Bible Question:

I have just recently started reading the Bible and trying to understand it. Even though I hear it time and time again, I still do not understand what it truly means that “Jesus died for all our sins. ”

Bible Answer:

“Jesus died for all our sins,” “Was buried,” and “was raised on the third day” are the cornerstone truths of being a Christian. Jesus died in order to save us. Then He returned to life to prove that He was sinless and that He was God.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ 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 . . . 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (NASB)

Jesus’ Physical Body Died

When scripture says that Jesus died, it means that His physical body died but not His spirit. Three days after His physical death, Jesus’ body returned to life. His spirit never stopped existing.

For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit . . . 1 Peter 3:18 (NASB)

God did not die. Our real self is our spirit which exists on the inside of our flesh. This means that Jesus’ physical body was killed on the cross. The heart of His physical body stopped and the mind stopped functioning. But the real Jesus – His spirit – continued to live. His spirit was still alive. All of us will live forever. Our bodies will get old and stop functioning but our spirit will always live forever. The only question left is, “Where will we live after we die?” Our bodies will return to life someday at the resurrection. But Jesus’ body was resurrected within three days to prove that He was sinless and that He was God.

Jesus Died For Our Sins

When Jesus died, He died for a reason. His death was not an accident. He came to this earth in order to forgive our sins. He had to die in order to do this. He came because Adam and Eve had disobeyed God.

Sin is disobeying God. God had warned our parents – Adam and Eve – that disobeying Him would bring death. They would die both physically and spiritually. Spiritual death is eternal separation from God – not destruction of the spirit. We understand physical death. When Adam and Eve sinned they caused their children to become sinners. They died both physically and spiritually.

For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners . . . Romans 5:19 (NASB)

In order to rescue us from the penalty of our sins, a sinless individual had to die in our place. Someone who was sinless and perfect had to choose to die for us. Jesus did that for us.

. . . so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. Hebrews 9:28 (NASB)

Conclusion:

When Jesus died He earned the right to “rescue” or “save” individuals. He was sinless. He did not deserve to die. It was His choice. Now our sins can be forgiven because He satisfied the wrath of the God the Father (Romans 3:24-25). When we believe in Christ, that is we trust Christ to forgive our sins, we are rescued from hell and given the promise of eternal life.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NASB)

He will forgive all of our sins forever.

. . . but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. Hebrews 10:12-14 (NASB)

All of our past sins will be forgiven. All of our present and future sins will also be forgiven as well. All of our sins will be forgiven.

 

Suggested Links:

Searching For God
Why did God’s perfect man sin and bring death and sin upon the creation?
Creation & Fall of Man – Discipleship Series
How do you receive Christ? What does John 1:12 mean?