Question:

My question is simple. Why did God send Jesus to us? I don’t want the most simple answer which would be to bring salvation to those who choose to have faith in Jesus.  I would like to understand the deeper meaning.  Should the answer begin in first understanding Romans 3:23-25? Specifically “in forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed.”? Is it important to grasp this?  Furthermore, to continue to unpack this mystery, isn’t it imperative to clearly understand God primary attributes of  holiness and righteousness?   If Jesus isn’t a “propitiation” for all “these passed over sins” then God would basically be nullifying his holiness and righteousness by in effect not having anyone pay for the sins of mankind.  Is that why Jesus was crushed and it pleased the Father (Isaiah 53:10)? Because by doing so it kept intact Gods holiness and righteousness?  Mr Oakes I have read some commentaries from some “popular Christian pastors” but can’t seem to find an in depth understanding from anyone in my church movement. Why God couldn’t just give a pass to eternity to sinners?

Answer:

I am not sure exactly what you are looking for.  I am sure that there are dozens of ways we can describe the reason that God sent Jesus.  I like this one:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in his should not perish but gain eternal life.”  I am not sure I can improve on this summary of why Jesus came.

Or how about this one:  “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only son, who came from the Father full of grace and truth.”  In other words, Jesus came so that the truth would be fully realized by those of us willing to receive him, and also to bring salvation and forgiveness of sins.  John 18:37 agrees with this.

I also like this one:   “I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full.”

Another good expression of why Jesus came is in Luke 19:10  “For the Son of man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

Now that I have gotten started, let me add one more from Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim freedom to the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, the release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”  I like this one because it is the answer Jesus gave in his first public sermon.

I believe the reason that Jesus had to come is that if he had not, none of the things described above would have happened. If Jesus had not come, then we would not have had life, and life to the full.  If Jesus had not come, then we would not have known the truth.  If Jesus had not come, then we would not have experienced God’s favor.  If Jesus had not come, then we would have remained lost—separated from God due to our sins.

By the way, I think that your own personal use of Romans 3:23-25 is a great summary as well.  To me, Romans 3:21-26 is the single most comprehensive description of the gospel we have.  Jesus came so that, at the same time, God could be just and he could also justify those who put their faith in Jesus Christ.  Again, I do not think I can improve on what is said in the Bible.  I think that you are already on to the truth here and perhaps do not even need me to say more!  The truth is deep and it is a mystery, yet it is also simple.

John Oakes