Jesus Saves From Religion

Has Jesus saved you from religion? This weekend as many consider the death and resurrection of Jesus you may hear the message that Jesus saves.   There are different verses that speak about Jesus saving us from sin, selfishness, and the powers of death, destruction, darkness, etc. However the message that Jesus can save you from religion doesn't get as much air time.

For this post to make sense you need to understand the definition of religion I am working with. For some people religion may simply mean caring for the needs of others as James puts it, or your personal connection with God. But religion often includes more than that.

When I use the word religion, I am talking about a commitment to systems of beliefs, rules, or rituals, and the institutions that maintain them.

If the idea that Jesus can save you from religion sounds shocking, take a minute to consider the life of Jesus. In the stories of the New Testament, if Jesus is the protagonist, who where the antagonists?  The main opponents Jesus faced during His life, and death were the religious leaders of the day.  The Jewish people were looking for a Messiah to save them from Roman political powers.  But that is not what Jesus primarily delivered. At the end of the day what powers were broken when Jesus died on the cross?  What was the significance of the temple curtain being torn in two?

Consider this quote in Bruxy Cavey's book "End of Religion":

"The Jesus described in the Bible never uses the word religion to refer to what he came to establish, nor does he invite people to join a particular institution or organization. When he speaks of "church", he is talking about people who gather in his name, not the structure they meet in or the organization they belong to (see Matthew 18:15-20). And when he talks about connecting with God, he consistently speaks not of religion but of "faith" (Luke 7:50; John 3:14-16). Jesus never commands his followers to embrace detailed creeds or codes of conduct, and he never instructs his followers to participate in exhaustive religious rituals. His life's work was about undoing the knots that bound people to ritual and empty tradition."

If you are still with me, here are some scripture passages to consider.

Galatians 2:15-21 (NET)   - The context for the "I have been crucified with Christ" seams to be that the old self that was mastered by the old religious law is now put to death.  If we continue to live under the control of religion, "Christ died for nothing!"

"We are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners, 16 yet we know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by the faithfulness of Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified. 17 But if while seeking to be justified in Christ we ourselves have also been found to be sinners, is Christ then one who encourages sin? Absolutely not! 18 But if I build up again those things I once destroyed, I demonstrate that I am one who breaks God’s law. 19 For through the law I died to the law so that I may live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside God’s grace, because if righteousness could come through the law, then Christ died for nothing!" 

Galatians 3:11-14 (NET) - Jesus freed us from the old religious laws

 "Now it is clear no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous one will live by faith. 12 But the law is not based on faith, but the one who does the works of the law will live by them. 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us (because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”) 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.

Galatians 3:23 - 29 (NET)  - We used to be in bondage to religion.  Prisoners under the control of religion. Now we are 'in Christ Jesus' adopted as His sons. Our trust and submission is no longer directed towards religion, but towards the person of Jesus.

23 Now before faith came we were held in custody under the law, being kept as prisoners until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 Thus the law had become our guardian until Christ, so that we could be declared righteous by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. 26 For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female—for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to the promise.

Galatians 4:5 (NET)  "to redeem those who were under the law, so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights."

Galatians 5:1 (NET) "For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery. "

Galatians 6:12-16 (NET) - The context of this passage is speaking about the old religious laws. When Paul says that the "world has been crucified to me" he is speaking about the hold that religion had on him is now dead.

12 Those who want to make a good showing in external matters are trying to force you to be circumcised. They do so only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For those who are circumcised do not obey the law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised so that they can boast about your flesh. 14 But may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that matters is a new creation! 16 And all who will behave in accordance with this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on the Israel of God.

1 Corinthians 15:50 - 57 - The power of sin is religious laws.

“Now this is what I am saying, brothers and sisters: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.  Listen, I will tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.  Now when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will happen, “Death has been swallowed up in victory. “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Colossians 2:13-14 (NIV)  - canceled the written code with it's regulations

"He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. "

So what has Jesus saved us from?  I believe a case can be made that trusting in Jesus saves us from the control of religion.   Life under God's rule free's us from bondage to our own selfish ways, as well as the grip of religion and other powers of the world.

"You were bought with a price. Do not become slaves of men." 1 Corinthians 7:23 (NET)

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Related posts:

• Importance of The Cross
• Two Types of Legalism
• Following Jesus and Following Christianity
• End Of Religion

Importance of The Cross

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Christ_Carrying_the_Cross_1580.jpg

I want to highlight the importance of Jesus' death and resurrection. I may define the gospel differently than some, and I may prefer different atonement theories, but the work of the cross is still very meaningful to me.

I'll start with what Jesus said about the meaning of his death.

