CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED
By Peter C. Cay-ohen
The apostle Paul and Silas were said to have “turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6) with their unique doctrine that they were preaching everywhere they went. Their message was so powerful that men were turning away from idolatry to become followers of Christ at the risk of imprisonment and death.
MOST ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE
What did Apostle Paul say is the most important knowledge that he gained around which his preaching revolves? Writing to the church in Corinth he said:
“For I determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:2; 1:23, 24.
“For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel…. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:17, 18 (NKJV)
Paul was inspired to write that the most important knowledge that a man could obtain is the knowledge of Christ and him crucified.
THE JUST DYING FOR THE UNJUST
What is there in the crucifixion of Christ that makes it so important? The Bible explains:
“Now I would remind you, brethren, in what terms I preached to you the gospel, which you received, in which you stand, by which you are saved, if you hold it fast — unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, RSV.
Of the three people who were crucified by the Roman authorities on mount Calvary, only Christ was resurrected on the third day. The two men were crucified for their own sins. But Jesus was not put to death for his own sin. Christ was righteous and he was crucified for our sins.
“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God.” 1 Peter 3:18.
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Cor. 5:21
WHY JESUS HAS TO DIE
To be able to appreciate the significance of the message of Christ’s death for our sins, let us go back to the beginning of our history. Our first parents, Adam and Eve, were created holy but not yet made immortal. In the Garden of Eden they were placed on probation. “Immortality was promised them on condition of obedience” but “by transgression they would forfeit eternal life” (PP 60). Unfortunately they have transgressed and thus forfeited eternal life and earned for themselves the sentence of eternal death. They were supposed to be punished with death, for God hath said: “Thou shalt not eat of it (the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil): for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Gen. 2:17. Emphasis supplied.
But the couple was spared and was given a second chance to live, albeit a limited time. Why were they spared? We read:
“The news of man’s fall spread through heaven. Every harp was hushed. The angels cast their crowns from their heads in sorrow. All heaven was in agitation. A council was held to decide what must be done with the guilty pair…
“Sorrow filled heaven, as it was realized that man was lost…and there was no way of escape for the offender. The whole family of Adam must die. I saw the lovely Jesus and beheld an expression of sympathy and sorrow upon His countenance. Soon I saw Him approach the exceeding bright light which enshrouded the Father…Three times He was shut in by the glorious light about the Father, and the third time He came from the Father, His person could be seen… He then made known to the angelic host that a way of escape had been made for lost man. He told them that He had been pleading with His Father, and had offered to give His life a ransom, to take the sentence of death upon Himself, that through Him man might find pardon; that through the merits of His blood, and obedience to the law of God, they could have the favor of God, and be brought into the beautiful garden, and eat of the fruit of the tree of life.” Early Writings, p. 148-149.
“The instant man accepted the temptations of Satan, and did the very things God had said he should not do, Christ, the Son of God, stood between the living and the dead, saying, “Let the punishment fall on Me. I will stand in man’s place. He shall have another chance.” (Letter 22, Feb. 13, 1900).”1BC 1085.
During their first probation, Adam and Eve have chosen death by choosing to sin. But Christ volunteered to be their Saviour and promised to take their punishment.On the strength of Christ’s promise, humanity was spared and was given a second chance, another period of probation whereby they may chose life over death.
Man was spared but Jesus must make good his promise that someday he must die for the sins of humanity.
“But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” Gal. 4:4, 5.
When the time came for Him to fulfil his promise to die for the sins of lost humanity, Jesus came and took the nature of fallen man (John 1:14; Phil. 2:6-8), “for the suffering of death…that he by the grace of God should taste of death for every man.” Heb. 2:9
HUMAN HISTORY COULD HAVE ENDED IN 31 A.D.
While He was hanging on the cross the Devil came unto him and through human agents tempted him saying:
“If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.” Matt. 27:40.
You imagine the scenario. The sentence of death pronounced upon man in Eden was not carried out then because Jesus promised to take the penalty of death upon Him at some future time. In order for Him to die, he first took upon himself the mortal nature of man since as God he cannot die. But now, just as he was about to be punished with death, the Devil tempted him to use his divine power and abort his mission.
