Expert: Todd Tyszka - 4/6/2009

Question
I believe that Christ died on the cross for our sins because the Bible says it. I don't, however, know that I understand it. I understand that by accepting Christ as my savior and asking forgiveness for my many sins past, present and future that I may be accepted into the kingdom of heaven. What part in this does the crucifixion play?

Answer
Jesse, great question! The crucifixion is CENTRAL as it is precisely what allows us to have a relationship with our perfectly holy and pure Creator. What specifically do you have a hard time understanding? Many people have a hard time understanding why. It's hard to understand why He decided to do it the way He did (couldn't He have done things different?) but understanding that "there is no greater love than to lay down your life" as the Bible states, the crucifixion, as terrible as it was, was a way for us who are all infected with sin to be able to have the Holy Spirit live in us, and upon death go to be in the presence of God. Why does someone or something have to die for sin to be forgiven? Sin is serious and God is perfectly holy and can't be in the presence of sin. In the Old Testament, people would have to kill animals if they committed certain sins, and the whole family (including the children) would need to lay their hands on their animals when they were slaughtered. This was definitely traumatic but God required this so the family would understand how serious sin is. This ended when Jesus Christ became a final perfect sacrifice. This is explained in the book of Hebrews. God is only trying to protect us when he tells us not to sin. He just wants us to do the right thing so we can be blessed.

I hope this helps and if you have any other questions, please let me know.

Todd Tyszka