A Promise for Forgiveness

Matthew 26:27-29 (NET)

And after taking the cup and giving thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, that is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, from now on I will not drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

Throughout history some different cultures have had some sort of blood covenant ritual. In our culture we have a handshake covenant ritual. The roots of the handshake includes a form where the people would cut their hands and shake with bloody hands. Other ancient rituals included cutting animals in half and walking through them. I see Jesus saying that His blood would be a new handshake, a new promise, that our sins are forgiven. With His blood He is showing His dedication of His love and commitment to us.

A Different Kind of Victory

John 12: 23-26, 31-32 (NIV)

Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.  Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.  Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine.
Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.  And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

The religous and political rulers of the world thought they were defeating Jesus by killing him.  But what looked like defeat to some was actually somehow a victory. The powers of this world would be driven out, and Jesus would draw everyone to himself.

An Example For Us To Follow

Matt 16:24-26 (NIV)

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

This point is repeated in Matt 10:38-39, Mark 8:34-38 and Luke 9:23-27. There is something to this passage that the gospel writers agreed was important.

So what could Jesus be asking of us here? In what way are we to follow Jesus' example of taking up the cross? It is difficult to fit this passage into some of the atonement theories that explain how God saves us. There is something about Christ's work on the cross that we are to duplicate in our lives to gain the life He wants for us.

These next verses may help..

Our Selfish Self Is Crucified with Christ

Galatians 6:14 (NET)

But may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (anointed King), through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Galatians 2:20 (NET)

I have been crucified with Christ (the anointed King), and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Gal 5:24 (NIV)

"Those who belong to Christ (the anointed King) Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires."

Rom 6:11 (NIV)

"In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ (the anointed King) Jesus."

1 Peter 2:24 (NIV)

"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed."

Victory Over Sin and Death

Romans 6:9-11 (NIV)

"For we know that since Christ (the anointed King) was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ (the anointed King) Jesus."

2 Timothy 1:10 (NET)

but now made visible through the appearing of our Savior Christ (the anointed King) Jesus. He has broken the power of death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel!

Hebrews 2:14-15 (NET)

Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he likewise shared in their humanity, so that through death he could destroy the one who holds the power of death (that is, the devil), and set free those who were held in slavery all their lives by their fear of death.

Colossians 1:13 (NET)

He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son he loves,

Rom 4:25 (NIV)

"He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. "

Rom 6:23 (NIV)

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ (the anointed King) Jesus our Lord."

1 Peter 3:18 (NIV)

"For Christ (the anointed King) died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,"

A Ransom Freeing Us From The Power Of Darkness

The ransom analogy paints a picture of something bad holding us captive, and God through Jesus' sacrifice bought us out from captivity. (This is different than the idea that Jesus' death was a payment made to appease God's wrath towards us as some theories suggest.)

1 Timothy 2:6 (NIV)

"who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time."

Titus 2:14 (NIV)

"who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good."

Matthew 20:28 (NIV)

"just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Mark 10:45 (NET)

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Romans 3:23-26 (NET)

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. But they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ (the anointed King) Jesus. God publicly displayed him at his death as the mercy seat accessible through faith. This was to demonstrate his righteousness, because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed. This was also to demonstrate his righteousness in the present time, so that he would be just and the justifier of the one who lives because of Jesus’ faithfulness.

Galatians 3:13(NET)

Christ (the anointed King) redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us (because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”)

Galatians 4:5 (NET)

to redeem those who were under the law, so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights.

Ephesians 1:7-8 (NET)

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us in all wisdom and insight.

1 Peter 1:18-19 (NET)

You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors you were ransomed—not by perishable things like silver or gold, but by precious blood like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, namely Christ.

Revelation 5:9 (NET)

They were singing a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals
because you were killed, and at the cost of your own blood you have purchased for God persons from every tribe, language, people, and nation.

1 Corinthians 7:23 (NET)

You were bought with a price. Do not become slaves of men.

1 Corinthians 6:20 (NET)

For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.

Last Sacrificial Lamb

The Jewish religious requirements of killing animals to offer as sacrifices to God is completed.


John 1:29 (NET)

On the next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Hebrews 10:12-18 (NET)

But when this priest had offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, he sat down at the right hand of God, where he is now waiting until his enemies are made a footstool for his feet. For by one offering he has perfected for all time those who are made holy. And the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us, for after saying, “This is the covenant that I will establish with them after those days, says the Lord. I will put my laws on their hearts and I will inscribe them on their minds,” then he says, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no longer.” Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

Revelation 5:12 (NET)

all of whom were singing in a loud voice: “Worthy is the lamb who was killed to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and praise!”

