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The Sacrifice of God's Son: A Price Paid for Our Salvation
God's Sacrifice: The Price He Paid for Our Salvation
One Holy Week, my friend, a former pastor, found himself preaching to a group of prisoners in a state prison in Illinois. During his message, he posed a thought-provoking question to the men: "Who killed Jesus?" The responses varied, with some pointing to the soldiers, others blaming the Jews, and a few mentioning Pilate. However, my friend boldly stated, "His Father killed him."
At first glance, this statement may shock and confuse us. How could God, who is all-loving and compassionate, be responsible for the death of His own Son? The answer lies in Romans 8:32, which states, "He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all..." This verse reveals that God willingly handed over His Son to death, according to His divine plan and foreknowledge (Acts 2:23).
In Isaiah 53, we find even more explicit language regarding this sacrifice: "We esteemed him stricken, smitten by God... It was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief" (Isaiah 53:4, 10). These verses paint a vivid picture of God's role in the crucifixion of Jesus. Just as Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac but spared him when a ram appeared, God the Father lifted His metaphorical knife over His own Son, Jesus, but did not spare Him because Jesus was the ultimate substitute.
The reason God did not spare His Son is clear: it was the only way He could spare us and remain a just and holy God. Our guilt, punishment, and the curse of sin would have inevitably led us to eternal destruction in hell. However, God's sacrificial love compelled Him to give up His Son to be pierced, crushed, and crucified for our transgressions.
Romans 3:25 further emphasizes this truth, stating that "God put [Jesus] forward as a propitiation by his blood." Jesus became the propitiation, the atoning sacrifice, for our sins. Through His death, Jesus bore the weight of our punishment, guilt, condemnation, and corruption. This sacrifice allows us to stand before a great and holy God, forgiven, reconciled, justified, and accepted.
Romans 8:32 is a precious verse because it reveals the foundation of God's promise of future grace. Jesus bore all our sins and their consequences in His body so that we could experience forgiveness and enjoy the unimaginable promises of eternal pleasure in His presence.
The significance of God's sacrifice for us cannot be overstated. It showcases His immense love, mercy, and grace towards humanity. Despite our rebelliousness and sinfulness, God was willing to offer His Son as the ultimate sacrifice to secure our salvation. This act demonstrates the depth of His commitment to redeeming and reconciling us to Himself.
As we reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus, let us also remember the references from the Bible that point to God's love and sacrifice for us. John 3:16 proclaims, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." This verse encapsulates God's sacrificial love in one powerful statement.
Additionally, 1 John 4:10 reminds us, "In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." God's love is not based on our merit or worthiness; it is a love that surpasses our understanding. He initiated the sacrifice, knowing that we could never earn or deserve His forgiveness.
The sacrifice of Jesus also serves as a powerful example for us as believers. Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). Just as God gave up His Son for us, we are called to sacrificially love and serve others.
In conclusion, God's sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, is a profound demonstration of His love, mercy, and grace. It was not the soldiers, the Jews, or Pilate who killed Jesus, but His own Father who willingly gave Him up for our salvation. Through His death, Jesus became the substitute for our sins, bearing the punishment and guilt that we deserved. This sacrifice allows us to stand before God, forgiven and accepted, and it ensures that we can experience the abundant promises of future grace. May we never forget the depth of God's love and the price He paid for our redemption.
One Holy Week, my friend, a former pastor, found himself preaching to a group of prisoners in a state prison in Illinois. During his message, he posed a thought-provoking question to the men: "Who killed Jesus?" The responses varied, with some pointing to the soldiers, others blaming the Jews, and a few mentioning Pilate. However, my friend boldly stated, "His Father killed him."
At first glance, this statement may shock and confuse us. How could God, who is all-loving and compassionate, be responsible for the death of His own Son? The answer lies in Romans 8:32, which states, "He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all..." This verse reveals that God willingly handed over His Son to death, according to His divine plan and foreknowledge (Acts 2:23).
In Isaiah 53, we find even more explicit language regarding this sacrifice: "We esteemed him stricken, smitten by God... It was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief" (Isaiah 53:4, 10). These verses paint a vivid picture of God's role in the crucifixion of Jesus. Just as Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac but spared him when a ram appeared, God the Father lifted His metaphorical knife over His own Son, Jesus, but did not spare Him because Jesus was the ultimate substitute.
The reason God did not spare His Son is clear: it was the only way He could spare us and remain a just and holy God. Our guilt, punishment, and the curse of sin would have inevitably led us to eternal destruction in hell. However, God's sacrificial love compelled Him to give up His Son to be pierced, crushed, and crucified for our transgressions.
Romans 3:25 further emphasizes this truth, stating that "God put [Jesus] forward as a propitiation by his blood." Jesus became the propitiation, the atoning sacrifice, for our sins. Through His death, Jesus bore the weight of our punishment, guilt, condemnation, and corruption. This sacrifice allows us to stand before a great and holy God, forgiven, reconciled, justified, and accepted.
Romans 8:32 is a precious verse because it reveals the foundation of God's promise of future grace. Jesus bore all our sins and their consequences in His body so that we could experience forgiveness and enjoy the unimaginable promises of eternal pleasure in His presence.
The significance of God's sacrifice for us cannot be overstated. It showcases His immense love, mercy, and grace towards humanity. Despite our rebelliousness and sinfulness, God was willing to offer His Son as the ultimate sacrifice to secure our salvation. This act demonstrates the depth of His commitment to redeeming and reconciling us to Himself.
As we reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus, let us also remember the references from the Bible that point to God's love and sacrifice for us. John 3:16 proclaims, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." This verse encapsulates God's sacrificial love in one powerful statement.
Additionally, 1 John 4:10 reminds us, "In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." God's love is not based on our merit or worthiness; it is a love that surpasses our understanding. He initiated the sacrifice, knowing that we could never earn or deserve His forgiveness.
The sacrifice of Jesus also serves as a powerful example for us as believers. Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). Just as God gave up His Son for us, we are called to sacrificially love and serve others.
In conclusion, God's sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, is a profound demonstration of His love, mercy, and grace. It was not the soldiers, the Jews, or Pilate who killed Jesus, but His own Father who willingly gave Him up for our salvation. Through His death, Jesus became the substitute for our sins, bearing the punishment and guilt that we deserved. This sacrifice allows us to stand before God, forgiven and accepted, and it ensures that we can experience the abundant promises of future grace. May we never forget the depth of God's love and the price He paid for our redemption.
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