Jesus did not pay the penalty for our sin. The wages (penalty) of sin is physical death (Romans 6:23) followed by eternal Hell (Matthew 25:41). Jesus is not in Hell, nor will he be sent to Hell at a later date. Rather than Jesus paying for our sin by accepting our eternal punishment in Hell, God took sin out of the equation by removing (erasing) it and placing it in/on Jesus who became sin for us. (2 Corinthians 5:21). In other words, since there is no such thing as sin attributed to the believer, in the legal sense that creates the mandatory sentencing to eternal Hell, there can be no eternal consequence of our sin. If you take a minute and reflect on this reality, it is a mind-blowing reality.
"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." 2 Corinthians 5:21, KJV
"He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it out of the way by nailing it to the cross." Colossians 2:14, HCSB
" He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross," 1 Peter 2:24, 1995 NASB.
" He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross," 1 Peter 2:24, 1995 NASB.
"As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us." Psalms 103:12, KJV.
Sin is not part of the eternal equation because it is gone as far as the east is from the west. Our sin is separated from us and still moving away from us and God in opposite directions never to cease travel (hyperbole and symbolic application intended), therefore, the original payment (physical death and separation from God for eternity in Hell) did not have to be paid by Jesus because none of our sin is attributed to us with regards to our eternal destiny. Jesus did not pay for our sin, he obliterated it (in terms of the eternal consequences of it).
Let me give you an example. If you committed a crime and the punishment was 10-years in prison, any person who steps in to pay for your crime must spend 10-years in prison in your place. However, if someone interceded between you and the judge and did something to or for the judge that made the judge reverse the verdict, declare a mistrial and announce that you were not only not guilty but innocent of all charges because the evidence cannot be found, that is a big deal. That is one of the benefits of the Cross.
If Jesus did not die for our eternal payment for our sins, then why did he die on the Cross?
There are three reasons.
1. God is holy and has holy anger against sin. (Psalms 5:5, Proverbs 6:16-18). God vented his eternal anger against sin on the person and the body of his only Son, instead of us! (2 Corinthians 5:21). This fact allows God to be kind, gracious and forgiving to us in this life.
2. The human body of Jesus became the garbage dump for your sin and mine -- past, present and future. (2 Corinthians 5:21). He became sin. After the death of Jesus, God hurled sin in opposite directions for endless travel out of his sight (with regards to eternal punishment in Hell). (Psalms 103:12). For the believer, Hell is no longer of eternal consequence because the evidence is lost (gone/missing).
3. The horrible death of Jesus on the Cross is designed to break your heart and mine, and bring us into a broken-submissive state before our God. 1 Peter 2:24, Hebrews 10:1-4.
"He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." 1 Peter 2:24, NIV.
"For the law (legal blood offerings of the Old Testament) having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect (spiritually-mature or whole). For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience (guilt after confessing and forsaking) of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance (recurring guilt) again made of sins (past and present) every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away (the guilty conscience of) sins." Hebrews 10:1-4, KJV. (Parenthesis mine.)
Inferred in Hebrews 10:1-4 is that the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross is necessary for a person to become spiritually-mature. A part of that is to be able to feel fully forgiven for past sins confessed and forsaken. Neither of these things are accomplished with the blood offerings of the Old Testament sacrificial system because the forced sacrifice of animals never quite reaches the depth of our emotions (heart). However, the willing sacrifice of our wonderful Jesus on our behalf does reach the depth of our emotions (heart). God gave us emotions. Once our emotions are touched and changed, we are changed. In other words, the Old Testament sacrificial system never broke the heart of those involved in worship so, for the most part, they did not change much. God, knowing this, offered his best and tortured him greatly on our behalf. Part of that is to get our attention and break our hearts.
The horror of Jesus' death on the Cross is the physical pain and the humiliation of being naked; however, much more it is the filth of the Son of God when he became sin in the presence of his holy Father. Think about the time you were most ashamed and multiply that shame many times over. Plus, imagine as best you can, the feelings of Jesus who never committed a sin, becoming the reservoir of all of humanities sin and because of that being forsaken (abandoned) by God. He, who had never known sin, became sin. He who had never been outside of the loving arms and sweet presence of his Father, now abandoned by his Father. I did that to Jesus. You did that to Jesus.
