Man does not like unaswered questions. If truthful and reasonable answers are not clearly evident, then philosophical theories must be invented to explain the unexplainable. Can we know all of the bases and reasons for the death of Jesus? The answer to that is decidedly, no! Isaiah 55:8-9 says that God’s thoughts are higher than ours. All of His motives and reasons are not open to us; we know only that part of the mind of God that He reveals to us, I Corinthians 2:10-13. Theology has struck out into the void of philosophy, attempting to construct answers that are not revealed to us in Scripture. Strangely enough, even theologians will admit this. Speaking in the context of the book of Hebrews, George Barker Stevens says,

    "The problems concerning the atonement are: What is the necessity in the nature of God in his relation to sinful man of the death of Christ? and: How does the death of Christ meet the demands arising out of that necessity? An answer to these questions will be sought in vain in our epistle. Not that they are formally answered anywhere in the New Testament: but the apostle Paul clearly shows (Rom. iii.24-26) that he had pondered them, and his epistles contain suggestions of a theoretical view of atonement. On the contrary, our author, while giving expression to highly suggestive views of the spiritual and eternal significance of Christ’s atoning work, betrays no philosophy of the subject. Of the motive of God which renders atonement necessary, or the way in which it procures or conditions the bestowment of forgiveness, he says nothing." The Theology of the New Testament, page 513.

    Oliver Buswell said it mildly but well as follows:

    "There is indeed an inadequacy to any theory of the atonement which our finite minds could understand. There are incompletenesses and even inconsistencies in nearly all the historical modes in which Bible-believing teachers have sought to present the doctrine." A Systematic Theology of the Christian RelIgion, vol. 2, page 73.

    Several authors of theological works admit, as we have seen, that there was no "systematic theory" concerning the death of Christ until the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, no "theoretical view," no "philosophy of the subject" presented by any Bible writer. So, the poor people of the first few centuries had to limp along with an inadequate understanding of the central fact of the Bible? No, they didn’t! They had all information necessary, all that God wanted them to know, II Timothy 3:16-17. It was sufficient to completely furnish us to every good work. What was revealed was sufficient to produce the necessary belief that, John 20:30-31. Everything necessary that pertains to life, godliness and how to escape corruption has been revealed to us, II Peter 1:3-4. The writers of the Bible stated the simple facts surrounding His death along with instruction about our proper response to what is said. We should leave matters where inspired men placed them!

    So, what can we know for certain from the scriptures about the death of Christ? We will not be able to completely cover such subjects in a short article, but we can examine them sufficiently. We can classify our reply under the general heading of Jesus’ being the bridge between man and God.

    The most important and underlying fact of this subject is that Jesus was God come in the flesh, John 1:1-3, 14. The Divine spirit was fused with human flesh. He lived as we live and died as we die, by the separation of the spirit from the body. In becoming flesh, He was made like us in order to become our High Priest, Hebrews 4:14-5:6. The likeness of the priesthood of Jesus to that of the Levitical priests emphasizes Jesus as the bridge between man and God. Hebrews 5:1-6 says that a priest must be specifically appointed to the task, being taken from among men and appointed on man’s behalf in things pertaining to God. His priesthood is involved with every facet of what He did for our eternal welfare.

    "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having a great priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith," Hebrews 10:19-22

    "...which we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and stedfast and entering into that which is within the veil; whither as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek," Hebrews 6:19-20.

    It is simply stated by Jesus Himself, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one cometh unto the Father, but by me," John 14:6. Numerous passages speak of things done "through him," or "through whom," such as the creation of the world, John 1:3, Hebrews 1:1. Colossians 1:14-23 shows that not only was the world created "in him" and "through him" but that we are reconciled to God "in him" and "through him." But, notice also that it is with conditions that we are reconciled and remain so! We must be in the faith and continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast. Jesus certainly didn’t take our place in obedience to God as the substitution theory says; if He had, there would be nothing for us to do.

    The word "intercession" also describes what Jesus did on our behalf. It means to approach another with a petition. Romans 8:34 says,

    "It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather, that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us."

    It is in the light of an intercessor, and another term that describes intercession, advocate, that Jesus was a mediator. In the sense of its use in I John 2:1-3, it literally means one who pleads the cause of another:

    "My little children, these things write I unto you that ye may not sin. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world."

    Jesus is the one through whom we have an appeal to the Father for forgiveness and blessings. Ephesians 2:16 says that "through him we both have our access in one Spirit unto the Father." Hebrews 7:25 says, "he is able to save to the uttermost them that draw near unto God through him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." Hebrews 13:15 says, "Through him, then let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips which make confession to his name."

