Speaker	Sermon/Lesson Title	Audio   Video  Text  MS Word	Category
Bobby Stafford	Why Did Jesus Have To Die?		Work

Why Did Jesus Have to Die?

Introduction:

They story of the cross and the crucifixion of Christ was the central message preached by the apostles. (I Corinthians 2:1-2) “And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” NKJV (I Corinthians 1:22-23) “For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,” NKJV The importance of this message is seen in I Corinthians 1:18. “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” NKJV So, in light of these verses, why did Jesus have to die on Calvary’s cross?

Body:

I. Because Man Is Guilty of Sin

· Sin separates us from God. (Isaiah 59:1-2) “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.” NKJV It forms a barrier between us.

· All accountable people sin. (Romans 3:23) “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” NKJV No one can claim sinless perfection and total obedience.

· The soul who sins shall die. (Ezekiel 18:20a) “The soul who sins shall die.” NKJV Note also: (Ezekiel 18:10-13, 18) “If he begets a son who is a robber Or a shedder of blood, Who does any of these things And does none of those duties, But has eaten on the mountains Or defiled his neighbor’s wife; If he has oppressed the poor and needy, Robbed by violence, nor restored the pledge, Lifted his eyes to the idols, Or committed abomination; If he has exacted usury Or taken increase – Shall he then live? He shall not live! If he has done any of these abominations, He shall surely die; His blood shall be upon him. 18 As for his father, Because he cruelly oppressed, Robbed hi brother by violence, And did what is not good among his people, Behold, he shall die for his iniquity.” NKJV

(Romans 6:23) “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” NKJV The penalty for sin is death.

II. Because God Is Holy and Just

· God could not overlook sin because He is a righteous God. The death of Jesus was the penalty for the sins of mankind. (Romans 3:24-26) “being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth us a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” NKJV

· Christ’s death was a propitiation for the sins of the whole world. (I John 2:2) “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” NKJV This means it satisfied or appeased God’s anger and turned it to favor instead. The objects of God’s wrath [us] now can be found acceptable in His sight. (Romans 5:10) “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” NKJV

· God the Father made Christ to be treated as sin on the cross, even though He never sinned. (II Corinthians 5:21) “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” NKJV He bore our sins in His body. (I Peter 2:24) “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness – my whose stripes you were healed.” NKJV Jesus provided the atoning sacrifice as our substitute. We deserved to die. He didn’t. Through His death we can be justified, considered “not guilty.” (Romans 4:25) “whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed.” NKJV

III. Because Blood Had to Be Shed

· Blood must be shed before forgiveness of sins can take place. (Hebrews 9:22) “And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.” NKJV

· In Old Testament times, instead of man dying, Jehovah allowed an animal to die. (Hebrews 10:1-4) “For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.” NKJV But no animal was worthy to pay the price for a person’s sins. A permanent sacrifice was needed.

· That sacrifice was Jesus, the Son of God. (John 1:29) “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’ ” NKJV See also: Isaiah 53:7 “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.” NKJV His one-time sacrifice was totally sufficient. (Hebrews 10:12) “But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.” NKJV

· This shedding of blood brought justification. (Romans 5:8-9) “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” NKJV

Conclusion:

We have seen at least three reasons why Jesus had to die: because man is guilty of sin, because God is holy and just, and because blood had to be shed for forgiveness to take place. The benefits of His death are offered to every single person, a universal offer of salvation. He is the author and source of salvation to all who obey. (Hebrews 5:8-9) “though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,” NKJV The believer who repents, confesses, and is immersed contacts Christ’s blood, which washes away his sins. (Ephesians 1:7) “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” NKJV (Acts 22:16) “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” NKJV

Bobby Stafford April 16, 2017