Why Jesus? Because He Loves Us

God, who is all-knowing and rules His kingdom, provided Jesus Christ as a sacrifice–to die on the cross–for all of mankind. It may come to mind that this seemed to be a harsh measure to provide for salvation. The reality, however, is that God needed to deal with His creation, man and its problem with sin. God dealt with sin through the provision of sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. His suffering on the cross was the only way to counter the effect of sin and how it separates us from God. If He did not deal with sin, it would deny His holiness and His authority. 

Romans 3:23

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 8:2-4

² because the Spirit’s law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. ³ What the law could not do since it was limited by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending His own Son in flesh like ours under sin’s domain, and as a sin offering, ⁴ in order that the law’s requirement would be accomplished in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

There are two laws according to God: The law of the Spirit of life and the law of sin and death. God wanted man to see the importance of these laws and how He had to make the provision for Jesus Christ to address the law of sin and death.

The Lord gives life, and He also takes it away.

Job 1:21

Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will leave this life.
The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away.
Praise the name of the LORD.

Since there is a law of sin and death, it is easy to see that there is a consequence of sinful behavior. Our flesh enjoys the sin but does not look for its end result. Make no mistake about it–God hates sin, and He will exercise discipline because of it.

Genesis 6:5

When the LORD saw that man’s wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every scheme his mind thought of was nothing but evil all the time.

While Noah was righteous, it was his obedience to God that made Noah and his family righteous. The great flood demonstrated God’s ability to wipe out mankind. It should give pause to us has to how He can orchestrate this very quickly.

Judas Escariot is the example of a sinful, disobedient person who chooses to not fix his heart on Christ even though he clearly sees the evidence of Him and His presence. The cruelty of man was demonstrated by how Jesus was mocked, spat upon, and struck by those who persecuted Him. It reflected upon, and continues to show, the sinfulness of man (Matthew 27:26-44).

The death of Christ on the cross, after seeing the abuse that had taken place, affected the centurion greatly, for he saw something that others did not see.

Luke 23:47

When the centurion saw what happened, he began to glorify God, saying, “This man really was righteous!”

The Holy Spirit has a role in revealing the truth of God to those of us who are paying attention to who God is and what he means to us.

Why Jesus? Because in order to overcome the penalty of sin, there had to be a sacrifice that was without a blemish…the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. God set the standard of His sacrifice for mankind.

1 Peter 1:19-20

…but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. ²⁰ He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the times for you.

Hebrews 9:13-14

For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who are defiled, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, ¹⁴ how much more will the blood of the Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to serve the living God?

1 John 3:5-6

You know that He was revealed so that He might take away sins, and there is no sin in Him. ⁶ Everyone who remains in Him does not sin; everyone who sins has not seen Him or known Him.

Philippians 2:8-9

He humbled Himself by becoming obedientto the point of death—even to death on a cross.

⁹ For this reason God also highly exalted Him

and gave Him the name that is above every name.With His sacrifice that was planned before the foundation of the world and before we were formed, He knew that there would be those who would choose Christ as their personal Savior and be regarded as holy because of trusting in Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:4

…for He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight.

Without the redemption The love that God has for us is the reason for Jesus Christ, who died for us to take the penalty of sin from us (Romans 5:8). We have the benefit of the Holy Spirit, who dwells within the believer in Jesus Christ, in opposing sin in our lives, but we have to take a stand against sin that our flesh desires and that is all around us. That is a choice that we all have to make. God desires for us to make the right choice–to choose life–the Spirit of life, or deal with the consequences under the law of sin and death.

Ezekiel 33:10-11

“Now as for you, son of man, say to the house of Israel: You have said this: Our transgressions and our sins are [heavy] on us, and we are wasting away because of them! How then can we survive? ¹¹ Tell them: As I live”—the declaration of the Lord GOD —”I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked person should turn from his way and live. Repent, repent of your evil ways! Why will you die, house of Israel?

Outside of Jesus Christ, you cannot reconcile yourself to God for your sins. There is no other provision for your sins. If you overlook Christ in dealing with sin, you will only suffer loss. It is only when you take a stand for righteousness when you will be declared righteous through your confession, and eventual forgiveness, of your sin by acknowledging Jesus Christ. It starts with your taking a firm stand against sin.