Christians: WHY did Christ die?

Question

What - specifically - was accomplished by the crucifixion? How do you view the concept of 'atonement'?

Any thoughtful answers welcome. Thanks.

Answer 1

The death of Jesus is intended to inspire Christians toward fearlessly, radically just action. Most injustices go unchallenged because those who would right them are intimidated by the power of evil. Death is the greatest fear, because it ends our ability to change things. By his example, Jesus shows us that good works can survive individual deaths, and that we should not be deterred from righteous acts by concern for our own safety.

The concept of the "atonement" was developed to add a supernatural dimension to the sacrifice of Jesus, by concocting a universal "sin" that estranged humanity from a grudge-holding God. The argument is that Jesus, as the God-Man, satisfied the grudge with his sacrifice. The theological problem with this interpretation is the implication that no purely human action is significant, so why should people try to do good? Depending solely on Jesus for divine approval leaves the typical Christian passive and childishly dependent, not a mature adult who takes responsibility for his/her own actions.

As scary as it might be, I prefer to see the cross as a call toward Christian self-sacrifice rather than an excuse to let God take care of everything.

Answer 2

Okay 33:

My turn. I read all of the preceding answers and agree with most of, most of the answers. Since they deal with the human side of the equation, I would like to attempt man's prospective of the Divine.

Simply put G-d set the standard for the sacrifice. Man in a fallen state could not be a perfect sacrifice, so G-d had to pay the price Himself.

The "Creeds" support what the Bible says about Christ: ....Begot not made 1 in being with the Father....

What - specifically - was accomplished by the crucifixion?: Christ in His sacrifice made it possible for a fallen man to be in the presence of a Holy G-d, by paying the price for sin, giving His life as a ransom for all who would believe.

Answer 3

Because sin is the transgression of God's law (1 John 3:4) and the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23) The reason for this is because sin separates us from God (Isa. 59:2) who is the giver of life. Only someone who did not sin could die for us. Since we all have sinned (Rom. 3:23) it could only be Jesus. He died the death we deserve so we might live the life He deserves. In His death He broke the stronghold of death so that He could destroy the devil. (Heb. 2: 9,14)
The concept of atonement....The Israelites confessed their sins daily during sanctuary service. Each day the sin was transferred from the sinner to the sacrificial lamb. Once a year there was a Day of Atonement when the sanctuary was cleansed from all the sins transferred in. It was a day of judgement and at the end of the day all sins were confessed , forgiven and renounced or unconfessed, unforgiven and cherished. The ones who refused to confess were banished from the camp. They were judged. This was an example of what Jesus is doing in heaven today. He pleads the case of the sinners who have asked for forgiveness before the Father and asks that His blood be the atonement for them. There is judgement going on right now....and when it is done then Jesus will come again and bring His reward with Him. (Rev. 22:12)

Answer 4

Wow, 31 answers so far, and mostly churchy law law, from the puffed up highmindead evangelastic choir that missed the TAKE HEED 101 class purposed to avoid getting deceived by many shall come to DECEIVE. Not to mention it is preposterous order to teach and preach first, then learn after. This sort of dis-order can get a person killed by law: the ministration of death, the strength of sin's death STING.

Christ is the end of the law, thereby the end of law imputed sin and death. So then what Christ died to, and not by, is the law. Paul notes dying to the law is becoming alive unto God(Grace), who cannot lie(law) nor die(law). What the churchy law law folk are talking about: sacrifice for sin, is dying by the law, which is a dead end called extinction.

As for the crucifixion, sacrifice thereof, it's notably what God will NOT have, and the not sacrifice part of the will of God: "I will have mercy, and not sacrifice" is not then, not now, not ever. For Galatians 3:10-13 tells us the result of such folly: cursed EVERY ONE. James 1:15 also tells us law imputed sin, when "it is finished", it brings forth death(not life).

The GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ with you all. Amen.

Answer 5

Adam was a perfect man that brought sin into this world, only a perfect man could atone for that mistake. Since sin is handed down from the fathers line in a heritage, Jesus had to be born a virgin by the Holy Spirit so as not to get Adams sin, so he was perfect man. Who gave His life as a sacrifice to God to pay for Adams sin, so that all who put all of their faith and believe in Him shalled be saved.

Answer 6

Jesus died for our sins his blood had to be shed as an atonement for sin. He was the last blood sacrifice. read isaiah-53 this was writen 400 years before Christ was born

Answer 7

When Christ was crucified, he also had with him all the sins of man upon him. He sacrificed his own blood so that we would not have to pay such a high price for salvation. Also as a result, because it was a big thing to sacrifice animals to God for much of the same purpose, Jesus was to be the last sacrifice for mankind. It also allowed everyone to be allowed to pray to God without the use of a priest to do so for them (Which is why the the curtain in the temple was symbolic of that when all were allowed to speak to God).

In a nutshell, Christ died so that we would not have to and be able to live with him in Heaven. You have to believe however that he is your one true savior who died for your sins.

Answer 8

"[T]he wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." By giving up His perfect life as a sacrifice, Jesus took the punishment that was ours by right upon Himself. This can be viewed as Him paying a fine that we earned that was so great in magnitude that we could never hope to pay it.
God is just. Because of this, it would be against His nature to let anyone into heaven if he or she had an unresolved debt of sin on his or her head. Christ's death canceled the debt of anyone who was, is, or will be willing to follow Him.

Answer 9

Technically conversing the Bible does not point out that in case you do no longer believe in Jesus you will circulate to hell. in certainty the recent testomony does not point out hell in any respect, hell is a concept and concept that early Christians borrowed from different religions, in basic terms as they borrowed the belief of celebrating Christmas, or Halloween. each and all of the bible somewhat says, is that people who do no longer repent and different than God won't obtain eternal life and could spend eternity without God in there life. in my view i think that each and one and all religions are cults that don't care approximately you and in basic terms choose your money and obedience; in spite of the undeniable fact that, Christianity does have sturdy rule that maximum do no longer persist with yet could make the international a extra valuable place in the event that they did. Jesus mentioned cope with others as you may opt to be dealt with. whilst you're taking something from Christianity it is that something is rubbish.

Answer 10

Christ had to die for a couple of good reasons:

1) satan was firmly in power as the prince of this world, and he held the power of death over all of sinful mankind. Only one born without sin would be free from satan's evil dominion.

That one is Jesus Christ, who by virtue of his sinlessness, was NOT liable to die.

Jesus permitted satan and his minions to unjustly put him to death, because anyone who would even attempt to take the life of a sinless man, let alone the only begotten son of God, would be instantly condemned by God's judgment, losing all that he had earlier gained from Adam's sin.

2) Jesus' entire human existence ... all of it ... was one great and continuous act of atonement for man's sins.

Every moment the Son of God spent on this earth was truly an atoning sacrifice for sin, a sacrifice that would reach it's conclusion at Calvary, and be confirmed by God, at the Resurrection.

Because Jesus is truly man, and he came to die for us, the grace he obtained by his sinless existence and sacrificial death, accrues to the benefit of all mankind.

Because Jesus is truly God, the grace he obtained for us is infinitely effective and of unlimited abundance.

The most important miracle in history was the coming of the only begotten Son of God in the flesh, to die for us, so sins could be forgiven and all things could be restored.

In that singular event, the Law, free will, the good, the evil, faith, grace, and God himself all acted to bring about the salvation of the world.

It happened
in a way that many
never expected,
that some
still refuse to accept
and that many
do not yet fully understand.

It happened
for the benefit
of mankind
and for
the glory of God.

And it was good.