Why Did Jesus Die? (J71)

The Romans crucified Jesus that day,
At the urging of priests and Pharisees;
In so doing, they provided the way
For anyone to be saved that believes!
He was fully God, and as fully man,
Here to face tempting and tests as men do;
He withstood them all, as no earthling can;
Died atoning for us, so hell we eschew!
Now He lives, to prepare a dwelling place
For His brothers and sisters with Him share;
He has power over earth and space;
All events in them are under His care!
Jesus willed and planned to die on the cross,
Yet those that killed Him paid a huge cost!

Commentary on: John 19:16-27
Before the beginning of time, God conceived a great plan. He would create a universe out of a void; it would last for billions of years and collapse back into void, but men and women, His creatures, would live with Him forever after time ended. They would be righteous, for He is righteous. He knew in advance, however, that not one of the human race He was to create was able to live righteously. So He decreed that every one who sinned—that is, became unrighteous—must die. He said, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 3:23). So He planned two places to be prepared to last for eternity—Heaven and Hell. God would dwell in Heaven with the ones who were righteous, but Hell would be a place of torment, and He would never be there. Heaven would be a paradise; no tears would fall there.

To solve the problem that would condemn all men and women to Hell, He decided that He would impute to some of his creatures His own righteousness He planned to make Himself a man and live a life with other men and women; He would live that life without ever committing a single sin, although He would deny Himself the use of His limitless power as God—He would use only the human ability that He gave to every person. He would come to earth announcing forgiveness of sin and offering everlasting life to any human being who believed that He came from God, sent to offer them redemption from the wages of sin and eternal life with Him. He came first to the racial family which brought Him into the world, the Jews, born of a virgin; they rejected His offer and had Him killed on a cross. He would resurrect Himself after three days and return to Heaven, leaving believers to spread His offer around the earth to all human beings. They began with only the Jews, But God led them to present His offer of salvation to the whole world..

Jesus died for sins, yours and mine. You may not believe there is life after death, but what if there is? Billions of people have believed there is, and the Bible affirms it. If you go through life ignoring God, you are committing sin and will be condemned to Hell on Judgment Day. You may ask, “What sin have I done? Jesus said the first and most important commandment of God is: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). Think about how you have lived your life until now—have you put God first, over everything? If not, you have sinned and will be condemned to the “second death” (Revelation 20:14). Jesus is the Lord. By belief in Him your sins are all forgiven and salvation into heaven is given to you. You cannot earn it by being good. God will accept into Heaven only those who have believed in Jesus as Lord.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)