New Birth, New Life

1 Peter 1:3 (NET)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ (the anointed King) from the dead,

Ephesians 2:4-6 (NET)

But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you are saved!— and he raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ (the anointed King) Jesus,

Colossians 2:12-15 (NET)

Having been buried with him in baptism, you also have been raised with him through your faith in the power of God who raised him from the dead. And even though you were dead in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he nevertheless made you alive with him, having forgiven all your transgressions.  He has destroyed what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness expressed in decrees opposed to us. He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.  Disarming the rulers and authorities, he has made a public disgrace of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Demonstration of Love towards sinners

Romans 5:6-8 (NET)

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. (For rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person perhaps someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

The Kingship of Jesus and the message of the cross were top priorities of Paul

1 Corinthians 2:2 (NET)

For I decided to be concerned about nothing among you except Jesus Christ (the anointed king), and him crucified.

(See Paul Proclaiming the Kingdom of God for more on Paul's Kingdom emphasis.)

1 Corinthians 1:18 (NET)

“For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

1 Corinthians 15 (NET)

Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel that I preached to you, that you received and on which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.  For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received—that Christ (the anointed King) died for our sins according to the scriptures,  and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures,  and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.  Then he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.  Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.  Last of all, as though to one born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also.....

We see in this gospel explanation Paul makes a proclamation of the Kingship of Jesus, His death, and His resurrection.  Paul talks about the significance of the resurrection for this entire chapter ending with this. He describes how the resurrection of Jesus gives us hope in a future resurrection, as well as currently defeating sin and the religious law.

1 Corinthians 15:50 - 57

“Now this is what I am saying, brothers and sisters: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.  Listen, I will tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.  Now when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will happen, “Death has been swallowed up in victory. “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

What I don't see:

1. I don't see the gospel being defined consistently in terms of the cross. I believe a more balanced view of the gospel takes into account the 23 verses in the gospels that reference the gospel or good news. It would acknowledge that Jesus and His disciples are recorded as preaching the gospel and explore what that may have sounded like. It would recognize a reason given by Jesus for why He came: "Jesus, however, said to them: “I must take the good news (gospel) of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, for that was why I was sent.” Luke 4:43. Here is a link to my study on the gospels according to the gospels.
2. I don't see the penal substitutionary atonement theory. I don't see Jesus' death as a payment made to God for the debt of sin. I see the ransom verses making a case that Jesus bought us out from the powers of darkness. I see more evidence of Jesus bringing us to God, and less that Jesus saved us from God. For more on this see: Overview of Different Atonement Theories and 10 Reasons Why I'm Not a Fan of Penal Substitution...
3. I don't see anything like “you must believe the following about the cross to be saved”. I see the New Testament consistently addressing the questions “What must I do to be saved?” with “Place your trust in the person of Jesus”. I do not see lists of essential beliefs attached to passages that address this question. Placing our faith or trust in the person of Jesus is more than believing specific information about him, no matter how correct or important the information is (James 2:19). For more on this see: What Must I Believe Part 1

Summary of what the cross does mean to me:

1. Jesus said that His blood would be a new handshake, a new promise, that our sins are forgiven. With His blood He is showing His dedication of His love and commitment to us.
2. It was an act of death to the things of the world, and this brought true life
3. We are to follow His example of putting our selfish ways to death. We are to count ourselves dead to sin and alive to God
4. A place of victory over sin and death that we can participate in. Jesus broke for us the power of death and brought for us life and immortality.
5. A source of healing
6. A source of freedom from slavery
7. A ransom freeing us from the power of darkness
8. A ransom that justifies freely by his grace
9. A ransom that frees us from bondage to old religious laws
10. A place of adoption as children with full rights.
11. He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to His kingdom
12. The last sacrificial Lamb
13. A new birth for us into a living hope through His resurrection
14. A demonstration and example for us of extreme love for sinners
15. A hope for a future resurrection. The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is old religious laws.  But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus the anointed King!
16. The message about the cross is a message of the power of God.

I find a lot of meaning in these verses. Some of these meanings hold a bit of mystery that is hard to comprehend.  It has been good for me to put these thoughts together. I recognize many will see things differently, and I am OK with that too.

I welcome any feedback.

Not Taste Death Until Kingdom

If you try to live you will die. If want to live you must die. Some will not die.

Got it?

I'm trying to make some sense of passages related to the kingdom, since it was a major theme for Jesus.

Matt 16:24-28 (HCSB)

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will find it. What will it benefit a man if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man is going to come with His angels in the glory of His Father, and then He will reward each according to what he has done. I assure you: There are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

It can be easy to get hung up on this one. Is Jesus saying that some people standing there with him 2000 years ago would not die before Jesus' 2nd coming? That Jesus was going to come back and take believers to live with Him in heaven, within a timeline of that generation?

Some have concluded this statement did not come true.

But when we look at the rest of this passage there are some other aspects that don't really make sense at first glance either.

There is the idea that if we want to live we must follow Jesus' by taking up our cross. But in those days taking up a cross did not usually increase your lifespan. If we want to live we must deny our life? Now this doesn't make sense. But we tend to accept this hard teaching when we understand that our self centered (sinful) self must die if we want Christ's life to live in us.

Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but if you lose your life you will find it? Another upside down teaching. On the surface it seems backwards. But we can accept it when we understand that if we hold tightly to our life and try to be in control, we will not find the life Christ has in store for us.

Does this help us understand the last part of this passage? Some of the people listening will see and experience the reign and rule of God in their lives and in the world around them. They will follow Jesus and take up their cross. As a result they will not taste death but find life.

I admit this is a tough passage to understand. I am not sure that I have it figured out. There are likely other ways to make sense of it.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.


Related Posts:

• Secrets of the Kingdom Summary
• Take Up Your Cross

Which Tent Post Is The Cross?

I see the cross in a different light than many Evangelicals.
But is the cross important to me? Absolutely, Yes!
I've previously posted 10 reasons why I'm not a fan of Penal Subtitutionary Attonment (actually 11 reasons). I also don't see the cross as the central part of the gospel message that Jesus or His disciples preached (see Gospel in the Gospels - Summary - 6 part series).


But picture for a moment a tent. What kind of tent would I have if I only used one pole and one peg to support it? There may be one, two or four central posts - depending on the type of tent. But most stable tents have more than one post.

For me the cross may not be the central post, but it is certainly an essential post.

I admit the cross has some mystery to me, but I find a good place to start is understanding what Jesus had to say about the cross.

Matt 16:24-26 (NIV)

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

Matthew records Jesus saying something similar in Matt 10:38-39, and Mark 8:34-38, and Luke 9:23-27. There is something to this passage that the gospel writers agreed was important.

So what could Jesus be asking of us here? In what way are we to follow Jesus' example of taking up the cross? By taking up our cross is Jesus asking us to pay the price for our sins like he did on the cross... no, I don't think so.

Christ's example for us on the cross is how he defeated sin for us. I think he is asking us to follow His example of defeating sin, putting sin to death. By rejecting the rule of selfishness, and accepting the reign of God, we can find life in Christ. We must denying our own selfish ways and allow God to rule in our hearts and lives.

This tent post gives good support to the good news of the reign of God that Jesus and His disciples preached.

Another verse that speaks to our selfish ways being put to death:

Gal 5:24 (NIV)

"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires."

Jesus took our sins to the cross, so we can also put our selfish ways to death and live for Him.

1 Peter 2:24 (NIV)

"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed."

All of Romans 6 has helped me understand the cross better. Here are two snippets:

Rom 6:11 (NIV)

"In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus."

Romans 6:9-11 (NIV)

"For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus."

Related Posts:

• Importance of the cross - a look at many verses talking about meanings of the cross
• Whodunnit - Who Killed Jesus?
• slaves to sin or God - my attempt to internalize Romans 6
• 10 reasons why I'm not a fan of Penal Subtitutionary Attonment
• Difference between ransom and paying a debt
• Did Jesus pay our debts?
• Good News
• Gospel in the Gospels - Summary - 6 part series
• What is the Gospel? - lists verses related to gospel in 'the gospels'

N.T. Wright on the Atonement Debate

"The real frustration I had was all these great and good from the evangelical world inside the front cover who said this is the greatest treatment of the biblical doctrine of atonement. And so I thought wouldn't it be interesting to see what they do with the material of the gospels. How do they read John 19? How do they read Mark? How do they read Jesus whole ministry in relation to his death. Deafening silence. Virtually nothing in the book on the gospels. And that set me thinking, because as I've said in other places, I really think the western world has forgotten what the gospels are there for. And the result of that is that we take our theology from bits of Paul that we think we know what to do with, and we just grab a line here, a verse here, a passage there from the gospels to fit into that. Whereas Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are all written in such a way as to lead the eye up to the crucifixion of Jesus as the climax of a massive narrative. Which is the narrative of creation, the narrative of Abraham, Moses, David, the prophets. "

This resonates with my experience. When I really read the gospels with an open mind... I started seeing verses that spoke of a good news message I had been taught before. I'd heard many great stories about Jesus. But when it came to my understanding the gospel and essential Christian doctrine, Paul seemed to be more our authority.

"...What did Jesus think about the meaning of his own death?"

Take Up Your Cross

As I've been reading scripture lately I've been taking a new interest in references to the work Jesus did on the cross. I used to mostly think of the cross in terms of the Penal Substitutionary Atonement theory... but I'm now recognizing there are other aspects that I've overlooked.

What did Jesus have to say about the cross?

Matt 16:24-28 (NIV)

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

Matthew records Jesus saying something similar in Matt 10:38-39, and , Mark 8:34-38, and Luke 9:23-27. There is something to this passage that the gospel writers agreed was important.

So what could Jesus be asking of us here? By taking up our cross is Jesus asking us to pay the price for our sins like he did on the cross... no, I won't go there.

I think this lines up with what Paul talks about in Romans 6.

