5 Reasons Why Jesus was the Perfect Sacrifice (Part 1 of 3)
John 15:13 says, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Christ's death was the ultimate example of sacrificial love. Jesus made that perfect sacrifice for us, but is it true that He was the best and only qualifying sacrifice? If so, how can we be sure of this?
The Jewish people say that Christ's death on the cross did not follow Jewish law. If true, He couldn't be the Messiah the Jews await. Here are five reasons why Christians believe that "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit" (1 Peter 3:18).
1. The Law Had to Be Followed
After the Exodus, God made laws requiring the Israelites to sacrifice for their sins. One scholar wrote that they were able to "maintain a covenant relationship with Him" through these means. To show how important God's holiness is and how serious our sins against Him are, blood would have to be shed. The Old Testament book of Leviticus lists the different kinds of offerings that "were temporary and needed to be repeated often."
The Israelites kept making sacrifices, but they also kept sinning and turning away from God. They didn't follow through on their part of the agreement that was spelled out in Leviticus 26: The Lord said, " And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be My people." (v.12). If they didn't walk with God, God said, "I will set my face against you" (v.17).
The Israelites' religious observance was powerless to save them, even when they fulfilled their sacrificial duties, because their hearts were not focused on God. When they followed the law, it was often because they thought it would make them righteous, not because they loved God and their neighbors. Jesus all but scolded the Pharisees when He said, "For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers." (Matthew 23:4). They knew the rules, but not the heart of God. The result was religion without love.
When Christ came to earth, He taught the Israelites how to love and obey God. He prayed and asked God the Father what He wanted. John 6:38 says, "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me." He never did anything contrary to the Father's will, and His life showed the Israelites that the reward for following the law and living a righteous life is loving obedience to the Lord.
The Jewish people say that Christ's death on the cross did not follow Jewish law. If true, He couldn't be the Messiah the Jews await. Here are five reasons why Christians believe that "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit" (1 Peter 3:18).
1. The Law Had to Be Followed
After the Exodus, God made laws requiring the Israelites to sacrifice for their sins. One scholar wrote that they were able to "maintain a covenant relationship with Him" through these means. To show how important God's holiness is and how serious our sins against Him are, blood would have to be shed. The Old Testament book of Leviticus lists the different kinds of offerings that "were temporary and needed to be repeated often."
The Israelites kept making sacrifices, but they also kept sinning and turning away from God. They didn't follow through on their part of the agreement that was spelled out in Leviticus 26: The Lord said, " And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be My people." (v.12). If they didn't walk with God, God said, "I will set my face against you" (v.17).
The Israelites' religious observance was powerless to save them, even when they fulfilled their sacrificial duties, because their hearts were not focused on God. When they followed the law, it was often because they thought it would make them righteous, not because they loved God and their neighbors. Jesus all but scolded the Pharisees when He said, "For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers." (Matthew 23:4). They knew the rules, but not the heart of God. The result was religion without love.
When Christ came to earth, He taught the Israelites how to love and obey God. He prayed and asked God the Father what He wanted. John 6:38 says, "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me." He never did anything contrary to the Father's will, and His life showed the Israelites that the reward for following the law and living a righteous life is loving obedience to the Lord.