Fundamentals of the Faith #8 The Work of Christ part 2

Common Questions Surrounding the Work of Christ

Why did Christ have to die?

Philippians 2:7–8 ESV

7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Couldn’t He save the world without dying?

Hebrews 9:22 ESV

22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

How do I know that all of my sins were paid for on the Cross?

1 Peter 3:18 ESV

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,

The Consequence of Mans Condition

Definition of Sin: Sin is anything contrary to God in thought, in word, or in deed.

In thought: Matthew 5:28

Matthew 5:28 ESV

28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

In word or speech: Colossians 3:8

Colossians 3:8 ESV

8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

In deed:

Sins of commission: Breaking Gods law

1 John 3:4 ESV

4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.

Sins of omission: not doing what you know is right

James 4:17 ESV

17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

The work of Christ

In considering the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, it is important to think about:

▶ The need for a blood sacrifice

▶ Christ’s humiliation

▶ The crucifixion and events around the crucifixion

▶ The judgment of God at the cross

A. The need for a blood sacrifice

“Why did Jesus have to die?

Couldn’t He save the world without suffering and dying?”

God declared that death is required to appease sin.

This is seen in the sacrificial system, where God required the killing of Passover lambs as a sin offering.

It is also seen in God’s verdict that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).

Christ’s death on the cross takes the place of our spiritual death by making atonement for our sins.

▶ Forgiveness requires the shedding of blood (Hebrews 9:22).

▶ God had set the requirement that the shedding of blood is required for the atonement of sin (Leviticus 17:11).

B. Christ’s humiliation

Moreover, in the greatest act of humility, Christ had to set aside His glory and independent authority and take on the form of a bond-servant (Philippians 2:8), being despised and forsaken of men.

C. The crucifixion

▶ The agony before His crucifixion—Luke 22:41–44

▶ His arrest—Matthew 26:50–58

▶ His trial—Matthew 26:8–59

▶ Before Pilate—Matthew 27:11–26

▶ His scourging—Matthew 27:27–31

▶ His crucifixion—Matthew 27:32–37

▶ His last words—John 19:26–30

Events that took place at His death included supernatural darkness, earthquakes, resurrections, and the tearing of the veil in the temple isolating the Holy of Holies (Matthew 27:45–53).

The tearing of the veil demonstrated that access to God was now open to all men.

D. The judgment of God at the cross

To understand the full burden of Christ bearing the sins of all who would believe, it is imperative to understand that God’s justice required that the full punishment for all the sins committed be cast upon Christ.

As Christ bore the sins of man, He became sin, and the Father executed His judgment on Him rather than on each individual sinner.

But even more profound is that God abandoned the Son at the time of Christ’s sin-bearing.

Note, during the crucifixion is the only time that Christ addresses God as “My God” and not as “Father.”

This is the mystery of mysteries, as the Father forsakes the Son, leaving Him utterly alone to bear our sins in His body on the cross.

This separation between the Father and the Son was a relational separation, where the intimate fellowship between the Father and the Son was broken.

The Son could never be separated from the essence of the Trinity, for then the Triune God would cease to be. Christ remained God; the Trinity remained unbroken.

Nevertheless, in a way our minds cannot fully comprehend, God the Father forsook God the Son, as He laid upon Christ the iniquity of us all, abandoning Him to bear His Father’s righteous wrath against the sins of His people.

▶ Christ bore our sin, became sin on our behalf—2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24

▶ Our iniquities fell upon Christ—Isaiah 53:6

In some way and by some means, in the secrets of divine sovereignty and omnipotence, the God-Man was separated from God for a brief time at Calvary, as the furious wrath of the Father was poured out on the sinless Son, who in matchless grace became sin for those who believe in Him.

▶ God was pleased to crush the Son as a guilt offering—Isaiah 53:10

▶ Christ was forsaken by the Father—Matthew 27:46.

Why did God the Father abandon the Son?

Answer: Christ had become sin.

The judgment of God upon Christ at the cross demonstrates God’s immense love for His children (1 John 4:10).

As well as being the only means by which they may be forgiven.

4. The provisions of Christ’s work

A. Reconciled to God

Romans 5:10, focusing on the fact that believers have been “reconciled to God.”

To “reconcile” carries the idea of bringing again into harmony, or bringing into agreement with.

Being reconciled to God means we now have peace with God.

How do you respond personally to the message that, in Christ, you are reconciled with God?

B. Jesus Christ: the answer to all man’s problems concerning salvation

To put it as simply as I can put it, if Christ is not my substitute, then I still occupy the place of a condemned sinner.

If my sins and my guilt are not transferred to Him, and He does not take them, then they remain with me.

If He did not deal with my sins, then I must deal with them.

If He did not bear my penalty, then I must bear it.

There is no other possibility. It is either Him or me.

5. The motive for Christ’s work

Christ’s giving of Himself to the point of death to save men demonstrates God’s great love and mercy.

6. The resolution and continuation of Christ’s work

As crucial as the death of Jesus on the cross is for our salvation, the process did not end there.

Without the resurrection, Christ’s life, sinlessness, and sacrifice would all be meaningless.

Having a dead Messiah saves nobody.

▶ The power of the resurrection over death—Romans 1:4

▶ The necessity of the resurrection—1 Corinthians 15:12–13