(1) Jesus broke down the barrier between man and God. Because of sin, man had alienated himself from God. Colossians 1:21-23 says man was alienated from God in his own mind by his wicked works. We know about this by our own interpersonal experiences. When we do something against another we don’t even want to face them on the street, just like Adam and Eve hid from God because they knew they had disobeyed God. Man had become the enemy of God, not God the enemy of man. How was this barrier to be taken down? God could have just destroyed man as He did in the flood, or visited physical punishment on man as he did several peoples through history, including Israel. However, that was not how God felt in regard to man whom He had made.

    As Christians, we are to love our enemies, pray for them, do good to those who abuse us, feed them if they are hungry, give them to drink when thirsty and above all do not retaliate against them in kind. By doing this we "heap coals of fire on their head." We are to be holy as God is holy and thus we have a divine example in God of what that means.

    God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, John 3:16. Greater love has no man than this than he lay down his life for his friends, John 15:13. Jesus manifested how great was the love of God for mankind. Extended to man, it was aimed to break down the barrier. Ephesians 5:2 says,

    "Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell."

    "But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us," Romans 5:8.

    "...but God, being rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ," Ephesians 2:4-5.

    "For we also once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Saviour, and his love toward man, appeared, not by works done in righteousness, which we did our selves, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, which he poured out upon us richly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour," Titus 3:3-6.

    "Herein was the love of God manifested in us, that God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him., Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so love us, we also ought to love one another," I John 4:9-11.

    "Reconciliation" describes the process. It is changing from being an enemy to being a friend, resulting in peace. Reconciliation and the peace that follows was not accomplished by substitution. Even the avowed Calvinist, Leon Morris, acknowledges this, though he afterward proceeds to bring in substitution through a back door:

    "Throughout this discussion substitution has been very much in the background, for the very good reason that reconciliation has in itself no very close connection with substitution. Reconciliation has to do with the bringing about of harmonious relations where these did not exist before, and the metaphor directs attention to an estrangement and to the overcoming of that estrangement. The metaphor in itself is concerned only with these things." The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross, page 223.

    Paul describes what God did, and still does, to bring this about. II Corinthians 5:18-20 says,

    "But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses, and having committed unto us the word of reconciliation. We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God."

    God has made every effort to bring about friendly relations with man. We must keep in mind that God had not made Himself an enemy of man, but to the contrary:

    "For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life; and not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation," Romans 5:10-11.

    Paul says in I Corinthians 15:1-4 that when he preached the gospel, that by which they were saved and wherein they stood, he preached the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. The gospel message of God’s love in the death of Christ had to first be proclaimed. This affects the sinner’s "mind" and turns it in God’s direction. But, all that God has done has no power without the proper response on man’s part. Yes, with all that God did in the death of Jesus as a manifestation of the love of God, He still requires our obedience to His will to have the benefits of that love. Jesus is the "author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him," Hebrews 5:9. Eternal vengeance is pronounced on all that obey not the gospel of Jesus, II Thessalonians 1:8. Our souls are purified in obedience to the truth, I Peter 1:22. Note these passages:

    "But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered; and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness." Romans 6:17-18.

    "And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoso keepeth his word, in him verily hath the love of God been perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him." I John 2:3-5.

    Our personal faith depends on hearing the Faith, Romans 10:17, and all is necessary for reconciliation and peace. This is why Romans 5:1 says that by being "justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Our spiritual purification, freedom from sin, escape from eternal torment, depends on our proper response to the gospel message. But there’s more to be said. From the point of view of reconciliation with God, we must obey the truth to have that reconciliation and keep it. Notice this in Colossians 1:19-23,

    "For it was the good pleasure of the Father that in him should all the fulness dwell; and through him to reconcile all things unto himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, I say, whether things upon the earth, or things in the heavens. And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreprovable before him: if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven..."

    Everything is wrapped up in one package, the purpose and intent of the plan of God, the blood of Christ, His being the mediator, bridge, between man and God, the reconciliation that comes through what Jesus did. Yet, notice that one must be in the faith and continue in the faith or none of what Jesus did can be effective for that person. Notice it again in Ephesians 2:14-18 -

    "For he is our peace, who made both one, and brake down the middle wall of partition, having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; that he might create in himself of the two one new man, so making peace; and might reconcile them both in one body unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: and he came and preached peace to you that were far off, and peace to them that were nigh: for through him we both have our access in one Spirit unto the Father."

    All of the elements are present - enmity against God, alienation from God, division between Jew and Gentile, taking away of the Old Covenant, making provision for remission of sins so that peace could result. God removed everything that stood in the way of bringing peace, though the message of reconciliation has to be preached and man must respond to that message for reconciliation to take place. Please notice again II Corinthians 5:18-20 and Colossians 1:21-23.

