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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
When we ask a question such as this, we must be careful that we are not calling God into question. To wonder why God couldn't find "another way" to do something is to imply that the way He has chos...
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Joe Colling
Supporter
It is written, "Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin". Why? Because the blood is the life. Blood carries life, and sin, which is death, requires payment, because God is without sin. Sin cannot exist in the presence of God, because God is the creator of life. Sin brings death. Blood brings life. Without the sacrifice of life, death would still have power. The power of death is sin. But, because of the life blood of God [the creator of life] in human form, sin [death], has no more power for those who have the creator of life on the inside of them. This is why it is so important to become born-again.
Nathan Toronga
Supporter
Why did Jesus have to die? As a clear testimony that God changeth not. His LOVE is immutable. His LAW is immutable. To reconcile these two apparent contradictions, Jesus was the necessary bridge. I agree in part with Michael's answer, that we need not appear to question God's choice of method. He's Sovereign, and He could well have used any means as seemed fit in His eyes. But He chose this one, and these are the reasons for it. Once we had sinned, we deserved the suitable penalty for our sin - which was death. Romans 3:23 and Romans 6:23. Yet among ALL the options available to Him, REPUDIATION OF HIS LAW/TORAH was NOT available as an option, because on His Law all creation balances. Do not confine yourself to the Torah, but also consider the laws that keep the galaxies in balance. Job 38:33. And it is required that when the Law is violated, the penalty is death. Which opens part two of the equation. He hates the death of sinners. And He loves His creation. Thus He decided to die that His creation may live. (Can you imagine how it must feel to Him, that having died because the Law cannot be repudiated, we are busy preaching that His very death achieved the opposite, that the Law is now ended!) Why did Jesus have to die? To be the link between an immutable Torah of a God of order on the one hand, and the unfailing love of a Loving God and Father on the other. Let no man deceive you - the Law of God will NEVER end, because on the day that it ends, if it could end, on that day God ceases to be God. Jeremiah 31:35-37. Pay attention to Jer 31:36, where He's saying that if His Law could vanish, in other words, if creation could cease to obey His commands, then naturally He won't be of any use to the children of Israel, since He won't be able to command nature to favour Israel. What use is a FORMER giant to me today, when I need protection from a bully now? That's what God is saying - the end of the Law means He can't be different from any creation. Job 38:4,6,10-12,19-20,24-25,28-29,31-33,34-36,37-41. Job 39:1-2; Job 41:1-7,8,9-10. In His Law everything is in harmony. Except humans - they want to collectively announce the repudiation of the eternal Law. Well, if that was possible, Jesus wouldn't have to die, would He? He would just declare that the Law is now ended, and that'd be the end of sin! Romans 4:15 NIV, "..And where there is no law there is no transgression." Jesus died because the law is eternal, and He had to rescue us from death. I hope you find this useful. Bless.
Ezekiel Kimosop
Supporter
Why did Jesus have to die? There was simply no other substitute in heaven, on earth and under earth by which human sin could have been atoned. If any man was chosen, he would have been disqualified by reason of the Adamic sin which was imputed on all mankind including and after Adam except Christ. If a heavenly being was chosen, they would have failed the Levitical law on the requirement for a kinsman redeemer. This law in Numbers 5:5-8 provides that if a man sin then a kinsman shall stand in for his sin to offer a sacrifice for him. Notice also the implication of the heavenly scene described in Revelation 5:3-5 which clearly confirmed that there was no other person or angel who was worthly open the seal except Christ the Lamb of God. God therefore in his perfect and infinite wisdom figured out a solution where the requirements of his divine law would be satisfied and hence the coming of Christ as the perfect sacrifice who was without blemish (Leviticus 22:21-25). Jesus made all the legal and divine requirements and was therefore the only sacrificial lamb that could atone God's wrath and redeem man back to God. Lets picture this scene in Revelation 5:3-5: "And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof." Biblically speaking there was no other means by which redemption would have been found for us now or in eternity and there is therefore no other way to God because Jesus remains exclusively the Way to the Father, the Truth of God and the source of eternal Life. The conclusion is thus: It is either Christ or nothing! While we cannot limit God's sovereignty and infinite power, we can only interpret that His perfect will for man has been revealed in the Scriptures which all point to Christ. We can therefore conclude that Christ was His perfect option. To argue that God could have provided other means is to suggest that his choice of Christ was not conclusive and to cast doubt on His divine wisdom. If Indeed He had a "Plan B or C" with Him, that fact is unfortunately nowhere taught or implied in scripture.
