Why Did Jesus Die On The Cross?
Categories: Sermon Outlines, Topical Sermon OutlinesIntroduction:
1. A pertinent question: “Why Did Jesus Die On The Cross?” Concerning any of God’s will, it is not wrong to ask, “Why?”
2. And to recognize that God answers, to the extent that we need to know; the rest remains in His own counsel (Deut. 29:29). We are then content.
3. In the case of the cross, we have abundant information.
I. Asking, “Why The Cross?” One Might Have In Mind That Type Of Death, But The Greater Question Would Be, “Why Any Death At All?”
A. The answer would involve a chain: Free-will, sin, condemnation, mercy, the Christ, death, blood, redemption, obedience.
B. We will look at the points: Death on the cross, and why any death was needed.
II. Ultimately, We Are Back At The Planning Of God In The Beginning.
A. No question, God being God, that He could have made us otherwise than He did: Robots, mindless creatures with no options, choice.
B. In providing for redemption, no question that God could have fashioned any system at all.
1. We bow to our God’s choosing His own plan.
2. “The good pleasure of His will” (Eph. 1:5).
3. A system of God, without man’s counsel, advice (Rom. 11:33-34).
C. So, God did the planning, involving both Christ and man — yea, Christ / His blood foreordained before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:20) (Cf. Rev. 13:8).
D. Thus, the mind of God and the planning of God, in advance of man’s existing here.
III. More To The Question, “Why The Cross?”
A. From of old, the system of God provided that sinful man bring an innocent in sacrifice to God. Genesis 4:4 pictures this.
B. The sacrifice system of the Patriarchal age was continued in the Mosaic system; more, even heathen systems picked it up.
C. Deeply ingrained by time, and by God’s teaching: For the guilty man, the innocent thing was sacrificed, shedding its blood, and amounting to the rule: “Without the shedding, no remission” (Heb. 9:22).
D. Yet, for the redemption of mankind, God had to devise a system calling for a sacrifice both greatly meaningful to Himself, and at the same time impressive enough to man that he might see God, His love and mercy, wrapped up in it.
1. Blood of animals would not suffice (Heb. 10:4).
2. But, HIS SON (John 3:16); Christ, in sacrifice of Himself (Heb. 9:28).
3. In this giving, God’s determinate counsel and foreknowledge was involved (Acts 2:23).
IV. Why The Agency Of The Cross?
A. From old: A cursed thing, hung upon the tree (Deut. 21:22-23) the point used in Galatians 3:13.
B. A righteous one dying a death reserved for the most sinful (2 Cor. 5:21). Paul: “He loved me, gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:20).
C. Christ knew of that particular death ahead of Him (Matt. 20:18-19), and spoke of it again and again (John 12:32-33).
D. Obedient to death, EVEN the death of the cross (Phil. 2:8).
Conclusion:
1. The gospel awaits your response to that death.
2. Obedience to the “gospel of the cross” demands faith., repentance, confession and baptism into Christ. Will you do that, NOW?