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WHY WAS CHRIST CRUCIFIED?

We often hear the question asked, especially in these days. There is a clear answer to it in the Christian creed of faith,

"It was for us humans and for our salvation He came down from heaven and was born of the Holy Spirit by the Virgin Mary. He became a man and was crucified for us in the days of Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried and rose again on the third day and ascended into heaven." - The Council of Constantinople (381 AD)

The following are some proofs for the necessity for Christ's atoning death on the Cross:

1. The Need of Salvation

There is no doubt that all men need salvation because sin is found in every human heart. Scripture says,

"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

Isaiah, the prophet, in chapter 53 and verse 6, said,

"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all."

John, in his first letter, chapter 1, and verses 8-10 said,

"If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive us our sins, and will cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us."

In the heart of every person there is the awareness that repentance alone cannot remove past sins. There must be a more effective way of obtaining forgiveness; this means that there must be "atonement". Otherwise how can we explain the existence of sacrifices from the beginning of time, and the widespread knowledge of sacrifice among most religions of the world.

Is it not because this concept of sacrifice meets the need of a sinner's heart for atonement of sin?

2. The Proof of Reason

All read and know that God is holy and that humankind is sinful. Sin is an insult to the nature of God, and it is destructive to humans whom God created in His likeness. Thus mankind deserves the judgement of God. God cannot be just unless he punishes the sinner. Repentance, which is but a return to the place of obedience, cannot bring justification. The honour and justice and holiness of God cannot be satisfied by mere repentance.

3. Atonement Meets the Demands of Law

Divine law cannot renounce its rights to judge in accordance to perfect justice, for it says, "The wages of sin is death." Justice demands the punishment of the offender. A law which lets the offender off is not a righteous law. The law is the 'public prosecutor' and the public prosecutor cannot relinquish the requirements of law and the demand that the offender be punished, or he would be discredited as not being a faithful upholder of divine justice. In short, the law, divine law, demands punishment of the offender or atonement of his sins.

Here our hearts must be filled with praise and thanks that Christ offered himself in sacrifice for sinners; that, as a result, every sinner who accepts Him as Saviour obtains, in His Name, forgiveness of sin. The blessing for all humanity is that this atonement of Christ was inclusive and no one can say that Christ did not die for me. How wonderful are the words,

Therefore I will divide him a portion with the great... because he poured out his soul to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:12

Paul said in the epistle to the Hebrews,

Although He was a Son, He learned obedience by what He suffered, and being made perfect He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. Hebrews 5:8-9,

4. Atonement Meets Man's Moral Need

It is true that every man has a moral nature and a conscience able to appreciate the heights of justice and holiness. If he is dissatisfied with his sin and finds no atonement, he is troubled in spirit and his moral sense is troubled.

It is agreed that man, in spite of his downfall and practice of sin, has not had his conscience destroyed. This moral sense remains which discerns between good and evil and calls for reward or punishment.

We can say that this moral sense is an echo of the voice of God who created it and absolutely fitted it to evaluate our behavior in light of His laws given on Mount Sinai. But, important as it is, conscience cannot save a man from the holy judgement of All Mighty God.

It can influence man's leanings towards sin, but it cannot justify or make him righteous. The human conscience knows the law is good, but the law cannot remove our sins. The law, the Apostle Paul said, leads us to feel our need of a Savior, Christ.

So the answer of a sin-defiled conscience demands a righteous mediator who atones for our sins. In spite of the importance of this truth, most people attempt to solve the problem of an accusing conscience by doing works of self-righteousness, reckoning their good works will appease God?s wrath towards their sins.

5. God's Plan for Atonement

If there were no need for atonement, God would not have instituted substitutionary sacrifice from the very beginning of human history. Jesus said,

The Son of Man came not be served but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28

Also, Jesus proclaimed,

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16,

In a letter to the Galatian churches, the Apostle Paul wrote,

But when the time had fully come, God sent forth His son, born of woman, born under the law." Galatians 4:4

These glorious scriptures show us that God loves all humanity with a glorious and wonderful love, rich in mercy and grace. This love, overflowing with mercy, was incarnate in Jesus who gave expression to love divine by redemption which He completed upon the cross that all may know that God is not only holy and just but that He is infinite love. Redemption answers the guilt of a sinner's conscience and love is the bond which links him to the cross, without which God could not prove His love. So Jesus said,

I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me. John 12:32

My dear reader, we live in a time full of voices claiming that they have the answer to human need. They say, "Behold the new order and act accordingly." "Here is a new brotherhood. Accept it," "We extend a helping hand." But empty is the answer that does not answer the needs of a sinner with a guilty conscience before All Mighty God. If any answer leave out the necessity of the cross of Christ, it is leaves the sinner guilty before the judgement of the Last Day. Without the cross all "new order" fails, and the "new brotherhood" is a lie and the "helping hand" turns out to be a hand brandishing weapons.

The mistake of our generation is like the mistake of the Greeks and ancient Jews regarding their thoughts about the cross. They looked upon it as foolishness and weakness, insignificant and a stumbling block. In their mistaken estimation, they forgot to raise the sinner?s cry for help and salvation, or to say, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." They have forgotten the words of wisdom which Solomon wrote,

Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. Proverbs 14:34

Last edited 03-21-2001
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