We used to let our own selfish ways rule in our lives. Jesus took our sins to the cross. He modeled putting sin to death. Jesus is saying we need to do the same. Our sin needs to die on the cross with Him.

Now with Jesus on the throne, we are now ruled by His will, guided by the Holy Spirit. In a sense we died on the cross with Jesus... our selfish ways are dead. The life we live now is Christ's.

Don't just take my word for any of this, read how Paul describes it in Romans 6.

Related Posts:

• Importance of the cross - a look at many verses talking about meanings of the cross
• Slaves to sin or God
• Difference between ransom and paying a debt
• Kingdom of God
• 10 reasons why I'm not a fan of Penal Subtitutionary Attonment
• Whodunnit Who Killed Jesus
• What gospel does your neighbor need to hear

Difference between ransom and paying a debt

Paying a debt

Most Christians I know like using phrases like:

• "Jesus paid our debt"
• "Jesus paid the penalty for our sins"
• "We need to accept Jesus payment for our sins"

I have noted for some time that none of these expressions are found in Scripture. But whenever I have tried to express this concern with others they don't seem to see the problem as I do.

In the paying a debt analogy. Somebody owes something to someone, and somebody pays the bill.

So we think of us sinners, owing God something (our lack of holiness?). Jesus dies to pay the price God requires of us so our debt is canceled. Instead of God killing us (or torturing us for eternity), God in a sense kills Jesus.

(Please correct me if I'm wrong... but I think this is sort of how the thinking goes.)


Paying a Ransom

Scripture does talk of Jesus paying a ransom

1 Timothy 2:5-6:

"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time." (NIV)

Matthew 20:28 (NIV)

"just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Hebrews 9:15 (NIV)

For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

In the paying a ransom analogy some bad/evil force is holding somebody captive. Somebody with enough resources pays off the bad/evil force, and buys back or sets free what was captured.

In this scenario, we don't think of God as being the bad evil force that is holding sinners captive. I think it is our selfish (sinful) ways that are holding us captive. We don't have the resources to free ourselves. Christ's work at the cross defeats sin and sets us free.

Redeemed

Redeemed also shows up a number of times. It means to buy back. I think the logic is very much the same as the ransom analogy. Here is two verses:

Galatians 3:13 (NIV)

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."

Titus 2:14 (NIV)

who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Are you OK with the emphasis that God is against us, but Jesus is for us?

I don't know why the work of the cross is usually described in a way that fits with the Penal Subtitutionary attonment theory instead of looking at the rest of Scripture. Maybe it's not this simple. I know theologians have been debating this for centuries. I just don't feel comfortable anymore with the emphasis this theory often gets.

There are also other ways Scripture describes Christ's work on the cross. I plan to do a few more related posts soon.

Related Posts:

• Importance of the cross - a look at many verses talking about meanings of the cross
• 10 reasons why I'm not a fan of Penal Subtitutionary Attonment
• Bearing our burden
• Whodunnit Who Killed Jesus
• More on Penal Substitution
• Penal Substituion
• What gospel does your neighbor need to hear

Gospel in other NT verses

Most definitions of the gospel are centered around Christ on the cross as payment for sin. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 is frequently used as a main proof for why this message is the gospel. But are there other verses that may give us a different view of the gospel?

In past posts I've noted that the words 'gospel' or 'good news' show up 23 times in 'the gospels' (mostly pre-cross). And Jesus and His disciples went about preaching the good news of the kingdom (or reign) of God from town to town.

What about the rest of the New Testament?

There are many verses that speak of the early church sharing the gospel with others. Here are a few that may help understand what that gospel message was.

Acts 5:42 (NIV)

Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

Acts 8:12 (NIV)

But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Acts 10:36 (NIV)

You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

Acts 11:20 (NIV)

Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus.

Acts 13:32-33 (NIV)

"We tell you the good news: What God promised our fathers he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm:" 'You are my Son; today I have become your Father.'

Acts 14:14-16 (NIV)

But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: "Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way.

Acts 17:18 (NIV)

A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.

Romans 1 (NIV)

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (NIV)

Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

Colossians 1:5-6 (NIV)

the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth.

1 Thessalonians 2:8-10 (NIV)

We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.

2 Timothy 2:8 (NIV)

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel,

Revelation 14:6-7 (NIV)

Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water."

Thoughts? Is it just me who doesn't see all of these references centered on the cross?

Why don't we center the gospel message on "Christ is Lord... Jesus is King... turn from worthless things and worship God... " Yes the work of the cross marked the end to the old covenant, our sins died with Jesus on the cross. The cross provides us life... it is part of the gospel.

Is the main focus on the Jesus of the past, providing a way to be with Jesus in the future?

Or is the main focus on the Jesus of the present wanting to work in and through us now?


Related Posts:

• Good News -Mark 1:14-15
• What is the Gospel? - lists some verses to consider
  
• Kingdom of God - lists verses about the good news of the Kingdom of God
  
• What Gospel does you neighbor need to hear?
  
