John 19:30

Why Did Christ Die?

Our text plainly teaches that Jesus gave up His own life rather than having it taken from Him.  Note. “He…gave up His spirit.”  No one could take it away! John 10:17,18 “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.”

It will be our aim today to deal with the profoundness of this question. Why did Christ Die?

Preliminary Thoughts:

  1. Why Did Christ Die?
  2. For Whom Did Christ Die?

Both of these questions surround the doctrine of the atonement, which deals with the payment made for the debt of sin. Anselm of Canterbury, dealt with the profoundness of these questions in a magnificent way. (Cur Deus Homo) Why God became Man?

 

I.                   TWO NECESSITIES

A.     Two Vantage points

1.      Infinite – Heb.9:22

2.      Absolute

 

B.     What God cannot do: (Nothing contrary to His essential Nature)

1.      Lie

2.      Die

3.      Change

 

 

II.                DIVINE NECESSITY

A.     The Scripture gives several Divine necessity

1.      God’s hatred of sin – Turn To: Isaiah 6:1-7 (Rom. 1:18; I Thess.1:10; 2:16; 5:9; Rom.2:5

2.      God’s obligation to do right – Gen. 18:25

 

 

III.             DIVINE SOLUTION

A.     God’s great Love to elect a great company to salvation

1.      But how can God save some without violating these two necessities of His Divine Nature?

2.      There’s only one way another must suffer the judgment in the place of those who stand condemned.

 

B.     Anselm helps us to understand it:

1.      The work of redemption had to be achieved by God Himself because we were totally incapable of redeeming ourselves.

2.      The work of redemption had to be achieved by Man for man is the only on who has wronged God and therefore must make the wrong right – Rom.3:6

C.     Faith alone in the God-Man is the only thing that will keep us from perishing – Turn To: John 3:14-18

D.    One Final Aspect:

1.      The God-Man must achieve this redemptive work. But why the Cross? Why not a stabbing or a flogging to death?

2.      Jesus must die a cursed death – Gal.3:13 cf. Deut.21:23

 

 

Conclusion:

  1. Here is the depth of the meaning of the Cross.  If you are not a Christian, this is the only option God has provided for you to be saved.

 

  1. If you are a Christian, praise God for your glorious redemption!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pastor Nick Iamaio

Reformed Presbyterian Church

207 South First Street, Fulton, NY 13069

Web Site fultonrpc.org

1/6/2008