Why was the Crucifixion necessary?

Question

I'm sure this question has been asked before. If God wanted to forgive our sins, why not just forgive them, without having himself tortured and executed in payment? If God had simply forgiven (in his INFINITE mercy... dripping with sarcasm by the way) it would have spared countless lives. Jews would not have suffered through the centuries as "Christ-Killers", which, if God had supposedly planned, knew would happen to them. Where's the INFINITE love? he needed to make one group of people suffer to absolve the sins of another group? Jew's still believe in God, so why was it necessary to have this done to his own believers? Please don't give me some nonsense answer about being closer to Jesus; that's not the question. Jesus would not have been necessary if God simply forgave.

Why do we need the the intercessory? THAT is the question! If God wanted to forgive us, then just bloody do it! Parents forgive their children without having to have someone die for it; Isn't he our *ugh* "Eternal Father"?

No one mentioned anything about Jewish suffering as a result of this BRILLIANT plan for absolving sin. God wanted them to suffer as part of his plan?

Amazingly intelligent... sure you are! except that you believ every word of the Bible as literal. Next you'll tell me I'm not moral because I don't follow it....

Punishment for sin... what have I done in my life that warrants eternal damnation in a lake of fire? would a kind and loving father, no matter how angry with his child, condemn him to this? or is my "Father" a sadist?

Everyone is so convincing! I'm going to convert!!....Not bloody likely!

Answer 1

The general Christian concept is that because Adam and Eve "broke the rules", disobeyed God and were thrown out of paradise, the garden of Eden, into the world, man is now out of the presence of God. He exists in the world out of phase with God's presence, peace, and existence.

Christ was chosen before time existed to come and be the savior of mankind. Even Adam made an animal sacrifice the first thing after getting out of the garden, a sacrifice in honor of and representing the sacrifice which the future Christ would do for mankind.

But dying on the cross, Jesus conquered death by himself, thereby overcoming the mortality of life. Thru his guidance and principals and covenants, he gives us directions how to attain what he did, the ability to return to God's favor and eventually to God's presence.

There had to be a Christ, otherwise, mankind would not have been redeemed, nor have been able to get back into Eternal Father's presence. It is Christ's sacrifice which crosses the distance which separates mankind from God's presence.
And I'm not speaking metaphorically. I'm speaking in realistic sense.

God exists in a different dimension, realm, or reality, where time does not exist. Where life is eternal, not merely 70 yrs long. Christ broke the barriers between these dimensions or realms, thereby allowing us to gain access. But we've got to be able to make changes in our lives, to be more like him, because it requires a specific mental attitude to exist in the exalted dimension of God. YOu can't get insanely jealous in God's dimension, and expect to stay there. You'd find yourself "thrown out", or more rather, you'd be twisted out of the reality because of the much greater demanding mental and physical requirements to exist in that altered state.

Heaven just isn't a mental state of mind, it's a complete different location than this earth life. Even the scriptures speak of Christ returning to earth and the earth and heavens will be changed for a better situation. That's when the earth will be made a closer existence to what God's dimension or realm is truly like.

So to gain heaven, we must make a complete change in and about ourselves. It doesn't require better clothes or more money, since obviously those things don't matter once we're in that casket in the ground. But as life on earth shall be changed to a higher state of existence, that same life must gain the ability to change to that higher state. The same way that Christ did, since he is our Example and our Mediator to the Father.

We be a better person, putting away wrongful actions and thoughts, because you simply can't exist in a higher state of existence or realm with chaotic, harmful thoughts.
Christ's example is paramount, as he was falsely accused, whipped, and tormented on his way to the cross, he never got mad, he never swore at his detractors, and even asked his Father for forgiveness "because they know not what they do." So, too, we must be as Christ was to gain entry to the higher realm of heaven.

That's why murders do not gain any higher realm, because they perform the greatest of evil, the taking of life. There is no way they can make amends for something as drastic as that.

You say that God forgives, so all will make it to heaven. But that's not true. Even by Christ's own words, there are many of his own Jewish people who will not make it because they couldn't make the change to a higher attitude of peace and harmony. They were too involved with things of the world.
Even the woman he saved from being stoned by an angry crowd over her adulterous lifestyle (she was a hooker), he didn't say to just go "do her own thing". He told her to go and sin no more. He wasn't condemning her because she hadn't known any better up to that moment. But now that he was telling her that she had to change her life for better, then it was up to her to make her place in heaven, by how and whether she improved her life according to how Christ lived his life as the ultimate example of forgiveness and service to others.

