In 1 Cor. 15: 3 and 2 Cor. 5: 15 we read that "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures," and that "He died for all." Why did He have to die in order to save us? Couldn't He have brought to us salvation without His suffering death?
Answer.The Bible makes it very plain that "the wages [penalty] of sin is death" (Rom. 6: 23). Sin's sting brings death, for "the sting of death is sin" (1 Cor 15: 56). "When lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death" (James 1: 15).
Adam was created a perfect human being. God tested his obedience telling him plainly: "Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof dying thou shalt die" (Gen. 2: 17, margin). Adam by his sin of disobedience gradually died and finally returned unto the dust of the earth, where he remains unto this day. If Adam and his dying race were ever to have life again some other perfect human being must pay his debt and arrange for his release at the bar of justice.
"In due time Christ [who became flesh (John 1: 14)a human being] died for the ungodly"; and as "by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin," and as "through the offense of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many"; and "as by the offense of one [Adam] judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one [the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time'1 Tim. 2: 6] the free gift [the forgiveness of sins, i.e., release from Adamic condemnation] came [it should be shall come, as is evident from the words 'shall be made righteous' in the next verse] to all men unto justification of life" (Rom. 5: 6, 12, 15, 18).
Our only hope of a resurrection awakening from the unconscious condition of death (Psa. 6: 5; 146: 4; Eccles. 9: 5, 10; Obad. 16), and of a future eternal existence, is because of Jesus' laying down His human life as a ransom, a corresponding price, an equivalent for the forfeited human life of Adam.
Thus Jesus Himself testifies: "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: . . . the bread that I will give is my flesh [my life as a perfect human being], which I will give for the life of the world" (John 6: 51). "I am [as a result of this ransom sacrifice] the resurrection and the life" (John 11: 25; 14: 6). "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life [complete, perfect, everlasting life]; but the wrath of God [the curse, death] abideth on him" (John 3: 36).
Thank God for the unspeakable gift of His love (2 Cor. 9: 15), and the hope of a resurrection to life again! "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again [He was put to death in the flesh, but quickened made alive, resurrectedin spiritas a spirit being1 Pet. 3: 18], even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him" (1 Thes. 4: 14). "But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then . . .they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished" (1 Cor. 15: 13, 18). Thank God that Jesus came to pay Adam's debt and to set us free!
