only. But the truth is that we sin against God first. If I do anything sinful to another person, the greater sin is still against God. When sin entered the world so did death. Prior to sin there was no death. Eventually we will all die. That is, this life will end. When we die will we go to heaven or hell? Now, keep in mind that God already placed man in a perfect Garden and we messed it up. Should he take a bunch of sinners into heaven now? Wouldn't we just mess it up again? And what about justice? We still have not paid the penalty for our sins.
The solution to these problems is Jesus. You see God loves us so much that he took a part of himself and became a baby. He lived here on earth and then allowed other to kill him. He took our place. The death that we deserved he took upon himself. All the punishment that we had coming to us, was instead directed at him. He paid our penalty for us. Those who accept him as their savior are promised that we will be accepted into heaven.
2006-09-28 16:47:23 · answer #2 · answered by unicorn 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We cannot have Eternal Life and Heaven without God's forgiveness. God's forgiveness is not automatic though - it says in the Bible "not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of Heaven." Also it is impossible for God to allow sin into Heaven. The Bible says "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" - so all are sinful. So you might ask "How can a sinful man/woman enter Heaven, where God allows no sin?". You have to turn from your sin/self or repent (do a 360 in the your life looking to Jesus in faith) and trust Jesus Christ - believing that He died (on a cross shedding His precious blood), that He was buried and that He rose again on the third day according to the Holy Scriptures. Also if you "confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Listen - Jesus had to shed his blood to save us - that was the only way that we could be reconciled back to the Father - through Jesus. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice and He took my place and yours. It should have been you and me on the cross paying for our sinful nature - but Jesus took that place and shed His blood. I hope this helps.
2006-09-29 01:37:44 · answer #3 · answered by jworks79604 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
His suffering in the Garden and Gethsemane, in which he bled from every pore...the pain was exquisite. That suffering and pain returned while on the cross. His atonement as a whole is the reason why He can forgive us of our sins. It wasn't just the fact that he died on the cross.
2006-09-28 16:28:36 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first answer confuses me even further...I thought Jesus didn't have a choice? I thought it was "God's" choice to sacrifice his son for "our" sins?
Which by the way brings me to my other point:
I also don't understand how people who aren't even born yet are responsible for the "Original Sin."
None of it makes sense...
2006-09-28 16:28:06 · answer #5 · answered by Evil Wordmonger, LTD LOL 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was raised Christian and always thought it seemed strange too. Now I think the whole thing is just silly. I can't believe people still think this stuff in 2006. Couldn't these Jewish mystics have come up with something better back when they wrote this stuff?
2006-09-28 23:21:04 · answer #6 · answered by tarro 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Dying on the cross is a horrible death, if you don't know dying by bleeding to death is a slow, horrible, and painful death. He just wanted to show you without a doubt how much he cares for you.
2006-09-28 16:25:50 · answer #7 · answered by Eloy B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It wasn't.
2006-09-28 16:28:56 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