People often wrestle with the idea of God sending His Son Jesus to live on earth and die for sin. If God is all powerful, why would God choose this method for “saving” people? Why not “just forgive” people? Or why not do it another way? Why Jesus?

The Bible offers a simple answer to these difficult questions: Jesus’ coming and dying provided the ONLY sufficient solution to an infinite problem. Thus far I introduced two important aspects of God’s nature and the obstacle created by man’s sin. Last time I explained that in this world three realities are colliding: God’s perfection, man’s imperfection, and God’s love. This collision brings God to the point of finding a way to satisfy His perfection and love in the face of man’s sin.

His solution satisfies four necessary requirements.

1.      The need for a sacrifice. The right or just punishment for sin is death. Every person who sins deserves to die. In order for God to uphold His perfection He must punish all sin with death. Again, if He were to overlook sin, His perfection dissipates and He forfeits His “God-ness.” Because of a person’s sin (or his inability to live in faith and obedience to God) he earns death. Therefore, for a person to live God allowed something to die in his place: a sacrifice.

God revealed this truth in the Old Testament through a sacrificial system that used animals. While animals cannot pay the debt incurred by man’s sin, God allowed men to use the system as a way to recognize their sin and foreshadow a better sacrifice that was coming. There is much more to say here, but for now understand: the only way for man to avoid the death he deserves is for someone to die in his place.

2.      The need for a human sacrifice. To satisfy God’s perfection the sacrifice had to be an equal trade. While the Old Testament animal system was symbolic; it could not be effective. An animal cannot pay for the sin of a person. The trade must be even. And this issue is no matter of “fairness” to people. This issue rests on the perfection of God. His perfection has been offended and the right or just reaction is to require the life of the offender.

Two down… two more to come.