THE DEATH OF CHRIST 

For accounts of Christ's death, see Matt 26 & 27; Mark 14 & 15; Luke 22 & 23; John 18 - 20. 
 
A. Why Did Christ Have To Die? 
*	Romans 5:12 Just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in 
this way death came to all men, because all sinned ... 
*	Romans 5:18 Just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the 
result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 
 
The death of Christ was part of God's plan to finally rid the world of sin and death, and to 
restore the relationship which man once had with Him. This plan was no afterthought on God's 
part, in fact it was planned before even the world was created: 
*	Eph 1:4,5 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless 
in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in 
accordance with his pleasure and will. 
 
Almost as soon as Adam and Eve had sinned, the plan of salvation was announced to them: 
*	Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring 
and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel. (Note that this is spoken 
by God to the devil - the woman's offspring who eventually crushed the devil's head, was 
Jesus.) Jesus main purpose in coming to this world was to take away sin: 
*	Luke 2:11 Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the 
Lord. 
*	1 Cor 15:3 Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. 
*	1 Timothy 2:6 Jesus Christ .. gave himself as a ransom for all men - the testimony given 
in its proper time. 
*	Hebrews 2:14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so 
that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death - that is, the devil. 
*	Hebrews 9:26 Now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin 
by the sacrifice of himself. 
*	1 John 4:9,10 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into 
the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he 
loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 
 
B. The Significance of Christ's Death 
1. His death was vicarious - that is done on behalf of someone else. Christ did not die for 
His own sins, because He was sinless (See 1 Peter 2:22). It is emphasised in the Bible that He 
died for the sins of others: 
*	2 Cor 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become 
the righteousness of God. 
2. His death gives full restoration: 
*	Col 1:21,22 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of 
your evil behaviour. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death 
to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation. 
3. His death was a complete sacrifice. Once Christ had died, no more sacrifices needed to be 
made. The penalty for sin had been completely paid, there was nothing more owing: 
*	Romans 6:10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; 
*	Hebrews 9:26 But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with 
sin by the sacrifice of himself. 
 
C. The Significance of Christ's Resurrection 
It is important that we believe in Christ's resurrection. Because He was God and Man in some 
mysterious way He had to come back to life because God is immortal. If He had remained in the 
grave He couldn't have been God, and therefore couldn't have paid the price of our sins. 
Although God the Father "called" Christ back to life, it was His own power which raised Him: 
*	John 10:18 No one takes it (life) from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have 
authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again..." 
 
D. The Significance of Christ's Ascension 
Jesus returned to heaven for a specific purpose: 
*	Romans 8:34 Christ Jesus, who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the 
right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 
*	Hebrews 7:25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, 
because he always lives to intercede for them.
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