He Died on the Cross
Jesus is also called the
"Christ," which means "the anointed one." God anointed
Jesus to be King, Prophet, and Priest, to rule in the hearts of men, proclaim
the message of salvation, and offer himself as a sacrifice for mankind.
Jesus' mission was to save
humanity from sin. In order to do that, he died in our place. He was sentenced
to be crucified to die a slow and painful death. Though he had the power to
destroy the whole world, he willingly laid down his life. On the cross, he became
a sinner, bearing the sin of the whole world and suffering God's rejection.
Though we deserve to be punished, the Lord Jesus took up our punishment.
Because he, the righteous, died for the ungodly, whoever believes in Jesus
today may have eternal life. He is the bridge by which we may reach the shores
of Heaven. He is the Savior of the world. Through faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ, we can receive eternal life and escape the fires of hell.
The story of Jesus on the cross is
the greatest story of love. It is the story of the Creator dying for his
creatures. "God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners
Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). From kings to slaves, from the educated
to the illiterate, from the old to the young, from developed countries to
primitive tribes, this true story of love has been told over and over again,
and it is still being told today.
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