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Easter - Searching for the Truth
"Passion: Why Jesus Died" 
Pastor Rob Carlson
Sunday, March 13, 2005

Jesus’ death was no accident. He was born to die!

pas•sion, n. suffering, being acted upon, to suffer; the sufferings of Christ between the night of the Last Supper and his death.

I John 4:10--This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. (see also Phil. 2:5-11)

3 Reasons Christ Died on the Cross

1. TO BRING US INTO A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

Col. 1:19-20—For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

2 Cor. 5:18—All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself thorugh Christ… 

- Our sin had separated us from God.

-With Christ’s death and Resurrection, we can now enjoy peace with God.

Ephesians 2:8,9—For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.

2. TO FORGIVE US OF OUR SINS AND THE GUILT THAT ACCOMPANIED THEM. 

- In the Hebrew Scriptures, the shed blood of animals was symbolic of the forgiveness of sins.

Heb. 9:22--…without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Lev. 17:11—For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life. 

AT-ONE-MENT

see also John 8:1-11

-Jesus came to die as a once and for all sacrifice to forgive us of our sins and free us from its guilt. 

Acts. 13:39—Through Him everyone who believes is justified…
 
Justification includes: Forgiveness, Righteousness

3. TO SATISFY THE RADICAL REQUIREMENT OF THE HOLINESS OF GOD. 

- God wants you to be holy. 

Lev. 11:44—I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. 

- God’s holiness made a penalty for sin necessary.

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.

I Peter 3:18—For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.

(see also Rom. 3:23, Rom. 6:23, Jer. 31:30, Ez. 18:4,20)

-Because of love, Jesus paid that penalty by experiencing God’s wrath and separation from Him on the cross. 

Rom. 5:9,10—Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

-He was forsaken of God so we don’t have to be.

Matt. 27:46—About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? –which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

I Thessalonians 5:10(NLT)--Christ died for us so that we can live with him forever…

Romans 3:22--This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.

Small Group Discussion Questions

1. Why did Jesus have to die? How would you explain this to a spiritual seeker?

2. Review the points and Bible verses from this lesson. 
What personal application can you make from this week's teaching? 

3. Reflect on Christ’s Passion: Discuss the events of His suffering between the Last Supper and Resurrection.

4. Take some time right now to pray for the needs of those in your small group.

*Scripture is quoted from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.
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