What Happened At The Cross?

Was Jesus Christ our “substitute”. Theologians believe so and sometimes refer to it as “vicarious atonement”. The doctrine can be summarize as follows: Jesus “paid the price” for our sins by dying on the cross. 

Of course this is not true since both believers and unbelievers all suffer and die eventually. NOTE the catch phrases “paid the price”. You hear that all the time in church. Think about it.  If Jesus paid the price for our sin and the wages of sin is death, then we should not die.  Or if the horrible doctrine of eternal conscious punishment was the price for sin then Jesus would have to be eternally punished to "pay the price".  Of course neither is true. Man dies and no one is eternally punished.

Romans 6:23 clearly says that...

"the wages of sin is death”

And 2 Timothy 2:11 clearly tells us that we must die in order to live...

“if we be dead with Him shall we live with Him.”

So what did Jesus actually DO at the cross? First what he did NOT do:

He did NOT take our place so that we should never have to take it.  It is still our place to suffer and die. 1 Peter 4:13 tells us to rejoice that we suffer as Christ suffered...

“rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed” 

And Hebrews 9:27 tells us that all die...

“it is appointed unto men once to die, and AFTER that the judgment”. 

The word “judgment” simply means the decision of what to do with us after we die. That decision has been reserved by God our Judge. And God’s judgment (decision) is to give the dead eternal life as a free gift...

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us…For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 5:8; 6:23)

Theologians have got the Church so screwed up in its man made doctrine that it is almost impossible for most people to learn and accept the TRUTH.

Christ Jesus became a man in the incarnation where he JOINED Himself to mankind, to bear the curse of suffering and death WITH us. Mankind is to be delivered OUT of death by the resurrection. Our death satisfies the penalty for sin.  

Again, God has promised SINNERS the "free gift" of eternal life. This promised new and abundant life is demonstrated for us in the resurrection of Christ Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, the first fruits, who has promised to return and resurrect all mankind.

The doctrine of “substitution” denies the union of Christ Jesus with mankind. He is not our “substitute”, he is the “SAVIOR” of all who die as the "wages of sin".

We should open our eyes that they might see and give God the glory for the wonderful promise of the reconciliation and salvation of ALL sinners. Then tell people about it because that is the gospel and it is our "ministry".

"God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself...and has given us the ministry of reconciliation...For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in him (Jesus), and through him to reconcile ALL things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet he has now reconciled you in his fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him (God) holy and blameless and beyond reproach.” (2 Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 1:19-22)