This isn't just some mental attitude. It involves very physical changes we must make in our own personal environments.
There are very real barriers we must overcome to gain these changes. Very real covenants we make to act and believe in a certain way which Christ has told us will allow entry to the highest of heaven, where God the Father and Christ shall be. Otherwise, if we can only be familiar with wordly things, we do not change to be able to exist in the higher altered state of heaven.

It's not Dianetics; it's not Scientology. It's a very real examination of Christianity. You don't just say you believe and gain entrance. There is action and devotion involved which make your life changes worthwhile to direct yourself closer to the path which Christ gave us and showed us.

But if you don't want to believe, don't sweat it. It's not for you. Enjoy your life as you have it. Just don't make your disbelief a reason or excuse for persecution of others who do.

Answer 2

If God just forgave us of our sins instead of going through the ordeal of crucifixion, it wouldn't mean as much to us. Think about it, if we know what He went through for us & we still sin anyway, what if He didn't fight for us, what if He didn't prove how much He loves us by His life & sacrifice; what kind of world would we be living in now? The concept of forgiveness of sin would mean little or nothing to us. It is because of His infinite love why He did it. Think how good it feels when someone proves their love to you. What Christ did for us on the cross is the utmost proof of His love for us. About the Jews: no human's/race's suffering can absolve the sin anyone else, Christ Himself preached that many times. I don't think Christ was trying to punish them. He used them as a great instrument in the plan of salvation. Finally remember that Jesus is God. God is three in one:God the Father, Jesus Son & The Holy Spirit; each member of the God deity (Trinity) has their role. Jesus is our intercessor to God the Father, it doesn't mean God the Father doesn't love us and doesn't forgive, He is forgiving and merciful, if he wasn't we'd all be dead.

Answer 3

it happened because god gave us free will. While he does have control over the earth, people still make their own decisions. If god just resolved every ones sins in a snap, the world would be in complete chaos with people doing bad things because there would be no punishment. Also, the Crucifixion was a common roman punishment back then. In the Romans minds, Jesus had committed a crime, if they hadn't punished him, then people would once again be able to do whatever they wanted without punishment. The Crucifixion was the greatest of all of Jesus sacrifices for us and is a physical sign of absolution

Answer 4

The answer to your question is not found in Christianity, but in Judaism. Many Christians forget that Judaism is the foundation for Christianity. Since the beginning of Jewish thought, (namely Adam and Eve) it has been the case that forgiveness and redemption do not exist without the shedding of blood. The first example of this is the animals "donated" their lives to provide the skins that Adam and Eve used to clothe themselves after they had eaten from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. The many rules about animal sacrifices that are outlined (especially in the book of Leviticus) set a pattern and context for the sacrifice of Christ. Crucifixion itself is not a "magical" form of death or dying, but there are places in the Hebrew Bible (or Old Testament) which show that crucifixion will be the method for the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. The parallels between Passover and Easter are unmistakable, and are obvious by design.

Answer 5

This is the way it looks to me: *God is a giver of law, order etc. kind of like the perfect parent. He told us beforehand what the punishment would be. He loves you and wants to forgive you. However, He also has to stick by the Laws he made, being perfect - otherwise sin would be no big deal (and a perfect being would not be perfect if He lied when he said if you do this....then this consequence will happen)

But, by sending a perfect being - His only begotten Son - to willingly pay the price for our sins (of which the Son had no part). He shows His love for us. *

Make no mistake Jesus did go willingly. He knew what was going to happen beforehand and could have escaped or could have fled at Gesthemane -- but He didn't, He gave Himself up without protest to be beaten and tortured and crucified. (The most horrible death available at the time).

*By having His Son die for us and be resurrected, God shows his Infinite Love for us (and He resurrected Jesus - what Love -not sarcasm) by using this to allow all believers to go to Heaven while also satisfying the requirement of the Laws He made in His perfection, the punishment for sin being death and Hell. The crucifixion shows His Willingness to go to great lengths to show both His Mercy, His Commitment to His word, and his Love for man. I also believe it is a representation of the level of punishment sinners receive in Hell aka the most horrible possible!*


As for the persecution of Jews for this, those that persecute Jews for being Christ-killers are violating Christ's words. Do not depend on their actions as an interpretation of God's plan.

As far as eternal damnation, perhaps that was God's definition of "death" when he said do not...or you will die.

Afterthought: Converting is up to you....your soul, your choice; but I really hope you do. May God Bless you!

Answer 6

First you must understand that Adam's sin was passed on to the human race...therefore, you are born in sin.

All people have sinned against God. But, God is infinitely holy and righteous. He must punish the sinner, the Law breaker. If He didn't, then His law is not law for there is no law that is a law without a punishment. The punishment for breaking the Law is death, separation from God. Therefore, we sinners need a way to escape the righteous judgment of God. Since we are stained by sin and cannot keep the Law of God, then the only one who could do what we cannot is God Himself. That is why Jesus is God in flesh. He is both divine and human. He was made under the Law (Gal. 4:5-6) and He fulfilled it perfectly. Therefore, His sacrifice to God the Father on our behalf is of infinite value and is sufficient to cleanse all people from their sins and undo the offense to God.

