In His once-for-all work at the cross, Jesus exhibited the greatest example of sacrifice. He gladly gave up His life to pay the debt we could not pay—our sin debt—after completing His years of ministry, instructing His disciples, and demonstrating to us how to live a life pleasing to the Heavenly Father. He died for all of humanity, breaking down the barrier that separated God and humans. It is now up to each of us to accept or reject God’s offer of salvation through Jesus.
God’s wrath and mercy were both fulfilled at the cross. Christ defeated the devil and conquered sin and death at the cross. Jesus’ death at the cross gave peace, reconciliation, and harmony to the world. Jesus’ death at the cross established a new covenant between the Supreme Being and humans. Our iniquities were forgiven, our ailments were healed, and our curses were transformed into blessings at the cross. Jesus tore the heaven open for us at the cross.
The Work of Jesus At the Cross
- Punitive: It was a remittance, a settlement, and a judgment. Jesus accepted the punishment for all the sins of humanity upon Himself (Galatians 3:13; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
- Substitutional: Jesus took our place on the cross. The Messiah would be wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our trespasses, according to Isaiah (Isaiah 53:5–6; Leviticus 1:4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24).
- Volitional: Jesus was aware of His Almighty Father’s plan and voluntarily accepted the sufferings on the cross (John 10:18). According to Isaiah, He “set His face like flint” (Isaiah 50:7).
- Redeeming: The word “redeem” comes from the Greek word exagorazo, which means “paying a price to regain from the control of another; to ransom; or to buy off.” We were all slaves to sin when Jesus Christ came into this world as a human being. He entered, paid the ransom for all of us, and then opened the gate, allowing everyone who wished to go free to do so (Galatians 3:13; 4:5).
- Propitiatory: It means that God’s just demand for a perfect sin offering was met; Christ was that perfect sacrifice (Romans 3:25; 1 John 3:2).
- Reconciling: We are restored to a peaceful connection with God as a result of it (Romans 5:1).
- Effectual: It is efficient. When someone believes in Jesus Christ’s work on the cross, that work saves them (Romans 5:9; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:13; Hebrews 9:11–12).
- Enlightening: It exposes a great deal about God, including His love, compassion, mercy and grace, condescension, and much more (John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:9–10).
We are forgiven, accepted, and loved by the Almighty Father because Christ finished the work of atonement. Because Jesus fulfilled the entire process of obedience, we are already living a righteous life in Christ. Because Christ won a definitive triumph over Satan, the evil one is a defeated opponent in Jesus. We will dwell eternally with Jesus in glory in heaven since He completed the work at the cross.
Is Your Name Written Down (A Poem by Cindy Wyatt)
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