Across the Pastor’s Desk

By the Rev. Dennis Seiler, Faith Baptist Church

On Sunday many church signs and bulletins will read “Palm Sunday” as congregations focus upon the biblical account of the great throng of people praising the Lord Jesus Christ as he rode into Jerusalem. The incredible welcome seen at His triumphal entry would soon turn to the deafening cries of “crucify Him” and result in His brutal and shameful death upon the cross of Calvary.

Observing this change of public opinion prompts the reader to ask, “What happened?” If care is not exercised, one can reach the faulty conclusion that God’s plan had failed. Scripture declares that, rather than being the collapse of His plan, the events of the passion week of Christ were the successful culmination of His decree. For example, Luke 9:51 states that Jesus deliberately determined to go to Jerusalem for His crucifixion. In his sermon on the day of Pentecost, Peter declared that Jesus was “delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God” (Acts 2:23). In other words, it was the plan of Almighty God for His Son to die upon the cross.

The question that remains is, “Why did Jesus have to die upon the cross?” Through the centuries, volumes have been written in answer to that query. Therefore, this article will not seek to be exhaustive but rather to provide an overview for the reader in hopes of prompting praise from the child of God and pointing the lost to the Savior who died as the substitute for sinners.

Understanding the necessity of the cross begins with an understanding of the universal need of mankind. The common thread which connects all people is the simple fact that they are sinners. Although this fact is not pleasant or popular, it is clearly declared in Scripture. The “all have sinned” of Romans 3:23 is not difficult to comprehend. One should also note carefully that the end of that verse teaches that sin is not a failure to measure up to the standard of fellow men or of some bench mark set by men. Rather, it teaches that sin is coming short of the glory, or holiness, of God. God is the standard and everyone falls short.

One must not end with the recognition that all are sinners. This is but a portion of the biblical message. The truth is that, because of this sin, all deserve to spend eternity in the lake of fire. In his epistle to the believers at Rome, the Apostle Paul pointed out that the consequence of sin is spiritual death. “For the wages of sin is death” (6:23). Putting it simply, wages are what you get for what you do. Thus, eternal punishment is what one gets for sin.

These observations are not at all encouraging, but they are truths which each and every human being must acknowledge. If that were the end of the story it would be one of dismal, hopeless, bad news. However, there is a gospel of good news, tremendous news.

The first aspect of that good news is seen in the provision that God has made for lost sinners. It was not because of any merit in man, but simply because of His mercy and love that God provided for the salvation of man through the death of His Son (Ephesian 2:4; Romans 5:8). In contrast to the claim that is often heard, “Surely a loving God wouldn’t send people to hell,” these verses declare that surely a loving God sent His Son who willingly gave His life for man’s redemption.

The marvel of this good news is also found in God’s plan for man’s participation. Many readers will recall that as Jesus died on the cross, He uttered the words, “It is finished,” thus proclaiming that the work of reconciliation was completed. No work remained to be accomplished in order for men and women to be transferred from the realm of the lost to the family of God. In light of this wonderful provision, the message to the unregenerate sinner is not “do this great work and God will accept you” but is rather “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” (Acts 16:31). Salvation is clearly not the result of human effort of any kind (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5) but by grace through faith alone.

For those who have recognized their sin and their deserved judgment and have then placed their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, the remembrance of His death on the cross is cause for great praise. For those who are trusting in anything else as their means to inherit eternal life, the cross stands as a stern warning of the coming eternal judgment, and, at the same time, as a gracious invitation to be born again. Just prior to His crucifixion Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”