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The Sufferings Of Christ

Have you ever wondered why Jesus had to suffer and die? That's easy, you say. Jesus died for my sins. True, but why were the sufferings of Christ necessary? The lambs in the Old Testament - which pictured Christ - died very quickly and humanely. Jesus did not. He suffered pain to perfection. His body was shredded. His mind was ravished. His spirit was abandoned at His point of greatest need. God the Father turned His back on Him. And since He was perfect the defilement and violation was all the more intense. The sufferings of Christ are beyond human imagination.

"Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!" Rom. 5:9

The Sufferings Of Christ

So I will refine the question: Why did Jesus have to suffer?

God is perfect in all He does. He is perfect justice. God's wrath is the expression of violated justice. Our wrath is often controlled by our emotions. We are self-centred and get angry when someone upsets us or hinders our plans. Not so with God. His wrath is continual. It never changes. Sin has violated His justice and has invaded His universe. God continually works to restore justice and destroy sin. Anything and anyone contaminated with sin must face the unquenchable, perfect wrath of Almighty God.

As human beings, we are all conceived and born already contaminated with sin. We are automatically under the wrath of God. Death alone would not satisfy the justice of God. Sin has tortured God's beautiful and perfect universe. Infinitely more than that, sin is a violation of and attack on God Himself. It is an attempt to dethrone God and set satan on the throne. It is an unimaginable horror for the perfect and holy God to behold sin. Justice demands the offenders suffer as they have caused suffering.

The sufferings of Christ on the cross are a picture of God's wrath poured out. They express God's intense and unchangeable hatred for sin and all that is sinful. They are perfect justice. Christ's sufferings were necessary for the full price of sin to be paid.

In our world today, we have lost the concept of the horror of sin. We don't see it as being so bad, but all sin violates both God's property rights and His Person. It is like the attack of a rapist or murderer. God cannot tolerate it. A study of Christ's sufferings will show just how serious it is.

God is often presented as a kindly, loving Santa Claus figure who just wants to bless His spoiled brats. He doesn't really expect anyone to live to His standards of righteousness...not in a modern world. We think we have advanced too far for such old-fashioned ideas. We think we can sin without real repentance and get forgiveness because God is really just a big Teddy Bear. Such an attitude makes a mockery of the sufferings of Christ and makes Christianity just another self-improvement program. We tell people they need a Saviour, but they - and often we - don't know why they need a Saviour. What is there really to be saved from? We have forgotten that at the core of His nature, God is holy.

Everyone outside of a committed personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is under the wrath of God. The fact Jesus suffered and died has "bought" them a little time. It is called Common Grace, which means God withholds His expression of wrath against them while they are living on earth to give them [we were all "them" at one time] time to repent and come to Jesus Christ. Hell is real. Anyone who dies without submitting their life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ accepting His suffering and death on their behalf, will experience the full wrath of God for themselves. Since they did not accept the suffering and death of Christ on their behalf, they will suffer, like Christ did, only in Hell forever...no end, no escape, no relief. Christianity really is a matter of life and death.

If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, now is the time. Investigate His claims to test the truth of Christianity. Make it a priority; do not delay. You do not want to enter eternity unprepared. Then repent of your sins and turn to God. Ask Jesus to become your Lord and Saviour. You will discover a new life. You will enter into a relationship with God. This is what you were designed for. It is where you will find your true fulfillment and satisfaction in this life and in the life beyond.

For more information about Glenn Davis, see our About Glenn page or visit Glenn Davis Books.

Please note: We no longer have the commenting feature [maybe again in the future]. Joshua Institute students who have questions or comments on their courses can use the contact button and mention the course name and lesson number in the email. Thank you. Glenn

The Sufferings Of Christ

The Sufferings Of Christ

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