---

We have learned that sin and death came into the world because of Adam's disobedience. Adam was separated from the life of God. He became a sinner.

Adam passed his sinful nature on to his children and to the whole human race. All men became separated from the life of God. But God had a plan to bring us back to Himself.

Beginning at the time when Adam and Eve sinned, God taught His people that something had to die for sin. The Bible says,

"It is the blood that makes an atonement for the soul." Leviticus 17:11

God taught His people that they must offer a sacrifice for their sins. The Bible says,

"Without the shedding of blood is no remission (no forgiveness of sins)." Hebrews 9:22

In most cases the sacrifice was a lamb. An innocent lamb was killed and then the sacrifice was burned on the altar. What was God teaching His people? He was teaching them this great truth: Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins.

Can the blood of an animal take away our sins? No, it cannot. These sacrifices were simply types or "pictures" of Christ's death on the cross for us. God was teaching His people that one day His Son would come into the world. He would be as pure and innocent as a lamb. He would die on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins.

Jesus is the Lamb of God

For thousands of years, God's people sacrificed the lambs as God had told them to. Then in God's time, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came. He came to do the will of His Father.

It was the will of the Father that Jesus should be "the Lamb of God"— the One who would die for the sins of the world. When John the Baptist saw Jesus, he cried out,

"Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world." John 1:29

When it was time for Jesus to die for our sins, he was betrayed into the hands of His enemies by Judas. He was taken before the religious leaders. When the high priest asked Him if He was the Son of God, Jesus replied, "I am."

Because He claimed to be God, the religious leaders said that He should be put to death. They took Him to Pilate, the Roman governor.

Pilate questioned Jesus but found Him innocent of any wrongdoing. Pilate brought Jesus out to the people and said, "I find no fault in Him at all."

But the religious leaders stirred up the people so that they cried out, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" Though he realized that Jesus was an innocent man, Pilate ordered Jesus to be beaten and crucified.

The Terrible Death of Jesus

Roman soldiers took Jesus' shirt off and tied His hands about a post. Jesus was beaten with a whip made of many leather strips. The soldiers wove bits of sharp metal and bone into the tips of the leather strips so that they would cut into the flesh.

Men mocked Jesus and spit in His face. The soldiers placed a blindfold over His eyes and took turns mocking Him and hitting Him in the face with sticks. A crown of thorns was placed on His head.

Jesus was compelled to carry a heavy cross. When Jesus came to the place called Calvary, he was crucified. His hands and His feet were nailed to the cross.

Two thieves were crucified, one on the right hand of Jesus and the other on His left. These men were very wicked men. They were dying for their sins, but Jesus was dying for our sins.

As Jesus hung on the cross, he could see those men who had beaten Him and mocked Him and nailed His hands and His feet to the cross. He lifted up His eyes and prayed: "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."

In His agony, Jesus cried out: "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"

One of the thieves who was crucified with Jesus believed on Him. He said, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." Jesus turned to this dying man and said,

"Today you will be with Me in paradise." Luke 23:43

This man was saved because he believed on Jesus. The other thief did not believe on Jesus. He was lost forever.

Jesus was crucified about nine o'clock in the morning. He died about three o'clock that afternoon. From noon until three o'clock, there was darkness over all the earth. Just before Jesus died, He cried out, "It is finished!" The Roman soldier who saw Jesus die said,

"Truly this was the Son of God." Matthew 27:54

Why did Jesus have to Die?

Many people do not understand why Jesus died on the cross. They say, "Why couldn't God just forgive us? Why did Jesus have to die?"

The reason God could not just forgive us is that He is the righteous Judge of the universe, and we have broken His laws. He has said,

"The soul that sins, it shall die." (Ezekiel 18:20)

In saving us, God was seemingly faced with a most difficult problem. We have sinned; therefore, we deserve to die. God loves us and wants to save us; yet He cannot be unrighteous. God must uphold His holy laws.

What did God do? He gave His Son to us. God says, "I will give you My Son. He will die on the cross for your sins. You can come to Me through Him."

Because Christ paid the penalty for our sins, God can righteously forgive those who trust Him as Savior. God forgives our sins because He sees the blood of His Son which was shed for them.

Are your Sins Forgiven?

A pastor asked an elderly lady, "Are your sins forgiven?" A wistful look came into her eyes and with an earnest, trembling voice she said, "Sir, I would give all that I possess to know that."

With great joy the pastor pointed her to Jesus, the Lamb of God. He told her that her sins—all her sins—were laid on Him. The Bible says,

"The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity (the sins) of us all." Isaiah 53:6

Friend, what about you? Are your sins forgiven? It may be that there are some sins in your life which you would give anything in the world to blot out. But no regrets, no sorrowful tears, or religious deeds can ever remove sins. God's Word is plain:

"It is the blood that makes an atonement for the soul." Leviticus 17:11

There is but one remedy for sins — the precious blood of Jesus Christ. The Bible says,

"The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from ALL SIN." 1 John 1:7

Jesus is the Perfect Sacrifice

God has provided the perfect sacrifice for us, and He will accept no other sacrifice. He points us to His Son and says, "Behold the Lamb of God who died to take away your sins." The Bible says,

"Surely He has borne OUR griefs, and carried OUR sorrows … He was wounded for OUR transgressions, He was bruised for OUR iniquities (sins): the chastisement of OUR peace was upon Him; and with HIS STRIPES (His wounds) we are healed." Isaiah 53:4-5

Read these verses over and over until you see clearly that the Lord Jesus suffered and died for YOUR sins and that through His death, you can be "healed"—forgiven of your sins.

Read the verses again, putting your name in the blank spaces:

Your sins, however many they may be, are all forgiven the moment you put your trust in Jesus Christ and His blood which was shed for your sins. The Bible says,

"Everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins..." Acts 10:43

---

^top