Thought Quotient

A friend and I were having an ongoing discussion on the connection between the Old Testament (OT) law and the reason for Jesus coming and the necessity of the cross.

So, I thought it would be worthwhile to post it here as well as it’s critical that we understand why Jesus was crucified…

Without a punishment for a sin, would we realize it was a sin and obey? Human nature says we wouldn’t. So, say we’ve been introduced to the punishment for a sin (the OT law), then someone steps in to take the punishment for us even though we are guilty of sin (Jesus on the cross). There wasn’t a dismissal of the sin - for that wouldn’t be fair to the one who created the law (God is holy, and can’t tolerate sin) - and there was a punishment as demanded by the law (Jesus willingly took the death penalty in our place). Our life was spared, even though we deserved death (that is grace). Jesus offers eternal life to those who believe in Him and accept what He did on their behalf. If they don’t (which they have a choice not to), they will face the penalty on their own (and since they are a sinner, they will be guilty of breaking the law) and have to pay the penalty for sin.

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Regarding the punishments for the disobeying of the OT law, the question comes up occasionally of ‘Why don’t we punish offenders that way today?’

It goes back to the cross. Because of OUR SIN, Jesus WAS PUNISHED in that manner. And His punishment on the cross was a once for all (for whoever believes) sacrifice on our behalf.

John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Philippians 2:5-11
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Romans 8:3-4
For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

“The name Jesus - meaning ‘Jehovah’s deliverer’ - represented the very purpose for which He came: to deliver man from His sins.” - Charles Stanley

“The Christmas message is that there is hope for ruined humanity - hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory - because at the Father’s will, Jesus Christ became poor, and was born in a stable so that 30 years later He might hang on a cross.” - J. I. Packer

“Immanuel, God with us in our nature, in our sorrow, in our lifework, in our punishment, in our grave, and now with us, or rather we with Him, in resurrection, ascension, triumph, and Second Advent splendor.” - C. H. Spurgeon