Why did Jesus die
Why is the cross the symbol of Christianity?
It’s a reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice for the remission of all people’s sins. It is not an object of worship or idol.
In the Roman Catholic tradition a sculpture of Jesus is attached to the cross (cucifix, photo above).
In Protestant circles the cross has no image of Jesus. The cross is empty, because the Lord is no longer dying, but resurrected and is alive in Heaven (empty cross, photo below).
The apostle Paul exclaimed in Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 我已经与基督同钉十字架；现在活着的，不再是我，而是基督活在我里面；如今在肉身中活着的我，是因信 神的儿子而活的；他爱我，为我舍己。
Question 1
Do you agree with Paul that Jesus’ offer was an act of love, and why?
The problem
All people have a sin nature, no one excluded, and therefore have a sin problem. Paul describes the problem as All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God 因为人人都犯了罪，亏缺了 神的荣耀 (Romans 3:23).
We see the devastating aspects of sin:
• Pollution of sin (Mark 7:20–23)
• Power of sin (John 8:34)
• Penalty for sin (Romans 6:23)
• Partition of sin (Isaiah 59:2)
Question 2
Are you aware of the misery of your sins? Make some private notes below.
The solution
How can your sin guilt be blotted out? And how do we receive healing of hurts in the past?
The result
The cross shows
- You are infinitely valuable to God
- Jesus is the supreme example of love (John 15:13)
- God is not aloof from suffering
- The powers of evil have been defeated: the resurrection wasn’t the reversal of a defeat; it was the manifestation of a victory
Question 4
Describe why Jesus’s crucifixion was a victory. Was it also a victory for me personally? What in me has been defeated?
More results
• The partition has been removed (2 Corinthians 5:19)
- Reconciliation with God and in other relationships
• The penalty has been paid
- Justified (‘Just-as-if-I’d never sinned’)
• The power of sin has been broken
- If the Son sets you free, you really will be free’ (John 8:36, NLT)
• The pollution has been removed
- ‘… the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.’ (1 John 1:7)
- When you are forgiven, you want to forgive
Question 5
Which one of the four statements above is true for you? Or more than one? Describe it in the box below.
Save your worksheet to your email address.
Close in prayer.
CLEAR EMAIL
Why is the cross the symbol of Christianity?
It’s a reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice for the remission of all people’s sins. It is not an object of worship or idol.
In the Roman Catholic tradition a sculpture of Jesus is attached to the cross (cucifix, photo above).
In Protestant circles the cross has no image of Jesus. The cross is empty, because the Lord is no longer dying, but resurrected and is alive in Heaven (empty cross, photo below).
The apostle Paul exclaimed in Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 我已经与基督同钉十字架；现在活着的，不再是我，而是基督活在我里面；如今在肉身中活着的我，是因信 神的儿子而活的；他爱我，为我舍己。
Question 1
Do you agree with Paul that Jesus’ offer was an act of love, and why?
The problem
All people have a sin nature, no one excluded, and therefore have a sin problem. Paul describes the problem as All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God 因为人人都犯了罪，亏缺了 神的荣耀 (Romans 3:23).
We see the devastating aspects of sin:
• Pollution of sin (Mark 7:20–23)
• Power of sin (John 8:34)
• Penalty for sin (Romans 6:23)
• Partition of sin (Isaiah 59:2)
Question 2
Are you aware of the misery of your sins? Make some private notes below.
The solution
- Agony of the cross (Isaiah 53:6)
- The self-substitution of God as it is written: He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 他在木头上亲身担当了我们的罪，使我们既然不活在罪中，就可以为义而活。因他受的鞭伤，你们就得了医治。(1 Peter 2:24)
How can your sin guilt be blotted out? And how do we receive healing of hurts in the past?
The result
The cross shows
- You are infinitely valuable to God
- Jesus is the supreme example of love (John 15:13)
- God is not aloof from suffering
- The powers of evil have been defeated: the resurrection wasn’t the reversal of a defeat; it was the manifestation of a victory
Question 4
Describe why Jesus’s crucifixion was a victory. Was it also a victory for me personally? What in me has been defeated?
More results
• The partition has been removed (2 Corinthians 5:19)
- Reconciliation with God and in other relationships
• The penalty has been paid
- Justified (‘Just-as-if-I’d never sinned’)
• The power of sin has been broken
- If the Son sets you free, you really will be free’ (John 8:36, NLT)
• The pollution has been removed
- ‘… the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.’ (1 John 1:7)
- When you are forgiven, you want to forgive
Question 5
Which one of the four statements above is true for you? Or more than one? Describe it in the box below.
Save your worksheet to your email address.
Close in prayer.
CLEAR EMAIL