What Crime Did Jesus Commit? Series

And, as we learned last week, ultimately, it was God the Father who killed His Son, Jesus. Acts 2:23 clearly says that Jesus was “delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God.” Jesus did not die by mistake. Yes, our sins made Jesus’ death necessary. But God brought it to pass. So in God’s sending Jesus to receive His wrath so we could receive eternal life, sinners are saved from God, by God.

Jim Caviezal, when asked if the film is anti-Jewish in an interview, said, “Our faith is grounded in our Jewish tradition. We believe we’re from the House of David. We believe we’re from the House of Abraham, so we cannot hate our own. That crowd standing before Pontius Pilate screaming for the head of Christ in no way convicts an entire race for the death of Jesus Christ any more than the actions of Mussolini condemn all Italians, or the heinous actions of Stalin condemn all Russians. We’re all culpable in the death of Christ. My sins put him up there. Yours did. That’s what this story is about.”

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!

Romans 5:8-9 (NIV)

Now we’re moving from the reasons for Jesus’ death to the purpose for His death. It helps to move from the gospels to the epistles to learn more about the purpose.

Last week, we read a verse about Jesus death and saw the word “propitiation.” This week’s word is “justified.” Did you see it? Jesus’ death accomplished justification for all who believe.

Justification: Pronouncing (declaring) a person guiltless and righteous

We must understand that we are guilty.

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 3:23 (ESV)

Usually, we’ll admit that. “Yeah, I’ve sinned.” But we don’t think it’s that bad. In fact, we think we’re really pretty good all things considered. We overestimate our own performance and underestimate God’s expectations. We think God owes us His forgiveness. But we ought not to think “how could God be a good God if He did not forgive?” but “how could God be a good God if He did forgive?” He’s a judge and a judge must punish sin. No amount of good that we do can atone for our sins or earn us a place in Heaven. And if we die without receiving the benefits of Jesus’ death, the wrath of God will fall on us forever.

The death of Jesus was unique because His life was unique. Since Jesus never sinned – never committed a crime – He never had to die; rather He chose to die. And because Jesus never broke the law of God, He could die as a substitute in the place of lawbreakers.

Without Jesus paying the price to cover our sin, there would be nothing standing between us and the eternal agonizing damnation that we rightly have earned as fallen sinners:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men ...

Romans 1:18

Someone had to pay that enormous price for our offense against God. Either us, or Jesus. So, the passage in Romans 3 continues: