People say that "Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins." How does that actually work? Why does that one act pay for our sins? Would he not have been as great a person if he had not been killed?
And please, please PLEASE don't give me a preachy response. I am not trying to be saved, converted, baptized, etc. I go to a Christian church, but don't understand how that one event equals payment of sins. I'm looking for a level-headed response.
2007-04-23 15:11:27 · 18 answers · asked by PJWendell 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
This is some what complex. I will give you a short answer. If you want more details please e-mail me.
It goes back to creation. When Adam and Eve sinned against God, an animal was killed to make clothing for people. Blood was shed.
The Jewish system required a blood sacrifice for sin. In Leviticus God state, "Without blood shed there is no forgiveness of sins" People were required to offer blood sacrifices to atone (pay for their sins). They were required to offer there best sacrifices, a spotless lamb, but it was never perfect.
Jesus then came to be the perfect sacrifice. He lived a sinless life and dyed a criminals death. His blood was perfect and paid for all our sins.
This is a complicated thing for Christians to understand today. We are so far from a society that makes blood sacrifices, and for that I am thankful:-)
It is helpful to read Leviticus and Hebrews back to back over a couple of days. Rose publishing also has a temple study that explains this. Studying the religion of the Jews is very helpful for Christians because all the symbolism of the New Testament is from the Jews. After all Jesus was a Jewish man living is a Jewish culture.
I how this helps.
2007-04-23 15:24:35 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Adam and Eve sinned in the garden.
God provided a coat of skins to cover up the knowledge that sin brought. (Genesis 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.)
The skins would have come from an animal being sacrificed (by God).
This forms the basis of a blood sacrifice for the remission of sins. The Levitical Law follows this precedent, and this is the law that Jesus came to fulfill.
Jesus is the only perfect sacrifice for the sin(s) of mankind.
The Levitical Law also required a perfect specimen to be sacrificed.
2007-04-23 22:30:17 · answer #2 · answered by Bobby Jim 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Man was split form God because of sin. To bridge this gap Jesus was born into the world and became the perfect sacrifice. (without sin or "blemish" as the OT put it) If you put your faith in Jesus, then you step through the doorway and are forgiven what sins you have commited and can be with God. Understand now?
2007-04-23 22:23:11 · answer #3 · answered by Stahn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'll try to give you one. God's laws are just and true and cannot be changed, The wages or price for sinning (breaking those laws) is death. That is as real and unchangeable as gravity or water freezing at 32 degrees F. Mankind, through Adam became a fallen (sinful) creation. We are all condemned to death because of this. God loves us and made a way for us to not have to pay the price for our sins. He sent Jesus to pay that price and if we are willing to accept His gift we can be restored to our original state as His un-fallen children. This is a pretty simplistic over view but I hope it helps at least a little bit.
2007-04-23 22:25:48 · answer #4 · answered by Mr. E 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Jesus, when He left heaven and became man, He became the second Adam. Through his life of no sin, He took on our sin and freed us from original sin. We are left with the affects of sin (pain and suffering) but that too will end when we are glorified.
2007-04-23 22:18:46 · answer #5 · answered by Fish <>< 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't, for the simple fact MURDER does not "cleanse" the souls of the guilty, THOU many in christianity don't see it that way. Only taking PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY before God can atone for bad behaviors, yet many don't like to take it. Jesus died because he was NOT of the Jewish faith but of a faith Jews found blasphemous. You don't read about it because MILLIONS were put to death eraticating the truth and the ORIGINAL doctrines of Yezua (Jesus). Problem IS, we have not "disappeared" FOR we are still in the world........
2007-04-23 22:21:32 · answer #6 · answered by Theban 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jesus was without sin, he was perfect. They used to sacrifice lambs (baby sheep). They quit doing that because Jesus was the perfect sacrifice - unblemished and without sin. Because he was perfect and had no sin, and was the son (child) of God, that is why he was able to wipe out the sins of the world.
2007-04-23 22:18:39 · answer #7 · answered by Queen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Before Jesus atoned for our sins, Satan "takes" our soul when we sin. So Jesus paid for all this by giving up His life instead and we were SAVED.
2007-04-23 22:20:44 · answer #8 · answered by levitate15 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If Jesus didn't die our sins would have never have been able to have been forgiven.
The Bible says that wages of sin is death, which means we have to die as punishment for our sins. Where Jesus comes in is that since he was sinless and thus did not have to die. instead he chose to die in order to substitute himself us so that our punishment of death would be paid for and that we would no longer have to pay for the sins we committed.
2007-04-23 22:32:26 · answer #9 · answered by Duo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It only works if you're willing to accept Him as a scapegoat. Basically, He's taking the blame for what we've done/will do.
Anyway, if Jesus died for our sins, how dare we make His martyrdom meaningless by not committing them?
2007-04-23 22:20:40 · answer #10 · answered by Me 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