The Apostle's Creed

I believe in Jesus Christ

... suffered ... was crucified, dead, and buried; ...

Jesus physically suffered, was crucified, died, and was buried. What we don't completely understand is, why? We know what our faith says is the benefit of the death of Christ, but why did God choose this means? How does the death of God's Son, 2000 years ago, take away or pay for the sins of all people, from all time? If Jesus is the "Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world", then why will some people not be saved? Here, let's look at the work of Christ, the primary reason He came, and what He did for us.

Scripture:
John 3:16; 12:44-50, Romans 5:6-11,18, 2Cor.5:14-20, Eph.1:7, 1Tim.2:5-6, 2Tim.1:8-10, Heb.2:14-18, 4:14-16, 1Jn 2:2,

1. One benefit of Christ's sacrifice is the rebirth of mankind. God's gift of grace, through the death and resurrection of Jesus, enables each person to choose to believe and obey God. Salvation has always been, and is a free gift of God. "Through faith" means, if we accept that God freely saved us, then that faith continues to grow in us. If we reject God's salvation (Christ), we loose even what we had. Apply the parable of the talents-Matt.25:14-30. The one who hid his talent, the talent was taken from him. The ‘talent' is usually thought of as our talent, money, or gifts, and that we are responsible to use what God has given us. But look at the end of the parable, "and cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." That's hell. No one will be sent to hell for not using their gifts or talents fully in this life. The one talent is the gift of faith that God's gives all people- the ability to turn to God. God is at work in each person's life. No one has an excuse for not believing in what God has revealed. To some God has revealed little, to some He has revealed much. We are responsible to respond according to the faith God has given us. If we don't, what we have can be taken away.

2. Jesus did not die because God had to have someone killed. God is not blood thirsty. Like the animals sacrificed in the Old Testament, the "blood of the lamb" was to bring people to the realization of how bad sin is, and each person's need for God's forgiveness. Jesus became the ultimate "Lamb of God".

3. Jesus was willing to step in between us and the death that was inevitable because of the sinful nature we are born with. Like the man who sees a child in the middle of the street and a semi-truck is coming, the man steps out in the street, and is hit by the truck, sacrificing his life and saving the child's life. The sin nature places all mankind in the ‘middle of sin street', the inevitable spiritual separation from God. Jesus has stepped out in front of us, taking the brunt of sin for us, in hope that we will believe, learn from Him, and willingly turn to God.

4. Another benefit of Jesus' death, is that it brings to our attention the extreme love of God. "God demonstrates His love for us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom.5:8 Sometimes children do not realize what parents do for them. When the child grows up, and has their own child, then do they realize how much their own parent loved them, when they see what the parent sacrificed and was willing to do for the child.

5. Christ's willingness to die, and His resurrection take the fear out of our physical death. God the father could not say, "I know how you feel about dying." But, now, Jesus can. He has experienced everything we experience, He understands and gives us hope. We too are resurrected in Christ.

Jesus, the only begotten son of God, became man, lived, was tempted, and suffered as a man, was crucified, died, and was buried.

What difference does Jesus make in my life? What does it mean to me that He died for me? How have I responded to Him?