Pastor Bell's Words To Live By

First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time (Hebrews 10:8-10 NLT).

Why did Jesus have to die? Could he not just show us how to live a godly life in the spirit and then return back to heaven? Why didn’t he just call down angels to defeat his accusers and wipe them out like the leaders of other faith groups would have done?

Let us look at some of the reason from a biblical perspective why Jesus had to die.  Firstly, he came to right the wrongs done by Adam and Eve.  All of humanity died because of Adam’s disobedience. To put this right Jesus Christ had to conquer the death that killed Adam and that would condemn his descendants [us] to eternal separation from God the father. Since death came through one human being, Adam, the resurrection from the dead came through one human being also, Christ; for as all die in Adam all are made alive through Christ (1corinthians 15:21-22 my emphasis).

Secondly, the principle of atonement is that one sacrifice was made for the sin of many. So Aaron was commanded by God to choose two goats and then cast lots to select one for the Lord. The one that the lot fell on had all the sin of the people placed on him whilst the other was released. The goat with all the sin of the people on him was slaughtered and his blood atoned for the sin of the people. The other goat became known as the scapegoat, who got off scot free (Leviticus 16:7-10).

Finally Jesus was hailed as prophet priest and king, therefore as the high priest he had to perform the ritual sacrifice of sprinkling the blood on the mercy seat. However he did not use the blood of an animal which was done annually, he used his own blood and did this as a one off sacrifice.  This instituted the new covenant and made it possible for all who put their faith in Jesus Christ to be reconciled with God the father.

Because of this, today we don’t have to go on long pilgrimages, beat ourselves until our backs are raw or walk on hot coals to get to God.  All we need to do is put our faith in Jesus, accept his as our saviour and confess with our mouths that he is lord.

Why did Jesus die? To save of from our sin!

Read Hebrews 10