Richard Hammond
Supporter
Your question is half of what Christianity is about. Without his willing death and the resurrection there would not be a Faith for us to follow. The other half is what Christ taught us about our way to live and to love our neighbors. Christ did not have to die, except to give us the ability to be forgiven our sins and be saved. He did it for us!
Billye Miles Seale
Supporter
Before Jesus was born, lived, and died, God had made Himself known to man by the things He had created. Romans 1:20 NIV "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities---his eternal power and divine nature---have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." Jesus was Emmanuel (God With Us). Some people could have said (and still do say) that Jesus was "just a man." They say he was a good man, but nonetheless "just a man." However, all men will die: if Jesus was "just a man" he would have eventually died. He was crucified and died in front of witnesses (John 19:34-35 NIV "Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe." so that God could raise him from the dead in front of witnesses. The resurrection, this most miraculous of all miracles, proved that EVERYTHING Jesus said and did was true: he and the Father are One; Jesus is the Messiah; the Kingdom of heaven is near, etc. As John said in John 20:30-31 NIV "Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." Without Jesus' death, the resurrection could not have occurred. God's ways are perfect.
Anne Smith
Supporter
Yes, i agree that Jesus was the perfect sacrifice, but there's another aspect to why he had to die. Once Adam had become tainted with sin by his disobedience, all his offspring would be tainted in the same way. Therefore, a new man was needed (known as the second Adam in Romans) so that we could have rebirth into his eternal resurrected life. The first man was of the earth earthly, the second man was spiritual, from heaven. When we rise up from the waters of baptism, it is symbolic of rising from the grave, and we are born to a new life in him. By partaking of the holy communion which represent his flesh and blood we are symbolically being kept spiritually alive by being reborn from him.
Tom howard
Supporter
John 11:49-51 (KJV), "And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, You know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he 'prophesied' that Jesus should die for that nation;" And not for that nation only, but for the whole world! As the (Gentile) Samaritans understood this, John 4:42. Amazingly years before even Peter and the disciples could understand this! So, why did He have to die? There was no other way. His death was appropriate for the purpose at hand. Acts 4:12, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
Norma Larkin
Supporter
In my opinion, we can't question anything that God does! He works in mysterious ways, that perhaps we don't understand. I find out that his ways are always better than mine. His results are always perfect even though we can't see it that way. In this case, who will be the perfect one but God himself to reconcile us as sinners with Him? It is too grand to comprehend! Even the disciples has doubts, when they saw Jesus after the crucifixion and He opened their minds, that was the time when they went out and tried very hard to proclaim His Holy name! God's plan was perfect, because if we think about it, "HE IS ALIVE! Because God doesn't allow any sin to go unpunished, there was no one else to bring salvation but himself! He sent the perfect (Lamb of God) to take our sins to the Cross. That was an offering to the whole world! My heart is full with gratitude, and sometimes our situations can be very hard, but his spirit who is in my heart helps me to show a smile to everyone and to be helpful to the ones in need. We should live joyfully with the thought of our Lord, constantly reminding us of his sacrifice. We should live with unending appreciation for what He did and who He is! God Bless you all!
Salem Markus Purba
Supporter
Jesus was the Word who became flesh/human being, so we may communicate with God as to human being (John 1: 14; 3: 16-18); and as a human being having a knowledge of good and evil, He had to experience suffering, pain and death (Genesis 3: 16-19). But for God, having knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 3: 22) does not mean having an effects as to human being does. (Isaiah 55: 8-9), that is why on the third day He was resurrected because human knowledge of good and evil has no power over Jesus, who is God Himself.
