Our Salvation Finished At The Cross
Do you believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross to save mankind, as the Bible says? In the past, some denied that he actually die on the cross. Today, in a similar spirit of denial, others teach that his death on the cross was inadequate for the atonement of man’s sins. However, we should know specifically what the comprehensive “inspired” Word of God says about the death and atoning blood of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:16-17).
DENIAL OF CHRIST DYING TO SAVE MANKIND
The disciple John, and other chosen disciples of the Lord, warned that many deceivers, denied that Jesus Christ came in the flesh and died for man’s sin. And they had already gone out into the world. Such deceivers were referred to as being of “the spirit of the antichrist.” (1 John 4:3; 2 John:7; Ephesians 6:12).
Early Church Fathers, like Ignatius, Tertullian and Irenaeus, also labeled those “Gnostics,” whom the chosen apostles called “the Antichrist.” The Church Fathers said that in the attempts of antichrist-Gnostics’ to deny the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, they went as far as saying Jesus did not actually die in the flesh on the cross: Antichrist-Gnostics said that what appeared to be Jesus on the cross was really a phantom.*
AFFIRMATION OF JESUS’ DEATH FOR MANKIND’S SINS
Jesus told his disciples, after his death and resurrection, they were his eyewitness of these things. This Included Thomas who doubted until he put his finger in Jesus’ wounds. (Luke 24:44-48; John 20:27-29).
The Lord’s disciple John said Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came in the flesh and died as an atonement for the sins of mankind (1 John 4:2,10).
Peter said: “Christ also suffered for our sins…to bring us to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit” (1 Peter 3:18).
The disciples of Jesus Christ went everywhere preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ crucified and risen by the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8; Acts 8:4).
DENIAL OF THE EFFICACY OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS
Like the early antichrist denial of Jesus’ death on the cross, recent denial of the efficacy of the atoning blood of Jesus on the cross for the sins of mankind is contrary to overall scriptures of the Bible. Some say Jesus had to go to hell to achieve mankind’s salvation. The antichrist spirit of the devil works through many human agents, in seeking to negate or cause doubt about the atoning effect of the death of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Below are some unbiblical statements by popular religious teachers about the inadequacy of the atonement of Jesus Christ’s death on the cross. These unbiblical statements were reported In an article, “Did Jesus Die Spiritual?”, by Matt Slick, President and Founder of Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry:
Joyce Meyer:
“Jesus paid for our sins on the cross and went to hell in our place.”
“Jesus went to hell because that is where we deserved to go…There is no hope of anyone going to heaven unless they believe this truth.”
“He went to hell in our place and gained victory there, triumphing over the enemy.”
Kenneth Copland:
“Not only did Jesus go to hell, He sank to the deepest, darkest part of it to suffer everything that was necessary on our behalf.”
“Had he not gone to hell, we would have to go.”
“Jesus went to hell to free mankind from the penalty of Adam’s treason…when his blood poured out it did not atone.”
Frederick K. Price:
“Do you think that the punishment for our sins was to die on the cross?…No, the punishment was to go into hell itself and to serve time in hell separated from God.”
Kenneth Hagin:
“He tasted spiritual death for every man. He died on the Cross and took our place in spiritual death. His spirit, His inner man, went to hell in our place.”
AFFIRMATION OF THE EFFICACY OF JESUS’ BLOOD
Despite denials, the Bible affirms that Jesus Christ’s death on the cross finished God’s plan of salvation for mankind.
- He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed (Isaiah 53:5).
- Without the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ there is no remission of sin (Hebrews 9:11-22).
- Jesus partook of “flesh and blood” that he might destroy the power of the devil (Hebrews 2:14).
- In offering the cup of wine that represented his blood, Jesus said “this is my blood, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” He said this before going to the cross to die for man’s sins. (Matthew 26:27-28).
- While being crucified, Jesus told a dying criminal, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).
- Having shed his blood on the cross for the salvation of man and at the point of death, Jesus said “it is finished” (John 19:30).
- Having finished God’s plan of salvation, Jesus cried out, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46).
- He [God] purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins (Ephesians 1:7; Romans 5:9)
- At the moment Jesus died on the cross, the curtain in the temple in Jerusalem, representing separation between God and man, was torn from top to bottom (Matthew 27:50-51).
- Because of the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross we are able to “enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus” (Hebrews 10:19).
BELIEVING WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES
Our salvation and the salvation of other people depend on what we believe and teach. We ought to believe and teach what the Bible says about our salvation being finished at the cross. (Hebrews 9:22; John 3:16-18).
*www.earlychristiandictionary.com
Heresies /Gnostics
But in his epistle [1 John 4:3] he especially designates those as “Antichrists” who “denied that Christ was come in the flesh,” and who refused to think that Jesus was the Son of God…Tertullian (A.D. 198) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.3 pg.259
They [the Gnostics] abstain from Eucharist (thanksgiving) and prayer, because they allow not that the Eucharist is the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, which flesh suffered for our sins, and which the Father of His goodness raised up. Ignatius: to the Smyrnaeans (A.D. 35-105) ch.6
On this false principle it was that Marcion actually chose to believe that He was a phantom, denying to Him the reality of a perfect body. Tertullian (A.D. 198) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.3 pg.197
