Bible Question:
When Jesus died and took our sins upon himself and took the punishment that was due to us, how was he able to go back to Heaven? If we didn't accept him as Lord and our sins were upon us, we would go to Hell. Can someone explain this to me. DD |
Bible Answer: Greetings DD! Allow me to quote from one of my older posts on this issue: ************************************ There are a couple of vital points made in this verse. The word translated as "sacrifice of atonement" is the Greek word 'hilasterion'. This word means an appeasment. My short winded understanding is this: God is both merciful and just. His justice demanded payment for sins. The penalty, according to Rom. 6:23, is death. Thus, in order for sin to be payed for, the sinner must die. However, God is also merciful. He didn't want us to have to die. Therefore, Christ took our place and appeased God's wrath. This is what the Old Testament system pointed forward to, the concept that someone else could take our place. As you pointed out though, the Old Testament sacrifices could not satisfy. The primary reason being that they did not effect real change within us. We were still sinners. Rom. 3:25 seems to hint at these when it talks about God's forebearance in not judging sin. Thus, the OT sacrifical system was a temporary measure to point us toward the future sacrifice of Christ and to withhold God's judgement. The sacrifice of Christ is different because it is the voluntary sacrifice of the offended on behalf of the offender. It is also different because of the identity of the sacrifice. His sacrifice is once for all, not needing to be repeated. It is His death which appeases God's rigtheous anger at sin. Further, He includes as part of His gift a new nature. So, when we come to Christ in faith, we are no longer sinners. He gives us a new nature. I don't know if I have explained this very well or not. But, the sacrifice of Christ was not pretend. However, neither is sin a things that can be physically carried by Christ's body. His body (or life) was the sacrifice for our sins. His body wasn't sin. The references you referred to are all consistent with this view. He took our penalty upon Himself. He became the perfect sin sacrifice. He took upon Himself the curse of our sin. However, all this was accomplished simply (there I go again) by dying in our place. Why did He have to die? That was the penalty for sin! **************************************** Thus, Jesus took our place, but He Himself was never a sinner nor guilty of sin. His righteousess character never changed, nor did He cease to be God. He simply took upon Himself the penalty for our sins, but not the guilt. I hope this helps! Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |