Introduction
Jesus Christ’s coming into the world is the pinnacle of God’s love, justice, and plan for humanity’s redemption. Understanding the reasons for His arrival provides clarity about God’s purpose for mankind. This article explores three pivotal reasons why Jesus came: to reintroduce us to the Father, to overcome the barriers to redemption, and to sacrifice Himself for our salvation.
The Bible reveals that God’s plan for redemption through Jesus was not an afterthought but was established before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1:4 declares, “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” Similarly, Revelation 13:8 refers to Jesus as “the Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world.” These verses affirm that Christ’s mission was always part of God’s divine plan to save humanity.
Reintroducing Us to the God
1. Jesus’ Earthly Ministry: Revealing God the Father
Jesus’ earthly ministry was centered on demonstrating who God is. Through His teachings, miracles, and interactions with people, Jesus revealed God as a loving Father who desires a close relationship with His children.
In John 14:9, Jesus declared, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” By observing Jesus, we see God’s heart for humanity—His mercy, compassion, and righteousness. Jesus showed that God is not distant but deeply involved in our lives, inviting us to walk in intimacy with Him.
2. God as Father
Before Jesus’ ministry, many saw God primarily as a lawgiver or judge. However, Jesus taught His disciples to address God as “Our Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:9). This teaching revolutionized humanity’s perception of God, presenting Him as approachable, loving, and compassionate.
Through Jesus, we see God’s desire for restoration and relationship. As John 17:3 states, “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” God’s ultimate desire is for humanity to know Him.
3. From Servants to Friends
Jesus emphasized that we are no longer just servants of God but friends. In John 15:15, He said, “I no longer call you servants… Instead, I have called you friends.” Through Christ, we are invited into an intimate friendship with God, free from fear and filled with love.
4. Restoring Authority and Purpose
At creation, God gave humanity dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:26). However, sin distorted this purpose, and humanity lost its authority to Satan. Jesus came to restore this dominion, reminding us of our God-given identity. His authority was evident through His miracles, as He calmed storms, cast out demons, and healed the sick (Matthew 8:26–27, Mark 1:34).
Why Did Jesus Die for Us?
The Need for a Savior
The story of humanity’s fall begins in the Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve disobeyed God and sinned. As Romans 6:16 states, “You are slaves to the one you obey.” By choosing sin, humanity took on a sinful nature, separating themselves from God and losing the divine life (Zoe).
This sinful nature was passed down to all generations. Romans 3:23 reminds us, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Despite this, God’s love for humanity compelled Him to make a way for restoration through Jesus.
The Wages of SIn
Romans 6:23 warns, “For the wages of sin is death…” Sin’s consequence is both spiritual and physical death, separating humanity from God. The law required the shedding of innocent blood for the forgiveness of sin (Hebrews 9:22). However, humanity, burdened by sin, could not provide the perfect sacrifice needed.
Sin’s consequences are severe, as outlined in Romans 6:23: “The wages of sin is death…” There are three types of death caused by sin:
- Spiritual Death: Separation from God’s presence and life.
- Physical Death: The inevitable end of earthly life.
- Eternal Death: Eternal separation from God in hell.
Only Jesus, the sinless Lamb of God, could solve this dire situation.
Barriers to Redemption
1. Humanity’s Sinful Nature
Every human being inherited a sinful nature from Adam, making all humanity inherently unclean before God. As the Bible states, “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22). While the shedding of blood was necessary for the forgiveness of sins, this blood would result in death.
However, there was a significant challenge: the blood available for sacrifice was unclean because it came from sinners. Humanity’s sinful nature corrupted everything about them, making it impossible to offer a sacrifice acceptable to God. As Isaiah 64:6 puts it, “All our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” Before atonement could be made, humanity needed a way to rid itself of the sinful nature.
How Jesus Addressed This
Jesus, being sinless, was the perfect offering. His divine nature ensured His blood was pure and acceptable to God. Through His sacrifice, He not only paid for sin but also imparted His righteousness to believers. As 2 Corinthians 5:21 explains, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Jesus cleansed humanity of sin, restoring their ability to stand righteous before God.
2. Condemnation to Death
The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), and humanity was already condemned to spiritual, physical and eternal death. The loss of the life of God (Zoe) in man led to spiritual death, which eventually culminated in physical death.
Even if humanity could offer their own blood to satisfy the demands of justice, a greater issue remained: overcoming the power of death itself. Death holds those who die in its grip, empowered by sin. As 1 Corinthians 15:55–56 explains, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.” Humanity, under the law and burdened by sin, could not escape death’s hold.
How Jesus Addressed This
Jesus willingly took on humanity’s punishment by dying on the cross. He bore the penalty of sin, breaking its power. However, His victory did not end with death. Through His resurrection, Jesus overcame death and the grave. He triumphed where humanity could not, declaring, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die” (John 11:25). His resurrection opened the way for humanity to escape death and receive eternal life.
3. Loss of Divine Life and Image
When humanity sinned, they lost the divine life (Zoe) and the nature of God, which included His image and likeness. Without God’s life and nature, humanity was rejected by heaven, as heaven cannot accept anything of a sinful nature.
This separation was more than a physical one—it was a rejection of humanity’s original purpose and position as bearers of God’s image. Sin corrupted the very essence of humanity, making them incapable of fellowship with a holy God.
How Jesus Addressed This
Jesus came to restore the divine life and nature to humanity. In John 10:10, He said, “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” Through His sacrifice, believers are born again and transformed into the image of God. As 2 Corinthians 3:18 explains, “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory.” Jesus restored what was lost in the fall, giving humanity the opportunity to live in fellowship with God once again.
4. Loss of Dominion
When humanity sinned, they forfeited their God-given dominion over the earth to Satan. Genesis 1:26 records God’s original intention for humanity: “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky…” However, through deception, Satan ensnared humanity, taking away their authority and subjecting them to the bondage of sin and death.
For humanity to redeem themselves, they would first have to overcome Satan and reclaim the authority that was lost. This was an impossible task, as humanity, in their sinful and fallen state, had no power to defeat the devil.
How Jesus Addressed This
Jesus defeated Satan through His death and resurrection. By offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice, He disarmed the powers and authorities of darkness, reclaiming humanity’s lost dominion. Colossians 2:15 states, “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
After His resurrection, Jesus declared, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18). He reclaimed humanity’s dominion and restored it to all who believe in Him. Through Jesus, believers are empowered to live victoriously, walking in the authority originally intended by God.
Jesus’ mission on earth was to overcome humanity’s insurmountable barriers to redemption. By addressing the sinful nature, condemnation to death, loss of divine life and image, and loss of dominion, He paved the way for humanity’s restoration. His life, death, and resurrection fulfilled God’s eternal plan of salvation, offering humanity the opportunity to be reconciled to God, live in His fullness, and walk in dominion. Through Jesus, humanity’s redemption is complete.
Jesus’ Sacrifice and Its Meaning
Jesus’ Sacrifice and Its Fulfillment of Old Testament Offerings
Despite humanity’s inability to redeem themselves, God’s ultimate desire has always been to have fellowship with humanity. However, because of their sinful nature, humans could not achieve this fellowship. To bridge the gap, God introduced the sacrificial system in the Old Testament.
Under this system, two lambs were used as part of the Day of Atonement ritual (Leviticus 16):
- The Sacrificial Lamb: This lamb was killed, and its blood was shed to atone for the sins of the people, purging them of their iniquities.
- The Scapegoat: This lamb symbolically bore the sins of the Israelites. The high priest would lay his hands on the scapegoat, confessing the sins of the nation over it, and then it was sent into the wilderness to carry away their sins.
Jesus Christ perfectly fulfilled these requirements. Through His death, He acted as both:
- The Sacrificial Lamb: Jesus shed His blood to purge humanity’s sins.
- The Scapegoat: On the cross, He bore the sins of the world, taking upon Himself the guilt and punishment humanity deserved. Isaiah 53:6 declares, “The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”
Fulfillment of Old Testament Offerings
Jesus’ sacrifice was not only an act of redemption but also the ultimate fulfillment of the Old Testament sacrificial offerings. These offerings foreshadowed His work on the cross.
1. Propitiatory Offering
Definition: The propitiatory offering was made to appease God’s wrath and satisfy His justice. It allowed the sinner to receive mercy instead of judgment.
Old Testament Practice:
The Israelites offered animals, such as bulls or goats, whose blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant by the high priest. This act symbolized atonement for the sins of the people, appeasing God’s wrath for a time (Leviticus 16:15).
Jesus’ Fulfillment:
Jesus became the ultimate propitiatory offering. His death fully satisfied God’s justice, permanently appeasing His wrath. As Romans 3:25 states, “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His blood.” Unlike the repeated sacrifices of the Old Testament, Jesus’ sacrifice was once for all (Hebrews 10:10).
2. Dedication Offering
Definition: The dedication offering symbolized total surrender and consecration to God. It demonstrated the worshiper’s commitment to God’s will.
Old Testament Practice:
The Israelites presented burnt offerings, where the entire animal was consumed by fire. This act symbolized their complete surrender to God (Leviticus 1:3–9).