Nils Jansma
Supporter
Why did Jesus have to die? This primarily is a legal question. It apparently involves God’s reputation and His morality regarding His legal or covenant obligations. In His conflict with the Devil, there are apparently rules that God has chosen to impose upon Himself and Satan. We see that in the example of Job. (Job 2:3-6) In accord with these rules, what God promises through oaths and prophesies are infallible because it is impossible for God to lie. (Hebrews 6:17-20) The Devil became the first manslayer when he manipulated Eve to induce Adam to sin. Thus God had to condemn Adam and Eve to death for sinning along with all of mankind because they all would eventually sin. (Romans 5:12) This sentence cannot be commuted without a significant change that is beyond dispute in the heavenly councils. (Job 2:1; Luke 22:31) Such changes cannot be arbitrary and apparently must follow certain guidelines outlined in the Old Testament (OT) and fulfilled in the NT. In the OT, the very first prophecy makes a double-edged promise to Satan through the Serpent. It says that a seed [offspring] of the woman [Eve] would be wounded in the heel by Satan but would subsequently crush the Serpent’s head. This prophecy warned Satan of his eventual defeat but also gave him hope. If he could discover who this “seed” was, he would not just “wound” him, he would kill him for all time. That tells us why the Devil wanted Jesus to die, but it says nothing about why Jesus had to die if only a wounding would have fulfilled the prophecy. The answer lies in two related legal terms found in the Law of Moses. These are, Kinsman-Redeemer (Ruth 4:1), and Brother-in-Law Marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5-6). The Kinsman Redeemer requirement is the practical form of Brother-in-Law marriage. If a man dies childless, the nearest consenting relative must marry the man’s widow and produce an offspring who will be the legally adopted child of the deceased man. This covenantal requirement is, in my opinion, the reason why Jesus had to die childless. The Devil’s agent, Judas, (Luke 22:3) was instrumental in murdering God’s unique son Jesus who had no children of his own. (Mark 1:1) God, Jesus’ nearest consenting relative, was, therefore, obligated to provide offspring for his deceased son. He did this by potentially adopting all of Adam’s children back into His own family (Romans 8:23). However, before He could adopt them, they would have to die for their Adamic sins and become a “new creation” with new bodies which indirectly descended from Adam but were made perfect by God in Christ. (1 Corinthians 5:14-21) As a “new creation” they are no longer related to Adam and thus could live apart from his sin. Even Adam himself could become a “new creation” with the past forgiven and forgotten. Additionally, Jesus had to be crucified with his blood being spilled to fulfill the prophecies which had been foreshadowed in the embodiment of the sacrificial system starting with Able and ending with Jesus, the perfect "... Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”. (John 1:29) This complicated procedure was the only way God could rescue His human creation without breaking His oaths and prophetic word and appear to have been lying. That this was the only way this could be accomplished is substantiated by Jesus himself. On the night before his crucifixion, he prayed to the Father not to allow the crucifixion to take place, if that were possible. (Matthew 26:40-44; Luke 22:42-43) Obviously, it apparently wasn’t possible to legally rescue humanity in any other way other than his being offered like a sacrificial lamb and dying childless. That is why Jesus had to die the way he did.
Charles Crabtree
Supporter
While Jesus was on earth be forgave sins and said it was to show he could forgive sin on earth. In the law of Moses the poor that did not have a sheep, goat, pigeon etc could give fine flour and oil for a sin offering. The bible also says that God never did delight in the blood of bulls and goats.This shows God could forgive sin without blood. The old testament prophets said the Christ would die. This is God's word and as such has to be true. This was God's plan to defeat evil from the beginning. From mans perspective without the resurrection it would be difficult if not impossible to have faith that Jesus was the only way to salvation. Without dying there cannot be a resurrection. Could God have chosen another way? Sure but the whole plan of God would have to be changed.
