He chose to die in our place
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
3 of 3 free articles.
Editor,
A lot of people here in the valley know the line from God’s Holy Book “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son…” (John 3:16a). They may not be as familiar with the sentence in Romans 5:8; “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” It is mind baffling and mysteriously wonderful that God the Son could die; still more perplexing that he should die; furthermore that he would die; and most of all that he did die.
It is a significant historical fact, those first two words, “Christ died”; yet even more significant is the theological truth that his death was “for us.” Not to belabor the point, but for clarity, the Greek preposition “for” is here translated, “for our sake.” He died because of us. Not just as a martyr or a heroic leader, he died because of our need. Sinners need a Savior.
This Greek word translated as “for” also means “in behalf of.” In other words, by dying for us, Christ provided a vicarious offering on our behalf, of which we were totally incapable of providing for ourselves (Ephesians 1:3-10; 2:8-9).
Additionally, this Greek particle translated as “for” means “instead of.” Christ not only represented sinners on the cross, he actually hung there as their blameless substitute. He died in their place.
It is true, he died. What he suffered, the torturous death he died and the incalculable price he paid we will never comprehend. The enormity of anguish involved in carrying the condemning burden of the sins of humankind from the beginning to the end of time, he knowingly determined to carry. Such is his love for us. Oh, how we should love Jesus this Easter season and always.
Harvey A. Town
Polson
