Questions: Why Did Jesus Have to Die on the Cross to Save Us?
Sometimes I am amazed by the simple things that I have more or less known for my entire life. I think about how I turn on a switch and a light turns on – how crazy the entire concept of harnessing electricity really is though I take it for granted. I think about the ability to fly to another part of the world – sitting back and watching a movie on my phone while soaring at speeds that we didn’t think would be possible to reach 100 years ago. And then spiritually, I think about the concept of the cross. This essential tenant of Christianity that I have grown up being taught to believe but for a long while never really pondering a question surrounding it. This question was asked by Hawk Nelson’s lead singer, Jonathan Steingard, (and no doubt many others struggling with doubt): “Why does Jesus have to die for our sins? If God can do anything, can’t He forgive without someone dying?”
I feel this is an extremely valid question and one I have also asked. Why did Jesus have to die? This is the very core of Christianity so I feel it is important we have a valid answer. This morning as I woke up and played with my son – I was praying and pondering this very question. I had actually planned to write about the question: “Why does God allow suffering?” – but I guess I will have to write that next week because I feel like God has now put this new question on my heart. I choose to believe someone reading this has also asked this question and hope that God can use me to help answer it.
To give us a foundation for answering this question we have to talk about a couple of core attributes that any “good god” would have to possess in order to be known…as…well…a “good god”. In order to be God, He has to be all powerful and the creator of all things. In order for Him to be good He has to be just and righteous. Those attributes have to be the base of a perfect creator – if He isn’t “just” than He is not perfect…the two have to co-exist. “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.” (Psalm 89:14)
Now, if God is just – He can’t just not look at wrong doing and not judge it. And wrong doing can only exist because God has given His creation this crazy concept called free will: we can choose right or wrong. OK, so picture something with me – God gives His creation this ability to choose and lays out this perfect world for them to live in. They have communion with the Creator and are able to talk with Him personally (read Genesis 2-3 if you want a glimpse of what this looked like). Yet, God did not create robots – He created us in His own image which means we have the ability to choose to do right or wrong. So what happens when we choose wrong?
God can’t just let that slide without some sort of punishment – if He did He would not be just. If He is not just…He is no longer a “Good God”…which simply is not possible. The Perfect Creator not being perfect is not feasible – like trying to make a square circle. I know this is all a bit “philosophical” but are your following me? God can not act out against one of His attributes – if He did He would not be God. So what is the punishment for doing wrong? “For the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23a) Thus, if God is to maintain His perfect attributes…He has to serve the sentence we deserve…death.
This could have been the end of the story – but we can’t forget another attribute of God. And this one is different – it is only found in Christianity as no other false deity has it…love. “God is love.” (1 John 4:8b) And this creates quite the conundrum – because God loves His creation and does not want them to experience “death” (especially of the eternal nature which is what sin costs). Yet, God is just thus He has to give the punishment for sin…He can’t sweep it under the rug and just forgive it…again, if He did that He would not be just. So, what answer can there be to this problem.
I’ve thought about this all day and truly can’t think of any possible way for God to maintain both His justice (as well as His other attributes) and His love other than the cross. Logically, the only way to maintain both characteristics would be for a perfect life to be lived and then given as a substitute. I couldn’t be that substitute because I sin and therefore I have my own punishment and eternal damnation waiting on me…the substitute has to be perfect. God is all knowing – He knows that we choose sin instead of love (which makes it even more amazing He created us with this crazy concept of free will). Thus, He has this eternal plan in motion from the time creation began – to come down as a man Himself – live a perfect life – and die as a substitute for our sins.
Think about it – this is truly the only way God can maintain His “Godhood” and His love – the only way to marry righteousness (that God is “good” and “right” in all He does) and the love He has for His creation. I know this is a tad long but I want this to melt you for a second. God loves you as His creation enough that He came down and took your penalty – and now brings you back into fellowship with Him. All you have to do is accept this sacrifice – as if you are in court and the sentence you can choose is either the death penalty or allowing the judge to come down and take the death penalty from you – thus letting you off without any payment needed. If you have not chosen to accept this substitution (which is what Christianity is all about), I pray this answer makes sense and brings you to your knees. It is quite easy to accept this substitution as well – just tell your Creator that you can’t pay the sentence but need Jesus to pay the penalty for you – thus allowing Him to save your soul and reverse the course of your life and eternal home. I understand some of you might see this as Christianity 101 – but I feel it is important to understand the necessity of the cross – for it is the base of our faith. I would like to end with a couple of scriptures that hopefully have new life after understanding the necessity and sacredness of the cross:
“And through Him (Jesus) God reconciled everything to Himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Chris’s blood on the cross.” Colossians 1:20
“He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.” Colossians 2:14
