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Christ died to Save Sinners

The apostle Paul provides us with a simple and forthright statement about why Christ came into the world: “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1Timothy 1:15 ESV italics added). This is not new to most people. The truth be told, the reason Christ came into the world is widely known. Nevertheless, it bears repeating: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”

What does the Bible teach?

Here is a brief overview of the Bible’s explanation about Christ’s efforts to save sinners. I added emphasis throughout.

1. Christ’s efforts is evidence of the love of God for all people—every one of us.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him (John 3:16-17 ESV).

2. Christ died for us while were were sinners.

“...but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 ESV).

3. Christ was a made substitute for us by God.

He is the propitiation [substitute] for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world...In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation [substitute] for our sins (1 John 2:2; 1 John 4:10 ESV).

4. Christ suffered on our behalf.

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV).

He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our grief and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed (Isaiah 53:3-5 ESV).

Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand (Isaiah 53:10 ESV).

5. Christ is the only acceptable mediator between God and people.

“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5 ESV).

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12 ESV).

To put it bluntly, Christ came into the world to pay the penalty of sin for us, on our behalf, in order that we might receive forgiveness of our sins. Christ willingly stood in our place and accepted the penalty for us. This message of the gospel is preached to all so that everyone may have the opportunity to be saved.

To conclude this discussion, I invite you to listen to a short video explaining our need for a savior.