• What does evangelical mean?
• Dr Dwight Pryor on-Kingdom Of God - Part 1
• Dr Dwight Pryor on-Kingdom Of God - Part 2
• Rob Bell on Good News

Jesus Models How to take Up Cross

Matthew 16:24 (NIV)

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."

Matthew records Jesus saying something like this twice, and Mark once.

So what is Jesus asking of us? Should all Christ followers be crucified?

Or is this another image of what it means to make Jesus Lord? Deny oneself - allow God's will to be done instead of our will. The type of cross or sacrifice will likely be different, but it will be something that fits into God's grander plans that we don't see clearly.

And then we see Jesus model this attitude for us before he takes up His cross.

Luke 22:42

"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."

And Paul explains this further in Romans 6. When we are baptized with Christ, we are united with Christ in His death and resurrection. We go with our sins to the cross with Christ. Our selfish ways die, and we find new life with Christ.
Related Posts:

• Whodunnit - who killed jesus?
• Polycarp the Atheist
  

Slaves to sin or God

What's our relationship to sin now that we are part of the kingdom of God?

Paul describes it well in Romans 6. This is just my attempt to internalize Paul's teachings.

We used to be slaves to sin. We used to let our own selfish ways rule in our lives.

Now with Jesus on the throne, we are now ruled by His will, guided by the Holy Spirit. Paul uses the word slave, and in a sense we are slaves to God. (Yet I think God still gives us a free will, and at any point we can go back to our own selfish ways - so the slave analogy breaks down.)

So what happened to the sin that once ruled our lives? It died on the cross as we died with Jesus on the cross... That's hard to imagine, but in some sense my sins and I died with Jesus on the cross. My being baptized into Jesus means I am united with Him. In some mysterious way I died with Him, and rose victorious over sin with Him, and will live with Him for eternity.... Wow.

It would be foolish to let our selfish ways reign in our lives again. We know that our selfish ways lead to death, and that our selfish ways have been put to death on the cross... so why would we go back to being slaves to death when we've been given the Holy Spirit which will guide us in ways that lead to holiness and life.

Don't just take my word for any of this, read how Paul describes it in Romans 6.

Related Posts:

• Whodunnit - who killed jesus?
• Kingdom of God

What Gospel does your neighbor need to hear?

Your neighbor Bob has shared some problems he's having in his life. He feels trapped and burdened.

"Hi Bob, I see you are a sinner. Do you want to hear some good news? God used to require His people to kill animals to receive forgiveness for their sins. Then Jesus came to die for your sins. You don't have to kill animals as burnt offerings to restore your relationship with God anymore. Confess your sins to God, believe in Jesus and what he did on the cross, and you will have eternal life."

Bob:"Huh? I wasn't talking about my sins. And the thought of killing an animal as a sacrifice for my sins has never crossed my mind. So what's the message of the cross have to do with the problems I'm burdened with?"

OR should we try this good news message:

"Did you know God's power is available to you? You don't have to do everything in your own strength and wisdom. If you allow God to rule in your life, instead of your selfish ambitions He will restore your life to what it was intended to be."

Which good news message is closest to the message Jesus preached as He traveled from town to town?

If Bob accepts the good news message of the reign of God, he will want to learn more about how this all works. As he studies the Scriptures he will also learn about the work Jesus did on the cross, and understand the problem of sin. Bob wouldn't be the first person to be saved without an understand of Christ's work on the cross first.

Would the good news Jesus and His disciples preached before the cross still work today?

Related posts:

• Importance of the cross - a look at many verses talking about meanings of the cross

Whodunnit - Who Killed Jesus?

Did God kill Jesus? Was Jesus punished by God's just wrath in our place for our sin? I don't think so. But the question of who killed Jesus seems to come up now and then.

OK, I'm not sure I want to create some new theological position here, and give it a new name... or quite likely this isn't a new position at all... I'm just thinking this freshly for myself...

Is it possible to view what happened at the cross as Jesus being killed by our sins?

Did our sin kill Jesus?

Romans 6:9-11 (NIV)

"For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus."

Rom 6:23 (NIV)

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Rom 4:25 (NIV)

"He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. "

Gal 5:24 (NIV)

"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires."

Rom 6:11 (NIV)

"In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus."

1 Corinthians 15:3 (NIV)

"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,"

1 Peter 2:24 (NIV)

"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed."

1 Peter 3:18 (NIV)

"For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,"

1 Timothy 2:6 (NIV)

"who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time."

Titus 2:14 (NIV)

"who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good."