Christ has to make a quick decision. The fate of humanity is at stake. If he will die for the sins of the world, the second chance that was granted to man after the fall in Eden would be confirmed and prolonged to give man the opportunity to choose between life and death. But if Jesus would abort his mission and refuse to let the punishment fall on him, the punishment of death will fall on the sinful family of Adam.
Had Jesus yielded to the temptation and came down from the cross, the entire human race would have been annihilated under divine judgment on that same day. There and then the history of humanity would have ended and we would not have the opportunity to be born in a sinful world.
Even the fate of Enoch and Elijah who were translated to heaven without seeing death and of Moses who was resurrected to life will be affected. These men were honored with eternal life through faith in Christ their redeemer. But if Jesus had backed out from his appointed work of dying for the sins of the world, the gift of eternal life that was granted to them should have been cancelled and these men could have been pulled out from heaven in order to pay for their own sins. They must perish with the rest of humanity.
THE FAITH OF HUMANITY TREMBLED IN THE BALANCE
Under such tremendous pressure, Christ prayed “saying, My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass away from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Matt. 26:39.
“The humanity of the Son of God trembled in that trying hour. He prayed not now for His disciples that their faith might not fail, but for His own tempted, agonized soul. The awful moment had come–that moment which was to decide the destiny of the world. The fate of humanity trembled in the balance. Christ might even now refuse to drink the cup apportioned to guilty man. It was not yet too late. He might wipe the bloody sweat from His brow, and leave man to perish in his iniquity. He might say, Let the transgressor receive the penalty of his sin, and I will go back to My Father. Will the Son of God drink the bitter cup of humiliation and agony? Will the innocent suffer the consequences of the curse of sin, to save the guilty? The words fall tremblingly from the pale lips of Jesus, “O My Father, if this cup may not pass away from Me, except I drink it, Thy will be done.” Desire of Ages, p. 690.
CHRIST DECIDED IN MAN’S FAVOR
“Three times has He uttered that prayer. Three times has humanity shrunk from the last, crowningsacrifice. But now the history of the human race comes up before the world’s Redeemer. He sees that the transgressors of the law, if left to themselves, must perish. He sees the helplessness of man. He sees the power of sin. The woes and lamentations of a doomed world rise before Him. He beholds its impending fate, and His decision is made. He will save man at any cost to Himself. He accepts His baptism of blood, that through Him perishing millions may gain everlasting life. He has left the courts of heaven, where all is purity, happiness, and glory, to save the one lost sheep, the one world that has fallen by transgression. And He will not turn from His mission. He will become the propitiation of a race that has willed to sin. His prayer now breathes only submission: “If this cup may not pass away from Me, except I drink it, Thy will be done.” Ibid, p. 690.
DEATH OF ONE IS DEATH OF ALL
What was the effect of Christ’s death for our sins and why is this called good news? The word of God explains:
“For the love of Christ controls us, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died.” 2 Corinthians 5:14, RSV.
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.” Gal. 2:20
How could the death of one man be the death of all men? How could it be true that Paul was crucified with Christ? This spiritual truth could be made plain if we understand the biblical principle of representation.
After the creation of the world, God constituted Adam the head of humanity and was given dominion of the whole earth (Genesis 1:27, 28). Since a representative does not work for himself but for the one he represents, it follows that whatever Adam does whether positive or negative would affect the whole human family that he represents. Thus when Adam sinned, humanity sinned.
In like manner, the Father constituted Jesus Christ as the second head and representative of humanity. As the second or last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45) Christ was given the responsibility to carry out the salvation of men. Like the first Adam, whatever Christ does would affect the whole human race that He represents. His victory will mean the victory of all men. His death would mean the death of all men. Paul explains:
“Wherefore, as by one man sin (Adam’s sin) entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned… Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” Romans 5:12, 18, 19.
We are to see ourselves in these two Adams who were our representatives. When Adam sinned by disobeying God’s law, the Bible said “that all have sinned” and “by the offence” of this one man, “judgment came upon all men to condemnation.” Thus we became sinners through the sin of Adam.
In like manner, when Christ our representative was crucified, we should, like the apostle Paul, see ourselves crucified with Him (Galatians 2:20). And when Christ died, we should likewise see ourselves in Him dying for our sins. As the sin of Adam was counted as the sin of all men, even so the death of Christ was counted as the death of all men. Thus Paul could say “that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all.”
It is actually only one man who died, but since He is representing all men, his death means the death of all men. This is how it is that Paul said we “are become dead to the law by the body of Christ” (Rom. 7:4).