Answer 7

You would have done well to have just asked the question and left out the details. Your indignation shows that you want God to behave YOUR way! That illustrates the soverign nature of God more than anything I can say to you. Ponder that and the knowledge that while you can only pout about it, God has the power to carry out his absolute will!

You can cry "foul" all you want about it. He knows no other God! As soverign, he required a blood sacrifice to atone for sin. Lambs and goats and heifers could not perpetually atone for the sins of man. The ritual of slaughtering them turned man's mind toward God, but only for a time. Jesus' blood is a never ending sacrifice. Under that sacrifice if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us. He substituted himself because he knew we were weak concerning the laws of Moses and could not follow them (by our own choice.) So he not only imposed a blood sacrifice, but also supplied it. That's love.

Christ came to the Jews first. He is the Messiah. Their rejection of Christ, like yours, is a choice. I don't consider them "Christ killers." I know Christ died for my sins. Jews could not have killed him if he had not let them. Their rejection made way for my redemption, so I am grateful. Let us not forget that Christ was also a Jew! The first Christans were Jews also.

Your thoughts are not like Gods. Your finite mind cannot out reason him.

Edit: I wouldn't tell you that you are immoral. Morality is following the laws of the land and society. That is not what we are discussing here. We are talking about salvation. Once again the faultiness of your comparison points to the superiority of God. You give earthly parents as examples in the practice of forgiveness. Earthly parents impose conditions on forgiveness for breaking rules all the time! Grounding, spanking, some are never satisfied and disown their children. God has never disowned his creation. Again, you have a choice! Read Isaiah 1:18-20 (God wants to reason with you!) Isaiah 53:1-12 (Prophesy of the Messiah give to the Jews) and 55:3-9 (Extension of salvation to gentiles even before the coming of Christ.) Jews knew the law of Moses and the promise of Christ aprox. 700 years before he arrived! They rejected him because they wanted a kingdom on earth and to overthrow the Roman government. They knew Christ's mission from the prophets! They were hard headed and stiff-necked. You don't have to be that way too.

Answer 8

This is coming from a Mormon just to for warn you.

Why was the crusifixion neccesary?
Let's say you lived in a world where everything was free and you never had to work. Imagine never having to pay for anything. You could dress in diamonds and pearls everyday and eat the finest food for free. Sounds good doesn't it. But would you value your diamond and pearls and fine food in the same way? No. You'de just eat, and throw the jewels away in favor of some new ones tomorrow.

It's similar with the price of forgiveness. If no one ever had to pay, you'de just sin and be forgiven, and do it again and again. You'd never grow, you'd never value it. So someone has to pay for the sins we commit.

Unfortunatly, we can't pay for our own sins. In God's plan we're not able to, we have to depend on another. That's Jesus Christ. As God's son, he was able to pay for our sins, through His suffering and crusifixion, that we can not. We depend on him for our forgiveness and for entry to heaven.

Maybe God could have planned it another way or maybe Christ could have paid for our sins in a different way. I don't know why God planned it this way; but this is the way He made for us, and I can accept it.

Answer 9

You know that the wages of sin is death and separation from God. Jews, each year went to Jerusalem to sacrifice a lamb to cover their sins. They needed to kill the lamb and shed his blood.
You know that God hates sins. Since, sin separate man from God and bring damnation upon men. To wash away sin form humanity (not cover this time) which could not be done through an animal's blood, Jesus/instead of the lamb shed his blood. God took human form, representing man and the perfect sacrifice, and on the cross he took all the wages of sins and damnation we were suppose to bear. That is why when you accept his sacrifice on the cross you are set free, washed and reconciled to God.

Answer 10

Because he is not only merciful he is also perfectly JUST. His justice had to be satisfied, so He took the penalty Himself. He subjected His own Son to His wrath instead of punishing us.

As for the Jews, the Romans crucified Jesus... the Jews simply lied about Him to the Romans so they'd do it. Jesus challenged their belief in salvation-through-works (following Jewish law) and that made them angry.

Answer 11

God requires justice. Sin has to be paid for by someone. God can't simply wipe it away as though it's nothing bc He's a just and holy God. In fact, if you tried to stand before God in all of his glory, you'd die if you had any sin. It's simply not possible to experience the fullness of God's glory and live if you have sin. God wants to forgive, but He requires justice. That is first, now that justice has been done, you can follow Christ and have your sins taken away, and God forgives you.