May 19th - What Happened at the Cross?

Romans 6:23 clearly says that...

"the wages of sin is death”

Was Jesus Christ our “substitute” at the cross? Some theologians believe so and refer to it as “vicarious atonement.” They say that Jesus paid the price for repentant sinners dying on the cross for their sin.

The problem is that if Jesus "paid the price" for our sin, which is death, then believers would not die. Likewise, if the horrible doctrine of eternal conscious punishment was the price Jesus paid for sin, then Jesus would have to be eternally punished to pay that price. 

Again, all humans die for their sin...

“...it is appointed unto men once to die, and AFTER that the judgment”. (Hebrews 9:27)

The word “judgment” means to make a decision. God has decided to restore us to life after death as a "free gift".

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us…For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 5:8; 6:23)

So, what happened at the cross? 

Jesus died for OUR sins because He had no sins of His own. He willingly accepted the death that all humans experience. Then, God demonstrated His love by raising Jesus OUT of death to life. He has promised to do so for all humanity.

“Faithful is the saying: "For if we died together, we shall be living together also.”  (2 Timothy 2:11)

"As in Adam all die, even so, in Christ, all shall be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:22)

Our death is the result of God's penalty for sin. Jesus is not our substitute, He is our SAVIOR. He will save us out of death and give us eternal immortal life. 

"God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself...For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him , and through Him to reconcile ALL to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach.” (2 Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 1:19-22)