ALL MEN HAVE BEEN JUSTIFIED FROM THEIR SINS
Since the death of Christ is counted as the death of all men, Paul admonished us:
“Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:11.
Since indeed we all died through Christ our representative, it follows that we all have been legally justified from our sins. Why?
“For he that hath died is justified from sin.” Romans 6:7, ARV.
Since all men were adjudged to have died through Christ, all men were deemed justified from their sins for the death of Christ is reckoned as their death and one who died is said to be justified from sin. Our justification from sin does not mean that we were shown to be not guilty of any transgression, but rather, it means that we were found guilty but that we have fully satisfied the demand of divine justice by paying the penalty of our sins through the death of Christ our representative and surety.
Divine justice demands that “the soul that sinneth, it shall die,” for “the wages of sin is death.” Ezek. 18:4; Rom. 6:23. And the law of pardon states: “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” Hebrews 9:22, RSV.
For divine justice to be upheld and for man to be pardoned he must shed his own blood either directly or through his representative. Divine justice was upheld when Christ volunteered to die for the sins of the whole world. Christ was the “lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29.
“A full, complete ransom has been paid by Jesus, by virtue of which the sinner is pardoned, and the justice of the law is maintained.” 1SM 363.
“Justice demands that sin be not merely pardoned, but the death penalty must be executed. God, in the gift of His only begotten Son, met both these requirements. By dying in man’s stead, Christ exhausted the penalty and provided a pardon.–Manuscript 50, 1900.” 7ABC 470.
At the cross Christ unilaterally paid the wages of man’s sins and granted full and complete pardon for the whole human race. He has signed the emancipation papers of every man from the bondage of sin.
“With His own blood He [Christ] has signed the emancipation papers of the race.” Ministry of Healing, p. 89.
“Giving thanks unto the Father…Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:14.
“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grac…” Ephesians 1:7, 8, KJV.
When Satan was triumphing as the prince of the world…God sent His messenger from heaven, even His only begotten Son, to proclaim to all the inhabitants of the world, “I have found a ransom. I have made a way of escape for all the perishing. I have your emancipation papers provided for you, sealed by the Lord of heaven and earth.” Our Father Cares, p. 92.4
Christ alone procured our justification from sin when he “gave himself a ransom for all” (1 Tim. 2:6). We did not contribute anything towards the procurement of our legal justification from sin. The Bible calls this transaction at the cross justification by grace. We read:
“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his gracethrough the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:20-24.
UNBELIEVERS INCLUDED
Some professed teachers of the Bible teach that Christ died only for believers. But we are not to restrict the word “all” to mean only the believers on the ground that Christ purchased the church with His own blood (Acts 20:28), because the Bible clearly teaches that Christ died for the sins of all men, both believers and unbelievers. We read:
“Jesus Christ…is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours (believers’) only, but also for the sins of the whole world (unbelievers).” 1 John 2:2, Emphasis supplied.
“The Saviour has purchased the fallen race with His own blood.” Bible Commentay, vol. 5, p. 1113.
JUSTIFIED FROM PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE SINS
It should further be understood that Christ also suffered once for sins committed in the past, at the present, and in the future. In other words Christ died for the sins of all men from Adam to the cross, from the cross to the present, and from the present to the last person to be born on planet earth. This is the reason why Christ wants the gospel to be preached to all men till the end of the world (Mark 16:15, 16; Revelation 14:6, 7).
If Christ died only for the members of His church, it follows that His death is good news only for them and not for the whole world. Even those who held this doctrine today would have no hope of being saved because they were not a part of Christ’s church when Christ died. But Christ tasted death for every man (Hebrews 2:9) and so all men are the beneficiaries of His death.
Moreover, if Christ by his death paid only the past sins of humanity, then Christ died only for those people living from the time of his death (31 A.D.) back to the time of Adam and Eve for that is the only time considered “past” at that time. Then who will pay for the sins of the people who were born from 31 A.D. to our present time? It should be remembered that the plan of salvation made provision for Christ to die for sin only once (1 Peter 3:18) for all times. Therefore there is no need for him to “offer himself often” as an offering for sin (Hebrews 9:25-28) for his “one time” offering was all-sufficient.
STAMP WITH THE CROSS OF CHRIST
The words of inspiration make it clear that we owe our present life and everything we possesses and enjoy to the death of Jesus Christ. The Spirit of Prophecy tells us:
“All things come of God. We have nothing that we have not received; and, more than this, we have nothing that has not been purchased for us by the blood of Christ. Everything we possess comes to us stamped with the cross, bought with the blood that is precious above all estimate, because it is the life of God. Hence there is nothing that we have a right to pledge, as if it were our own, for the fulfillment of our word.” Mount of Blessing, p. 66
“There are many who in their hearts charge God with being a hard master because He claims their possessions and their service. But we can bring to God nothing that is not already His. “All things come of Thee,” said King David; “and of Thine own have we given Thee.” 1 Chron. 29:14. All things are God’s, not only by creation, but by redemption. All the blessings of this life and of the life to come are delivered to us stamped with the cross of Calvary. Therefore the charge that God is a hard master, reaping where He has not sown, is false.” Christ Object lesson, p. 362
PLACED ON VANTAGE GROUND
“As Adam’s transgression had brought wretchedness and death, so the sacrifice of Christ would bring life and immortality.” PP 66
“For God… who saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before times eternal, but hath now been manifested by the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” 2 Tim. 1:7-10
“It is at an immense cost that we have been placed on the high vantage ground where we can be liberated from the bondage of sin, which has been wrought by the fall of Adam. . . . A second probation has been granted by the sacrifice of the Son of God. We have a battle to fight, but we can come off victor through the merits of Christ’s blood.” Christ Triumphant, p. 215.
CAN A JUSTIFIED PERSON BE LOST?
No one is compelled by the law to die for his sin because all have been redeemed by Christ from eternal death. The Saviour paid the redemption price for every soul. Every sinner is thus placed on vantage ground where He is given the right to choose his own destiny. Should every one believe the good news that Christ died for his sins and accept Jesus as his personal Lord and Saviour, everyone will receive forgiveness and eternal life and enter the kingdom of heaven (John 3:5-17) without any legal impediment.
But God will not bring to heaven anyone against his own will. Those who do not appreciate the love and sacrifice of Christ for their redemption but will continue in their rebellion against God, hardening their hearts in stubborn unbelief, will still be lost.
“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18.
Those who do not believe the gospel have actually made their choice. They have chosen death rather than life. Moses explains this truth to the children of Israel:
But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you this day, that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land which you aregoing over the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice, and cleaving to him; for that means life to you and length of days, that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.” (Deuteronomy 30:17-19, RSV).
In the New Testament we find the same principle. Paul explains to the believers in Galatia that God cannot give them eternal life and bring them to heaven against their own will. Their destiny depends on their choice. He wrote:
“Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption; but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” Galatians 6:7, 8, RSV.
SIN IS NOT A HINDRANCE TO SALVATION
We kindly ask our dear readers. Why would you go to hell and be lost when you may choose to receive eternal life and be saved in God’s everlasting Kingdom? Your sins are not actually a hindrance to your salvation because Christ has paid them already. All you have to do is to respond positively to Christ’s loving invitation:
“Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.
Do not entertain the idea that your sins are a hindrance to your going to Christ. Concerning your sins the Lord has said:
“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18
“He does not punish us as we deserve or repay us for our sins and wrongs. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our sins from us.” Psalms 103:10 – 12.
The Bible teaches that if a sinner will turn away from his wickedness in sincere repentance, and surrender himself to Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour and turn away from his former sinful life…
“He shall surely live. None of his sins which he has committed shall be remembered against him; he has done what is lawful and right; he shall surely live.” Ezekiel 33:15, 16.
This wonderful privilege is granted to all men because Christ has already paid all their sins at the cross of Calvary.
Are you not happy that God has paid all your sins through the sacrifice of His Son? For me I am very happy and I hope and pray that you share the same feeling. God promised full and complete pardon of sin to all who believe in Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9.
If as a prodigal son you will humble yourself, make up your mind and go back to our heavenly Father and say to Him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son”(Luke 15:18, 19) there will be great joy in the presence of God and the angels in heaven over your repentance, your turning away from your sinful life to a new life in Christ (Luke 15:7, 10).
Dear reader, if you did not make this kind of decision in your whole life, will you make that choice now? You have nothing to lose but everything to gain if you make up your mind to believe the gospel and receive Jesus as your Lord and Saviour.