Jesus’ Fulfillment:
Jesus embodied the dedication offering through His life and death. He lived a life of total submission to God’s will and ultimately demonstrated this surrender in Gethsemane, saying, “Not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). His death was the ultimate act of dedication, fulfilling the requirement of complete surrender.
3. Friendship Offering
Definition: The friendship (or peace) offering celebrated restored fellowship with God. It was an expression of gratitude for reconciliation and peace between God and the worshiper.
Old Testament Practice:
The Israelites offered a portion of an animal to God, while the rest was shared in a communal meal among the worshipers. This offering signified the joy of restored relationship and fellowship with God (Leviticus 7:11–15).
Jesus’ Fulfillment:
Jesus’ sacrifice restored humanity’s broken relationship with God. Through His blood, those who were far from God were brought near. Ephesians 2:13 declares, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” His sacrifice established peace between humanity and God, making believers co-heirs with Christ.
Jesus’ death on the cross fulfilled the Old Testament sacrificial system in every way. He shed His blood as the sacrificial lamb, bore humanity’s sins as the scapegoat, and embodied the propitiatory, dedication, and friendship offerings. Through His sacrifice, He accomplished what the Old Testament sacrifices could only foreshadow: permanent redemption, restored fellowship with God, and victory over sin and death.
Overcoming the Barriers
1. Changing Our Nature
The sinful nature of humanity originated when Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden. Romans 6:16 explains, “Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?” By choosing to obey Satan rather than God, humanity became slaves to sin, inheriting a sinful nature that separates us from God.
When a person accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior, this sinful nature is replaced with Christ’s righteousness. Jesus’ death and resurrection make it possible for believers to receive God’s life (Zoe).
- Cleansing of Sin: Jesus’ blood purges sin from our lives, making us acceptable to God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 declares, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
- Receiving God’s Life: Through His resurrection, Jesus imparts the divine life of God to believers. Romans 6:6 states, “We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.”
This transformation restores humanity’s relationship with God and equips believers to live victorious, holy lives.
2. Paying for Sin
Sin required payment, and the penalty for sin is death (Romans 6:23). Justice demanded the shedding of blood, but no human blood could suffice because it was tainted by sin (Hebrews 9:22). To fulfill these requirements, Jesus:
- Bore Our Punishment: Isaiah 53:5 states, “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds, we are healed.”
- Died on Our Behalf: Jesus died physically and spiritually, experiencing separation from God so humanity could be reconciled. Matthew 27:46 records His cry on the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
- Fulfilled Justice in Hell: After His death, Jesus descended to the realm of the dead (Acts 2:31) and overcame the grip of sin and death. Revelation 1:18 declares, “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”
By fulfilling these requirements, Jesus fully satisfied the demands of divine justice, setting humanity free from the penalty of sin.
3. Defeating Satan
Jesus not only paid for sin but also defeated Satan, who held humanity in bondage through sin and death. Colossians 2:15 explains, “Having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
Through His death and resurrection, Jesus:
- Disarmed Satan: Satan’s authority over humanity was broken. Jesus reclaimed dominion and declared, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18).
- Set Believers Free: Christians are no longer slaves to sin. Romans 6:14 proclaims, “For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.”
- Destroyed Death’s Power: Jesus’ resurrection ensures that death has no hold on those who believe in Him. 1 Corinthians 15:55–57 triumphantly declares, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”
The impact of Jesus’ victory is profound:
- Believers are no longer condemned to spiritual death but have eternal life.
- Satan’s grip on humanity is broken, and believers walk in freedom.
- The fear of death is replaced with the hope of resurrection and eternal life.
Jesus overcame every barrier that stood between humanity and God. Through His sacrifice, He changed our nature, paid for sin, and defeated Satan. Believers are no longer slaves to sin, death has no power over them, and they are restored to fellowship with God, living victorious lives filled with His divine life.
How to Receive Salvation
Salvation is a gift of grace, available to all who believe in Jesus Christ. Here’s how you can receive it:
- Acknowledge Your Sin
Romans 3:23 reminds us that all have sinned. Recognize your need for a Savior. - Believe in Jesus
Trust in His sacrifice and resurrection for your salvation (Romans 10:9). - Confess Your Faith
Confess Jesus as Lord. Romans 10:10 states, “For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” - Repent and Turn to God
Acts 3:19 calls us to repent, turning away from sin and towards God.
Impact of Salvation
Salvation transforms your life, restoring your relationship with God. You receive the Holy Spirit, who empowers you to live a victorious Christian life (2 Corinthians 5:17). You are no longer condemned (Romans 8:1) but are now a child of God (John 1:12).
Jesus came to reintroduce us to the Father, overcome the barriers to redemption, and offer Himself as the perfect sacrifice. His life, death, and resurrection provide the only way to salvation. Will you accept His gift today?
