EXPLORE GOD

“Why Did Jesus Die On A Cross?”
Pastor Doug Heisel – October 8, 2023

1. The cross was God’s tool to eliminate all imposters and to REVEAL who the true Messiah really was.

Luke 24:25-27 – Jesus said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things…?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.

Acts 13:29 – When they had fulfilled all the prophecies concerning His death, He was taken from the cross and placed in a tomb.

• Betrayed by a friend (Psalm 41:9) for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:13)

• His hands and feet pierced (Psalm 22:16) but no bones were broken (Exodus 12:46; Psalm 34:20)

• Vinegar offered to Him for His thirst (Psalm 69:21)
  

Why can’t God just
FORGIVE and FORGET?
Why the cross?

2. The cross was God’s instrument for JUSTICE and JUSTIFICATION – offering anyone complete FORGIVENESS and NEW LIFE.

Romans 3:25-26 – God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— He did it to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Colossians 2:13-14 – You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for He forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.

John 19:28-30 – Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When He had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

Isaiah 53:4-5 – Surely He took up our pain and bore our suffering ...the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.

Luke 24:32 – They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”