These two historical events are at the centre of the Christian faith.
They were predicted by Old Testament writers and by Christ himself. [see Isaiah 53 and Mark 8:31-32]
What moved God the Father to send Christ?
God in love was pleased to send him.
Why was Christ's death necessary?
1) God hates sin.
2) God said that sin leads to death.
3) The Bible, by the sacrificial system it describes, and directly, tells us that death is necessary for sin to be forgiven.
Hebrews 9:22 [See also Leviticus 1 and 16]
What did Christ's death on the cross achieve?
1) Propitiation
Christ's sacrificial death turned God's wrath away from those for whom he died. 'Whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in his blood.' (NASV)
[See also 1 John 2:2; 1 John 4:10]
2) Substitution
Jesus was a substitutionary atonement. He died in the place of sinners in order to bring them to God. At-one-ment ( to make God and men one, i.e. to mend their relationship.
The O.T. illustration: see Leviticus 1:4 ( an animal died in the place of a sinner. Isaiah 53:6. The O.T. predicted that the sinner's sins would be laid on Christ.
In the N.T. the idea is found in John 1:29; 1 Peter 2:24 [Hebrews 9:28].
3) Reconciliation
The rebellious sinner is reconciled to God who is angry with him. Friendship is restored by the death of Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:18-21[Ephesians 2:16; Romans 5:6-11]
4) Redemption
A redeemer is someone who pays the ransom price to release someone held in bondage. Jesus said he had come to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45 [Ephesians 1:7; Romans 3:24]
A price was paid to set the person free [Romans 8:1-3 Galatians 4:4 Galatians 3:13]. Does he fail? Will God demand the price twice?
Why was Christ's death acceptable for sinners?
a) Christ is God the Son. He is the sinless, perfect high priest and therefore the perfect mediator.
b) He kept the law.
c) He paid for the sinner who broke the law.
d) He merited eternal life for the sinner.
What did he accomplish?
He accomplished the salvation of those for whom he died. He paid the ransom price and they cannot be expected to pay again. His death is presented in the Bible in terms which show its effectiveness, e.g. substitution and redemption.
At home look up:
Look up too the specific groups Christ is said to die for:
How would you explain 1 John 2:1-2; John 3:16 and 2 Corinthians 5:14-21?
Christ's resurrection
Jesus died, his body was buried in the tomb and the same body rose from the dead and walked out of the tomb. It was a physical body which was continuous with the old but different.
Notice the nature of historical evidence and the reasoning in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8:
1) Scripture
2) Fact
3) Witnesses
4) Personal experience
What is the significance of this event?
1) It declares to us that Christ is who he claimed to be and has achieved what he came to do.
2) The death-resurrection sequence symbolises what happens to the Christian in union with Christ.
3) The Resurrection assures Christians that one day we will have a resurrected body like Christ and so it fills them with hope.