Matthew 20:28 (NIV)

"just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

OK... so I can't find a verse that says "Our sins killed Jesus". But my logic goes like this:

• Jesus carried our sins to the cross
• the wages of sin is death
• He died for our sins
• He gave His life on his own will, His life was not taken from Him
• He gave His life as a ransom. For a ransom analogy someone is being held captive by a bad power, and a payment is given to the bad power to free the captive. Who is the bad power holding us captive that the payment was made to? God or sin? Our lives were held captive to the power of sin, and Jesus chose to give his life, to take our sin, and free us from our bondage to sin.

So who done it? Was it God that killed Jesus? Or did our sin kill Jesus?

What do you think?

Are there other verses? That either support or disprove the thought that our sins killed Jesus?


Related Posts:

• Importance of the cross - a look at many verses talking about meanings of the cross
• Take up your cross
• slaves to sin or God
• Difference between ransom and paying a debt
• Penal Substitution
• More on penal substitution
• Did Jesus pay our debts?
• Bearing our burden
• Jesus models how to take up the cross

Bearing our Burden

"That on the cross, My burden gladly bearing," comes from our popular "How Great Thou Art" hymn.

I'm rethinking some common language we use related to Christ's work on the cross. Is this one scriptural, and if so what it means?

I find 51 references to "burden" in the Scriptures, but none referring to Christ's work on the cross.

Psalms 68:19 (NIV)

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,
who daily bears our burdens.

So, yes God daily bears our burdens. I guess in the sense that God has always carried our burdens this part of the hymn is true.

Also consider similar language Moses used here, talking to the Israelites:

At that time I said to you, "You are too heavy a burden for me to carry alone. The LORD your God has increased your numbers so that today you are as many as the stars in the sky. May the LORD, the God of your fathers, increase you a thousand times and bless you as he has promised! But how can I bear your problems and your burdens and your disputes all by myself? Choose some wise, understanding and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will set them over you." (Deuteronomy 1:9-13 NIV)

We must also consider 1 Peter 2:24 (NIV)

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

So what does "bore our sins" mean? Does it mean he was punished by God instead of me because he bore our sins? I suspect our minds have been trained to fit this verse into our penal subsitution box. But it may simply mean he carried our sins to the cross so that our sins would be removed from us.

Consider the scapegoat in Leviticus 16:

"Aaron is to offer the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household. Then he is to take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. He is to cast lots for the two goats—one lot for the LORD and the other for the scapegoat. Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the LORD and sacrifice it for a sin offering. But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD to be used for making atonement by sending it into the desert as a scapegoat. (Leviticus 16:6-10 NIV)

"When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting and the altar, he shall bring forward the live goat. He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat's head. He shall send the goat away into the desert in the care of a man appointed for the task. The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a solitary place; and the man shall release it in the desert. (Leviticus 16:20-22 NIV)

So I thank God for always caring and being concerned about my life troubles and burdens. I thank God for providing a scapegoat for me. All my sins were taken by this scapegoat to the cross, and are removed from me. He took away my sins so I could die to sin and live for righteousness. Now I am to live in Christ, not in sin.

1John 3:4 -10 (NIV)

Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

Yikes... this is a challenging passage. I think I understand it, but not sure if I can live it. God help me live this way daily!

Did Jesus pay our debt?

OK, I may be alone on these thoughts. And that's OK. I will still respect and fellowship with those who think differently.

I have heard and used phrases like the following all my life. They have become part of the Christian lingo, and are in many songs, sermons, and christian conversations:

• "Jesus paid our debt"
• "Jesus paid a debt that he did not owe"
• "Christ Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay!"
• "Jesus paid the penalty of man's sin"

From what I can tell this type of language may have started with John Calvin in the 1500's, and the theory of penal substitution.

However I can not find any verse or passage in our scriptures that describe what Jesus did on the cross in these terms.

One verse that is often used to support this theory is 1 Timothy 2:5-6:

"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time." (NIV)

But does ransom mean the same as paying a debt? If my child was held hostage by some bad guys or evil force, and I payed a ransom to free my child... would you say I was paying a debt? No, I didn't owe the bad guys anything. I was choosing to give something to win back something that was mine. Paying a ransom is not squaring things up so they are fair or even again. Paying a ransom is redeeming, or recovering ownership of something that was taken from you.

Also with the ransom analogy, who is the 'payment' made to? Who was holding the child captive? The bad/evil force. How does this go with the idea that Jesus paid for my sins to appease God's wrath? Was God the bad/evil force holding me captive? Or was the debt to Satan? And Jesus was making the payment to appease Satan? I don't think either option is fits.

My point here is that I don't see this verse giving strong support to use of phrases like "Jesus paid our debt".

So, are there other verses that support this doctrine?

OK, how about this one?

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:23-26 NIV)

OK, here is redemption again, or buying back, which I think this is different than paying a debt.

What about 'sacrifice of atonement'? Does sacrifice mean payment?