Billy P Eldred
Supporter
Not only a great question but one that we should have a simple answer ready whenever we, as Christians, have the opportunity to witness to the unsaved. Here is mine: God said “The wages of sin is death.” Being God, everything he says must take place or He wouldn’t be God. It cannot be changed. If you sin you are sentenced to die. He also said “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God “. This is also an immutable fact. Therefore, if I went to the Judge (God) and said, God, I want to die in my friends place so they won’t have to die, He would simply say “I am sorry but you too have sinned. You already owe your own life so you cannot forfeit it to pay someone else’s penalty. Only someone who has never sinned could do that. The good news is that the Bible tells us that there was someone that not only was without sin, Jesus, but was willing to die in your place. AND DID SO! So why did Jesus have to die? So that you could live. “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have ever lasting life.”
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
His death was voluntary: He willingly dismissed His spirit. ["It is finished!" (John 19:30). Jesus' last words meant that His suffering was over and the whole work His Father had given Him to do, which was to preach the Gospel, work miracles, and obtain eternal salvation for His people, was done, accomplished, fulfilled. The debt of sin was paid.]; and note John 10:17-18). He “gave himself” (Gal. 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."). He offered Himself as a ransom (Mark 10:45), as a sacrifice to God (Eph. 5:2), and as a propitiation for sin (1 John 2:2). --Wiersbe It was the rent veil. The veil in the Temple was rent (ripped) from top to bottom --from Heaven down to earth-- by God miraculously*** for us. This happened right at the time Jesus died. It showed that there was no more barrier between God and man, provided you enter through Christ, the door for the sheep. The symbolic veil was rent: and at the same moment the true veil was also rent. It is this that we now have to consider. The following are the words of the evangelist: “At that moment the curtain [veil] of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” (Matthew 27:51). ***In a Ryrie Study Bible, however, I discovered this note at Ex 26:31-35: “Josephus reported that the veil was 4 inches thick, was renewed every year, and that horses tied to each side could not pull it apart. It barred all but the High Priest from the presence of God, but when it was torn in two at the death of Jesus of Nazareth (see Mark 15:38), access to God was made available to all who come through him. (cf. Heb. 10:19-22)." If you look into the account of the arrangements and furniture of the Jewish temple, you will find that there were two veils — the one at the entrance into the holy place; the other between the holy place, or the sanctuary, and the most holy, or the holy of holies. This latter is called by St. Paul, in his epistle to the Hebrews, "the second veil;" and its position is thus described by him — "After the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the holiest of all;" for therein, as the apostle goes on to enumerate, were deposited the most sacred of those mystic articles, which were appropriated to the rites of the Jewish religion. The second veil is always considered to have been that which was rent in twain at the death of our Lord; so that the thing done through the rending, was the throwing open that heretofore invisible and inaccessible place, the holy of holies. Invisible and inaccessible, forasmuch as no one but the High Priest was ever permitted to pass the veil, and he but once in the year, on the great day of atonement. Https://biblehub.com/sermons/auth/melvill/the_rent_veil.htm Compare John Piper's 50 reasons: 1. To Absorb the Wrath of God 2. To Please His Heavenly Father 3. To Learn Obedience and Be Perfected 4. To Achieve His Own Resurrection from the Dead 5. To Show the Wealth of God’s Love and Grace for Sinners 6. To Show His Own Love for Us 7. To Cancel the Legal Demands of the Law Against Us 8. To Become a Ransom for Many 9. For the Forgiveness of Our Sins 10. To Provide the Basis for Our Justification 11. To Complete the Obedience That Becomes Our Righteousness 12. To Take Away Our Condemnation 13. To Abolish Circumcision and All Rituals as the Basis of Salvation 14. To Bring Us to Faith and Keep Us Faithful 15. To Make Us Holy, Blameless, and Perfect 16. To Give Us a Clear Conscience 17. To Obtain for Us All Things That Are Good for Us 18. To Heal Us from Moral and Physical Sickness 19. To Give Eternal Life to All Who Believe on Him 20. To Deliver Us from the Present Evil Age 21. To Reconcile Us to God 22. To Bring Us to God 23. So That We Might Belong to Him 24. To Give Us Confident Access to the Holiest Place 25. To Become for Us the Place Where We Meet God 26. To Br
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