Sins: What did Jesus Christ accomplish at the cross?
People speak of Him dying there for the sins of the world. Did He do that? Even though the answer to that is in plain view, I’m afraid most people don’t understand. What does the record given in the Bible tell us about this? So many people are familiar with the apostle John’s comment about it, but do they understand its implications?
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. [Emphasis added]
What did God give Him for? What was this about? Let’s note what the apostle Peter has to say about it. And please note that He did this for the unsaved so that there would be the opportunity and the possibility of them being saved.
1 Peter 3:18
18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: [Emphasis added]
Then it is the apostle Paul who fully explains the purpose of the cross, resurrection, and much more.
2 Corinthians 5:21
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [Emphasis added]
Then just a few verses before that he speaks of Christ’s work of reconciliation. What is that about? Here again, I’m afraid most people don’t know. But let’s look at what is said about this.
2 Corinthians 5:19
19 To wit [that is to say], that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. [Emphasis added]
What does this mean when it says He was “not imputing their trespasses unto them”? Could this then mean that because they were held against Christ, they cannot be held against them? That is what the Bible says here, isn’t it? Could this be the reason this message is called “the gospel,” meaning good news? I’m amazed at how so many people don’t see this truth that is here in plain sight. So many churchgoers and even preachers are completely blind to its meaning. But is this any wonder when we see what we’ve been told as a warning about this?
2 Corinthians 4:4
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. [Emphasis added]
I believe some would call this that we’re seeing blind arrogance. The problem here is that man thinks he has something to offer God for his salvation. He somehow believes he has something to contribute to it. But we are clearly told that our salvation is a matter of grace, meaning salvation is not something we can somehow work for so as to achieve it and deserve it.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. [Emphasis added]
There are some who even think faith is a work. What confusion and misunderstanding we have about all this! In salvation the merit is in the object of our faith, namely, the work Christ did through His death, burial, and resurrection and not anything we could ever do. Faith by itself provides nothing.
Romans 4:4-5
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. [Emphasis added]
And what is it that is to be the object of that faith for salvation to occur? Again, the Bible tells us.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: [Emphasis added]
It is faith in this which He did for us that provides immediate salvation for anyone who believes it was done for them. However, one of the most difficult things mankind must overcome about all this is his pride. That’s because he tends to foolishly believe that he himself can DO something that’ll impress God and cause Him to save him and allow him into Heaven. But, here again, please notice what the Bible tells us.
Titus 3:3-7
3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. [Emphasis added]
Throughout the apostle Paul’s writings there’s the theme of justification and salvation by grace through faith alone. It was God’s Son, Jesus Christ, who served to satisfy the justice of God for man’s sins. However, even if not one person ever accepted what Christ did, it would not take away what Christ accomplished on a lonely cross in our behalf by His death. How amazing it is to note that even if I never believed what Christ did for me, my sins were there judged in Christ and, therefore, forgiven. Instead of ever being held against me, they were held against Christ. Isn’t that exactly what the Bible tells us? Does anyone have to believe it for it to be true? Here it is again. Please take a good look at it.
2 Corinthians 5:19
19 To wit [that is to say], that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. [Emphasis added]
This is a verse “religious” people can’t stand. They certainly don’t know what to do with it except deny what it says. “Religion” loves holding man’s sins against him, keeping him saturated with guilt to get him to do things, to give money, dedicate himself, re-dedicate himself, and on and on it goes. But, again, the good news is that Christ did all that needed to be done about our sins to make a way for our salvation—He took them upon Himself, was judged and paid the full penalty for them on the cross of Calvary. His body was put away in a grave, but He arose from that grave on the third day demonstrating to the world that what He’d done had completely satisfied the just demands of God. Does that provide salvation for all? No, it certainly does not! But what it does provide is a simple way of salvation for all. All anyone must do is believe it. Yes, just believe it! That is all! No works whatsoever are required.
As I’ve explained multiple times on our website, the sin barrier that stood between man and God was removed at the cross of Christ. And even if no one ever believed it, the whole sin matter was once and for all addressed and resolved right then and there. But, again, to gain salvation, a person must believe it. If they do that, it is then that they are credited with the righteousness of God which provides them with salvation. The Bible calls this justification by faith. The result is everlasting salvation. And because no sin was overlooked at the cross, the salvation is permanent. Sometimes people fail to consider the fact that all their sins were in the future when Christ accomplished this marvelous work on the cross of Calvary. The debt due by them was then and there canceled forever. That happened at the cross, not when they believe it.
Question: What have you been trusting in as the sole basis for your salvation? If it has been anything other than the work of Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection, you still need to be saved no matter how “religious” you’ve been. It is that and that alone that provides salvation to people. If they add even one form of works to it, it is not provided. Salvation is through Jesus Christ and His provision for it alone. If that is not what you’ve been relying on, that situation can change, and you can be saved right now forever. If you’ll put your faith in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as your sole basis for salvation, the matter will be settled once and for all.
One extremely interesting thing about all this is that believing Christ died for one’s sins is essential for salvation. That fact is an inherent part of the gospel message as per the 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 passage I noted earlier. It is this that makes this message such good news because it represents the fact that God forgave you of your sins through what Jesus Christ did on the cross of Calvary. It is believing it that gives you salvation. What could possibly be simpler or more important in your life than that? Therefore, I’ll say it again, if you’ve not accepted what Christ did for you through His death, burial, and resurrection, why not do that now? Your next breath is not something guaranteed, but the everlasting salvation this belief provides is.
