Jesus Died For Our Sins
Suppose one were starving, in desperate need of nourishment lest he die. Sadly, there is no food, none to be found anywhere! What will happen? That one will surely die. Suppose one were sick, in pain, suffering, in dire need of medical help and facing death otherwise. Regrettably, there are no doctors, nurses, hospitals, or medicines. None can help him. What will happen? He, likewise, faces physical death.
Now, suppose one is in sin, burdened with guilt and condemned, desperately needing salvation, forgiveness, cleansing from his sin, but there is no savior. What will happen? He, too, will surely die for sin brings spiritual death and ultimately eternal death (James 1:14, 15; Eze. 18:20). Yet, thanks be to God, there is a Savior. Jesus died for our sins. He left the glory of Heaven with steadfast determination to make possible man's salvation and, knowing full well what faced Him, willingly and lovingly gave His life for us. He took upon himself the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men that He might experience death for every man, and He humbled himself in obedience unto the death of the cross (Heb. 2:9; Phil. 2:5-8). Why? Because man needed God's love and the provision of God's love - a remedy for sin (John 3:16; Romans 5:8-9).
Sin is the one thing which will keep one out of Heaven and put him in Hell. The Bible says sin is the transgression of God's law (1 John 3:4). God has placed certain boundaries beyond which we are not to go. Inside those boundaries, God has placed all that is good, right, helpful to man and needed by man. Therefore, there is not one thing outside of God's divine bounds which is good for us, right for us to do or be, helpful in our living as we should, or needed by us to be happy now and eternally. One sins who goes beyond God's boundaries. The Bible also says sin is unrighteousness (1 John 5:17). We are to live soberly, righteously and godly (Titus 2:11-12); that is, we are to do right in order to be right. The Bible, again, says to act without faith is sin (Romans 14:23). We are to do what we do "by faith" (Romans 10:17; Heb. 11). Likewise, the Bible says a failure to do what one should do is sin (James 4:17). Many will boast of their not having committed certain sin, confident in their not doing those wrongs, but do not realize their need to be actively engaged in doing right!
The plain and simple truth is, "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:6-10). Just as plainly, the penalty of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
God's Word speaks of three deaths. First, physical death is separation of the spirit from the body (James 2:26; Luke 23:46). We all face physical death, an appointment which none can escape (Hebrews 9:27). We began our journey toward physical death the moment our lives began. Paul spoke of one who was dead while she lived (1 Timothy 5:6). She was alive physically, but dead spiritually. Third, eternal death is the punishment for one who continues in sin; thus, having his eternal destiny sealed by death or Christ's coming. Such an one faces eternal punishment in the everlasting fire, torment, and outer darkness of hell (Matthew 25:46; John 5:28-29). Hence, there is eternal death awaiting all who enter into and continue in sin.
We deserve to die for our sins. Yet, were we even to die seeking to secure salvation, we ourselves could not offer the sacrifice for ourselves which justice demands. Not all the good men living, nor all those who have ever lived, could offer themselves collectively to effect the salvation of a single one of us. Just as surely as the blood of bulls and goats could not take away sins, neither can the blood of sinful man (Hebrews 10:4). Our sins prevent our being a sufficient sacrifice, but there is one who lived without sin. He it is who was able to stand in our place, dying in our stead, giving His life for ours (Hebrews 10:5-22).
Jesus died for our sins. He did not die for sins of His own, for He lived a sinlessly perfect life. Contrary to what some erroneously say, He did not "become a sinner." but He "bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness" (1 Peter 2:21-25; cf. Isaiah 53). God's Word says, "For he hath made him to be a sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus came to die, seeking the lost and their salvation (Matthew 1:21; Luke 19:10). He shed His blood on the cross of Calvary to wash us from our sins (Revelation 1:5). With His blood, He paid the price we could not pay and offered the sacrifice we could not offer (Acts 20:28: 1 Peter 1:18-19).
That Jesus died for our sins is good news. That the Son of God died is not good news, but that the Son of God died for our sins is good news (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Further, He lives again, and by His resurrection, we have hope of certain victory (1 Corinthians 15:54-58). Jesus died for our sins, that we being dead to sins, might not die in sin (Romans 6).