Lesson 4 – The Price of Our Salvation

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1. HOW DID JESUS PAY FOR OUR SINS?

Luke 22, 23 (a summary): After three years of preaching, Jesus made his final trip to Jerusalem. He entered the city on Sunday where crowds received him enthusiastically. On Thursday he celebrated the Passover with his disciples, and then instituted the Lord’s Supper. That same night he took his disciples to a park called Gethsemane, where he prayed intensely for the strength to face the ordeal that lay ahead. Judas, one of his disciples, then led Jesus’ enemies to the place where he was praying. They arrested him and took him before the Jewish high court. The court found him guilty of death because he called himself God’s Son. Then his enemies beat him, spit at him, and made fun of him.

But before the death sentence could be carried out, the Roman governor had to give his approval. Therefore, Jesus was taken before Pontius Pilate for another trial. Pilate found Jesus innocent of all charges. Yet he was afraid to deny the demands of the Jewish leaders. He tried to satisfy them in other ways, but finally, after Jesus had again been mocked, whipped, and beaten, Pilate let the Jewish leaders have their way. He ordered that Jesus should be crucified.

Jesus was then led away, nailed to a cross, and placed between two thieves to die. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. he hung on the cross, suffering even the agony of hell as he cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” At noon the sky turned dark, and when Jesus died, an earthquake shook the ground. After Jesus was officially declared dead, some of his friends took his body and buried it in a man-made cave.

Jesus suffered shame, pain and injustice. He died on a cross.

2. WHY DID JESUS SUFFER AND DIE?

Isaiah 53:5 — He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Jesus suffered and died because of our sins.

1 Peter 3:18 — For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous.

Jesus died for all our sins.

1 John 2:2 — He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

Jesus’ suffering and death paid for the sins of all people.

3. WHAT DOES JESUS’ DEATH MEAN FOR US?

Romans 5:10 — We were reconciled to him through the death of his Son.

We are no longer separated from God.

Romans 8:1 — Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Those who trust in Christ Jesus are no longer condemned to eternal death.

2 Corinthians 5:21 — God made him [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Jesus’ suffering and death has made us sinless before God.     

SUMMARY: God’s Son came into the world for one main purpose, to suffer and die for our sins. Several times during his ministry, Jesus’ enemies unsuccessfully tried to kill him. But when God’s time came, Jesus went willingly to Jerusalem so that his enemies could take him and crucify him.

Even though they had no evidence against him, Jesus’ enemies produced a guilty verdict, first in their own court, and then in the court of Pontius Pilate, at the same time heaping shame and abuse upon the innocent Son of God. Finally they nailed him to the cross where he suffered intensely until he died.

But Jesus did not suffer and die for his own guilt. He was perfectly free from every sin. Jesus suffered only for our guilt, and for the guilt of our fellow men. The holy Son of God suffered all the agony of hell, that our debt to God might be paid. Therefore, God does not punish us for our sins. Jesus has washed our sins away with his own blood. This is the price of our salvation.

QUICKIE QUIZ (T or F)

  1. ___ Jesus was killed because the Jews hated him.
  2. ___ The Jews were responsible for Jesus’ death.
  3. ___ Jesus really deserved to die.
  4. ___ Jesus paid for the sins of all who believe in him.
  5. ___ Pontius Pilate was the emperor of Rome.
  6. ___ Jesus would have escaped if it hadn’t been for Judas.
  7. ___ “To redeem” means “to buy back”.
  8. ___ Because Jesus was true God, the pain of the cross didn’t bother him.
  9. ___ Jesus could have saved himself by coming down from the cross.
  10. ___ Christians will go to heaven because they believe in Jesus.

WHERE DOES THE BIBLE SAY

  1. that Jesus suffered in our place?

    Isaiah 53:5 — He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

  2. that Jesus died for everyone?

    1 Peter 3:18 — For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous.

  3. that God has declared us sinless?

    2 Corinthians 5:21 — God made him [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

  4. that Jesus has made us friends with God?

    Romans 5:10 — We were reconciled to him through the death of his Son.

  5. that Christians are free from damnation?

    Romans 8:1 — Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

For more information you can watch this lesson presented as a Bible study HERE.  Please click HERE to find the complete series of Bible studies.

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