God could have chosen any means to save us. Why the cross? Death is the result of sin and atonement (cover up – forgiveness) had to be made. Sin separates us from God. God wants to be reunited with His creation. Why didn’t God simply do away with sin at the very beginning? Because He created mankind with a free will able to choose good or evil. What will you choose?
James 1:13-15 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. (NKJ)
Hebrews 9:22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. (NKJ)
Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul. (NKJ)
Animal sacrifices could not remove sin – only cover it up.
Hebrews 10:3-4 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. (NKJ)
It wasn’t the Romans who invented crucifixion.
Deuteronomy 21-22 If a man has committed a sin deserving of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, (NKJ)
Even though we know our sins separate us from God, we, like Adam, would rather blame God than repent for our wrong-doing. We say, “Why doesn’t God answer my prayers?”
Isaiah 59:1-2 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear.
2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. (NKJ)
Thank God, He didn’t leave us under the old covenant.
Hebrews 9:11-12;24-28 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
24 For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another— 26 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, 28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. (NKJ)
Galatians 4:4-7 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (NKJ)
Eternal salvation free from the consequences of sin is only one part of our salvation package. (When does eternity begin?)
Galatians 3:13-18 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 15 Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. 16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
What are these promises? They are promises of blessings.
Galatians 3:8-9 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. (NKJ)
There was only one requirement necessary to set these promises of God in motion. Abraham had to go. He didn’t have to work it out. He didn’t have to figure it out. He didn’t have to make it happen. He didn’t have to try to bring them to pass. All he had to do was go. This same truth applies in your life with the promises of God. It is up to God to bring them to pass. It is up to you to act in faith and obedience. Don’t worry about the how, trust in the Who. If God says I will like He did for Abraham, He will do for you. You find God’s will in His Word. The purpose of the cross was to restore us back to His blessings.