Jesus was a sacrificial lamb. However we are also called to offer our bodies as a sacrifice to God. But I don't think most would take this verse as a command that our sacrifice to God is payment for our sins in any way.   We shouldn't think we are paying off God when we make a sacrifice.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. (Romans 12:1 NIV)

The cross was a symbol of sacrifice (not payment), and we are called to sacrifice our lives to God as we follow the example of Jesus.

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. "(Matt 16:24 NIV)

We wouldn't say that we are paying off God as we take up 'our cross' and follow God.

So if Jesus was the sacrifice of atonement, lets look at what that meant to the Jews:

"This is the interpretation given by all the Jewish commentators, ancient and modern, on the passage; compare also Yoma 5a; Zeb. 6a, (image) = "There is no Atonement except with blood," with the identical words in Heb. ix. 22, R. V.: "Apart from shedding of blood there is no remission [of sins]." The life of the victim was offered, not, as has been said, as a penalty in a juridical sense to avert Heaven's punishment, not to have man's sins laid upon it as upon the scapegoat of the Day of Atonement, and thus to have the animal die in his place, as Ewald thinks ("Alterthümer," p. 68), but as a typical ransom of "life by life"; the blood sprinkled by the priest upon the altar serving as the means of a renewal of man's covenant of life with God (see Trumbull, "The Blood Covenant," p. 247). In Mosaic ritualism the atoning blood thus actually meant the bringing about of a reunion with God, the restoration of peace between the soul and its Maker. Therefore, the expiatory sacrifice was accompanied by a confession of the sins for which it was designed to make Atonement (see Lev. v. 5, xvi. 21; Num. v. 7; compare Maimonides, "Yad," Teshubah, i. 1): "no atonement without confession of sin as the act of repentance," or as Philo ("De Victimis," xi.) says, "not without the sincerity of his repentance, not by words merely, but by works, the conviction of his soul which healed him from disease and restores him to good health."
http://bible.tmtm.com/wiki/ATONEMENT_(Jewish_Encyclopedia)
(emphasis mine)

OK, lets look at how some other parts of scripture describe what happened on the cross.

John the Baptist called Jesus the lamb of God:

"The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29 NIV)

Jesus Sacrifice was pleasing to God

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV)

How does Jesus describe his death?

"Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." (John 3:14-18 NIV)

In the days of Moses, the Israelites sinned by lacking trust in God. They were sent venomous snakes. God had Moses make a snake and put it on a pole. When the people were bitten by a snake and looked at the snake on the pole they would live (see Numbers 21:4-9). Jesus is saying that His death is similar to this. His body was raised up on a cross. Our lives are full of sin which will lead to death. But if we place our trust in Jesus on the cross we will live forever.

Jesus also played the role of high priest. It was the high priest who would make atonement for the people by making the sacrifice offering.

For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 2:17 NIV)

He took our sins away

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. (1 Peter 2:24 NIV)

He took our bondage to human regulations away

"He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. "(Col 2:13-14 NIV)

.... and there are likely many more passages that describe Christ's work on the cross. It can be described in many ways, and much of it we will likely not fully understand. However I don't see a need to stick to descriptions that do not have solid scriptural support.

What's wrong with focusing on Jesus work as mediator, redeemer, ransom giver, sacrificial lamb of God, high priest, fragrant offering, and the one who removes my sin and my bondage to human regulations?

The description of a Jesus who paid our debt looks fine on Jesus. But it also makes God the Father out to be a God who requires human sacrifices to appease him (either ours or Christ's). If scripture isn't clear on wording it this way, I think it's best to avoid this type of language.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Related Posts:

• Importance of the cross - a look at many verses talking about meanings of the cross
• Difference between ransom and paying a debt 
• 10 Reasons Why I'm Not a Fan of Penal Substitutionary Atonement
• More on Penal Substitution  
• Did Jesus preach the gospel?
• Take Up Your Cross 
• Which Tent Post Is The Cross? 

Penal substitution

I've been questioning some of the theory of penal substitution. Then I came across this great discussion at: http://kingdomgrace.wordpress.com/2009/04/13/penal-substitionary-atonement/

Was God's wrath directed towards Jesus instead of towards us? Did God the Father punish Jesus instead of me?

Does God ever quit loving us? Did God stop loving Jesus when he was on the cross?

I'm OK with a loving father disciplining his children - but can killing ever be done in love?

Or is God's wrath only ever directed towards sin? Jesus chose to be the sacrificial lamb that would take our sins to the cross. The wages of my sin is death, and Jesus has taken that upon himself so that I may live.

It may seem like a slight difference, but this is making more and more sense to me. Throughout history there have been many people groups who have believed god (or the gods) required sacrifices to appease their angry god(s). Many of these people groups took it to the extreme of offering human sacrifices to appease the wrath of their gods. I'm having a hard time viewing my God that way. I don't see the gospel message as being a message of appeasing God's wrath. I see it as a message of a God who wants to a relationship with us, and is seeking to win that relationship through love - not fear.