I find it impossible to think very long about the crucifixion of Jesus without weeping uncontrollably. Ladies and gentlemen, that is the normal reaction of severe heart-break for which there is no remedy; and for the heart-break of the Cross, there is no remedy.
Sin is not part of the eternal equation because it is gone as far as the east is from the west. Our sin is separated from us and still moving away from us and God in opposite directions never to cease travel (hyperbole and symbolic application intended), therefore, the original payment (physical death and separation from God for eternity in Hell) did not have to be paid by Jesus because none of our sin is attributed to us with regards to our eternal destiny. Jesus did not pay for our sin, he obliterated it (in terms of the eternal consequences of it).
Let me give you an example. If you committed a crime and the punishment was 10-years in prison, any person who steps in to pay for your crime must spend 10-years in prison in your place. However, if someone interceded between you and the judge and did something to or for the judge that made the judge reverse the verdict, declare a mistrial and announce that you were not only not guilty but innocent of all charges because the evidence cannot be found, that is a big deal. That is one of the benefits of the Cross.
If Jesus did not die for our eternal payment for our sins, then why did he die on the Cross?
There are three reasons.
1. God is holy and has holy anger against sin. (Psalms 5:5, Proverbs 6:16-18). God vented his eternal anger against sin on the person and the body of his only Son, instead of us! (2 Corinthians 5:21). This fact allows God to be kind, gracious and forgiving to us in this life.
2. The human body of Jesus became the garbage dump for your sin and mine -- past, present and future. (2 Corinthians 5:21). He became sin. After the death of Jesus, God hurled sin in opposite directions for endless travel out of his sight (with regards to eternal punishment in Hell). (Psalms 103:12). For the believer, Hell is no longer of eternal consequence because the evidence is lost (gone/missing).
3. The horrible death of Jesus on the Cross is designed to break your heart and mine, and bring us into a broken-submissive state before our God. 1 Peter 2:24, Hebrews 10:1-4.
"He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." 1 Peter 2:24, NIV.
"For the law (legal blood offerings of the Old Testament) having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect (spiritually-mature or whole). For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience (guilt after confessing and forsaking) of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance (recurring guilt) again made of sins (past and present) every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away (the guilty conscience of) sins." Hebrews 10:1-4, KJV. (Parenthesis mine.)
Inferred in Hebrews 10:1-4 is that the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross is necessary for a person to become spiritually-mature. A part of that is to be able to feel fully forgiven for past sins confessed and forsaken. Neither of these things are accomplished with the blood offerings of the Old Testament sacrificial system because the forced sacrifice of animals never quite reaches the depth of our emotions (heart). However, the willing sacrifice of our wonderful Jesus on our behalf does reach the depth of our emotions (heart). God gave us emotions. Once our emotions are touched and changed, we are changed. In other words, the Old Testament sacrificial system never broke the heart of those involved in worship so, for the most part, they did not change much. God, knowing this, offered his best and tortured him greatly on our behalf. Part of that is to get our attention and break our hearts.
The horror of Jesus' death on the Cross is the physical pain and the humiliation of being naked; however, much more it is the filth of the Son of God when he became sin in the presence of his holy Father. Think about the time you were most ashamed and multiply that shame many times over. Plus, imagine as best you can, the feelings of Jesus who never committed a sin, becoming the reservoir of all of humanities sin and because of that being forsaken (abandoned) by God. He, who had never known sin, became sin. He who had never been outside of the loving arms and sweet presence of his Father, now abandoned by his Father. I did that to Jesus. You did that to Jesus.
I find it impossible to think very long about the crucifixion of Jesus without weeping uncontrollably. Ladies and gentlemen, that is the normal reaction of severe heart-break for which there is no remedy; and for the heart-break of the Cross, there is no remedy.
Rev. Joda Collins
www.lulu/spotlight/jodacollins
I make no claim that anyone else agrees with my opinions.
www.lulu/spotlight/jodacollins
I make no claim that anyone else agrees with my opinions.
So real and beautifully stated!
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