Why%20did%20Jesus%20have%20to%20die%20on%20a%20cross?

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Why did Jesus have to die on a cross?
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Political Reasons
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The Jewish Charge

• Turning the people astray (Deut. 13)
• Counter-Temple actions
• Revolutionary potential, evoking wrath of Rome

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The Roman Charge

• Sedition against Rome? Jesus was not guilty and
  both the Jewish leaders and Pilate knew it.
• Pilate put power, peace, and self-interest before
  justice
• King of the Jews is meant as a mockery

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Theological Reasons
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Classic Theories of Atonement

• Ransom Theory - Jesus death as a ransom paid to
  Satan. Satan tricked by resurrection
• Satisfaction Theory - Jesus death appeases God
  via ritual sacrifice
• Moral Influence Theory - Jesus death as an
  metaphorical example of sacrifice

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Classic Theories of Atonement

• Penal Substitution Theory - Gods mercy replaces
  Gods wrath after the sacrifice of Jesus
• Christus Victor Theory - Jesus willingly goes to
  the cross to take human sin and evil upon himself

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For I handed on to you as of first importance
what I in turn had received that Christ died for
our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and
that he was raised on the third day in accordance
with the scriptures.
1 Corinthians 153-4
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New Earth
Eden
New Covenant (Jesus) Davidic Covenant Mosaic
Covenant Abrahamic Covenant Noahic Covenant
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The Messiahs Mission

• Establish the true return from exile
• The defeat of evil
• The return of YHWH to Zion (Temple)

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The Temple ActionMark 1115-18

• Proclaims Gods judgment on the Temple
• Suspension of the sacrificial system
• New Temple, new covenant

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The SupperMark 1422-25

• Passover - the new exodus, the end of exile
• Forgiveness of sins
• An action, not a theory
• A new ritual for a new Temple, a new creation

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The Crucifixion

• Jesus as Israels representative and Gods
  representative
• The Cross - an icon of evil and empire
• Jesus - the Suffering Servant who rescues his
  people from evil (Is. 53)
• The New Temple - sacrifice completed once for all

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The Resurrection

• The vindication of Jesus
• The defeat of death
• The new creation
• A new community

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How we participateBaptism

• Dying and being raised with Christ
• Forgiveness of sins
• Identity as people of the new creation
• Adoption into stream of salvation history
• No division between Jews and Gentiles

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How we participateHoly Communion

• Re-membrance, Re-embodiment
• Exodus from exile of sin and death
• Kingdom meal, new creation

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I have been crucified with Christ and it is no
longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in
me. And the life I now live by faith in the Son
of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 219-20
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The call of the gospel is for the church to
implement the victory of God in the world through
suffering love. The cross is not just an example
to be followed it is an achievement to be worked
out, put into practice.N.T. Wright