- About Salvation -
Jesus answered:
"I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me."
John 14:6
The
Atonement
Christians believe that the death of Jesus Christ on the cross is
of surpassing significance. But just why did Christ have to die?
Christian
scholars have held throughout the centuries that the death of Christ
is the very heart of Christianity. A reading of the New Testament
certainly confirms this claim. In fact, Christs death, known in theological
terms as the atonement, was necessary because of the universal
sinfulness of all of mankind. Genesis (chapter three) reveals how
the first man (who, by the way, was also the representative of mankind)
used
his free will to rebel against his creator. This act of rebellion
had great consequences. In fact, Adams disobedience caused enmity
to exist between the creator, and himself. This hostility resulted
in a permanent separation between God and man. And, as a result, mankind
was forever excluded from the blessings of an intimate personal relationship
with God. Not only this, but because of our unique association with
Adam, (and because of our own sin) were all left in the desperate
situation of
being under the judgment of a righteous God.
According
to the New Testament, the death of Christ is how God restored that
broken relationship. Second Corinthians 5:19 states that God was in
Christ reconciling the world to Himself. In His death, Jesus is said
to have suffered the penalty for our transgressions (2 Cor. 5:21).
In fact, the separation between God and man has now been bridged by
Christ.
Christs sacrificial death enables man to approach God and establish
a relationship with Him not only for time, but also for eternity.
The heart of the Christian message is that Christ has accomplished
what we were incapable of doing for ourselves; Christ has reconciled
us to God.
Through Christs death,
God demonstrates both His perfect justice and His infinite love.
As Peter writes: For Christ died for sins once and for all, the righteous
for the unrighteous, to bring you to God (1 Pet. 3:18). God made
Him(the Bible says) who had no sin to become the sin offering
for you so that in Him, you might have the righteousness of God.