(2) Jesus brought the end of the Law. The Law of Moses was temporary. It served its purpose for Israel but was unsuited for all mankind. Jesus was the mediator of a New Testament, based on better promises, Hebrews 8;6. We have seen in Ephesians 2:14-16 that Jesus is our peace who abolished the Law in order to accomplish peace. Colossians 2:13-14 says,

    "And you, being dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, you, I say, did he make alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses; having blotted out the bond written in ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us: and he hath taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross."

    The Old Law stood in the way of complete forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God. Its removal not only allowed peace between man and God but also between Jew and Gentile. Jesus did that.

(3) Jesus made God "personal." Hebrews 2:18 says,

    "For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted."

    Some have supposed that this means that God did not understand what man goes through until He came as Jesus. Thus the coming of Jesus was to make man more understandable to God. And, to do this required that Jesus be stripped of all powers, characteristics and abilities of God in order to experience the human condition. No! Through Jesus, God is more understandable to man. God was perfectly aware of what man was like and what man goes through.

    The fact of God’s "humanity" was clearly shown in Jesus of Nazareth. God came in the flesh, functioned on a human level while being God at the same time. Though we see the humanity of God, it is not a humanity like the Greek gods who were modeled after sinful man’s image. We are made in God’s image, not He in ours. Jesus is the image of the invisible God, Colossians 1:15, II Corinthians 4:4, and the express image of the person of God, Hebrews 1:3. Thus, Jesus said in John 14:7-9,

    "If ye had known me, ye would have known my Father also: from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip said unto him, Lord show us the Father, and it is sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and dost thou not know me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; how sayest thou, Show us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?"

    Others could only see a man, John 10:33. But, the truth was there for all to see, if they had a mind to see. Isaiah 9:6 encapsulates the God/man. From his birth into this world to His being the mighty God, He is identified with both the Father and humanity. Jesus thus made God more understandable to man.

(4) Jesus came to destroy the works of the Devil. The Devil is a real person, with all the characteristics of an independent, intelligent spirit. Though powerful, Satan is not God as our creator is God. Michael, the archangel, though he contended and disputed with the Devil, did not "bring against him a railing judgment," Jude 9.

    The devil appeared on the scene soon after the creation. We see his mental quickness and deception with Adam and Eve, in regard to Job and in the testing of Jesus. He is the epitome of sin, the "father" of deceit, lies, murder, and every other wickedness in the world, John 8:44, I John 3:11-12, Acts 13:10, II Thessalonians 2:9-10. John said, "the whole world lieth in the evil one," I John 5:19.

    John said that Jesus was manifest to destroy the works of the devil. Satan’s downfall would be swift and final, Luke 10:18. Satan and his angels will ultimately be cast into the lake of fire, the second death. But, there is more to Jesus’ destroying the works of the devil than Satan’s final end in the lake of fire. There are at least three ways He did this.

    First, Jesus demonstrated His superiority and power over Satan while He was here. His rejection of the testing of Satan in the wilderness is an instance of this, Matthew 4:1-11; Satan did not touch Him, John 14:30. Peter said that Jesus healed "all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him," Acts 10:38. The disciples said to Jesus, "even the demons are subject unto us in thy name," Luke 9:1, 10:17-19.

    Second, Hebrews 2:14-15 says,

    "Since then the children are sharers in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same; that through death he might bring to nought him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and might deliver all them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."

    Two kinds of death are referred to in these verses. Satan has an effect, through sin, only on spiritual death. By the death of Jesus, the power of sin was diminished. Jesus took away Satan’s greatest weapon by setting man free from slavery to sin. There is no need for true disciples to fear dying, I Thessalonians 4:13.

    Third, by providing for the remission of sins, Jesus set man from its dominion. John said that whoever sins is of the devil, I John 3:8, and sin shall not have dominion over His people, Romans 6:14. Jesus said,

    "I say unto you, Every one that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin. And the bondservant abideth not in the house for ever: the son abideth for ever. If therefore the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."

    Romans 8:2 says the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus "made me free from the law of sin and of death." Here is the bondage to sin from which we are set free. Jesus told Saul of Tarsus that he was to be sent to the Gentiles,

    "....to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in me," Acts 26:18.

    Though Jesus destroyed the works of the devil, we still have our part to do in applying that effort to ourselves, Romans 6:16-18, I Corinthians 10:12-13. Romans 6:12-14 says,

    "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof: neither present you members unto sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves unto God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under law, but under grace."

    The Lord provides us with all necessary tools to do this. Ephesians 6:10-18 says,

    "Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities and powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God: with all prayer and supplication, praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints ..."

    The Lord provided all these things for our good, and by them nullifying the works of the devil. The only way that any of these goals could be reached was for God to come in the flesh and die on our behalf. There are still many questions we would like answered. But, we will have to wait and ask the Lord directly when we see Him in eternity. For the meantime, let’s stay with what we can prove from scripture and leave human philosophy alone.