What exactly did the Lord Jesus Christ do for us when He died on the cross?

This study series is to explain the three key aspects of salvation by the work of Christ at the Cross. Each point discussed centers upon the great work which Jesus accomplished on Cross of Calvary.

“And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him…” (Luke 23:33)

The Threefold Problem in the World:

1) Man has offended God’s Righteousness and Justice.

2) Man is a sinner who has sinned and sins.

3) Man is physically born as ‘a slave to Sin’ (“in sin did my mother conceive me,” Psalm 51:5)

These Three Elements of The Cross of Christ… answer and satisfy the Threefold Problem.

1. Propitiation by the Cross is the Godward aspect of Salvation – Fully Satisfying the just and righteous requirement of God.
2. Reconciliation by the Cross is the Manward aspect of Salvation - Fully dealing with man as a “sinner” who has committed and is still committing… the sinful acts of the Sin nature.
3. Redemption by the Cross is the Sinward aspect of Salvation - Fully dealing with man’s condition as a “slave of Sin,” under the dominion of the Adamic, Serpentine, Sin-nature “in the flesh” (Rom. 8:3).

Now we will consider the first of these “Three Elements of the Cross of Christ” in detail so that we might better understand our Great Salvation!

1. PROPITIATION answers the Question: How Can the ‘Justice of God’ Be Satisfied?

God is absolutely JUST (unbiased and fair) and RIGHTEOUS. Consider a just and righteous human judge; would he be satisfied if a criminal were set free without any punishment?  

“And he (Jesus) is the propitiation (the just payment) for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2)

“For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matt. 26:28)

 “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he (God) loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation (the sinless propitiatory Sacrifice as payment) for our sins.” (1 John 4:10) 

The word “propitiation” is used also in the Old Testament, but there it’s translated “Mercy Seat.” The “mercy seat” was the LID that covered “the ark of the covenant” with “the Law” in it. This was located in the “most holy place” within the tabernacle. This lid was made of solid gold (Exo. 25:17) and at each end the gold was shaped into a winged cherub or angel (Exo.25:18). These cherubim had their heads poised downward looking at the “Mercy Seat” and “the blood” that would be placed there.

Inside “the ark of the Covenant” was placed God’s law, the Ten Commandments (Exo. 25:21). Note here how God’s law is described here.  

“… the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. (Romans 7:12)

The Question: Is it possible for any sinful man to keep God’s Holy law… perfectly?

No, never in this physical life! We are all LAWBREAKERS in God’s sight? We need His “Mercy.”

“…  as many as are of (rely upon) the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in ALL things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” (Gal. 3:10)
“…; by the deeds (works) of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his (God’s) sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:20)
“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in ‘one point,’ he is ‘guilty of ALL.’” (James 2:10)

So, within “the ark of the Covenant,” was “the Law” that cries out this message (paraphrased):

“THERE IS A PENALTY FOR BREAKING THE LAW and THIS PENALTY MUST BE PAID!”

• Every Lawbreaker Must DIE (cf. Exodus 21:12-17; Romans 1:32; 6:23)!
• GOD’S JUSTICE WILL NOT BE SATISFIED… UNTIL THE PENALTY IS PAID IN FULL!

Thus, Paul wrote:

“Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of DEATH, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (Romans 1:32)

“For the wages (just payment) of sin is DEATH; but the (free) gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

In Israel, once every year on “the Day of Atonement” the high priest would enter “the holiest of holies” with one drop of the blood of the sacrificial animal for the sins of “the people (Israel as a whole)” (vs. 15, 7 below).

“… he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his (one) finger upon the Mercy Seat eastward;

and before the Mercy Seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times (this gave the Priest right standing).

¹⁵ Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people (households, cf. v17), and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the ‘Mercy Seat,’ and before the mercy seat: ¹⁶And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness. ¹⁷ And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel. (Lev. 16:14-17)

^“And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; ⁴ Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant (Law); ⁵ And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. ⁶ Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.

⁷ But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, NOT without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:” (Hebrews 9:3-7)

The “blood” on the “Mercy Seat” foreshadowed the all-sufficient Crosswork of Christ and had this message.

“THE DEATH PENALTY HAS BEEN PAID!

A SUBSTITUTE HAS DIED and ALL THE DEMANDS of JUSTICE HAVE BEEN MET!”

So, instead of judging us as guilty lawbreakers, God is now free to be Merciful to US!

God’s Justice is now completely satisfied with the Crosswork which Jesus.

 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who (then) walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1 (KJV), see also vs. 2-4)

So, God’s justice is satisfied! ARE YOU satisfied and … free from condemnation of the Law?

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are ‘in Christ Jesus’…” (Romans 8:1a (KJV)

Faith says, “God is satisfied and so am I. It is enough that Jesus died for me!”

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

“(Jesus) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation (the just payment) through faith in his ‘blood,’ to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past (unpunished), through the forbearance of God;” (Rom. 3:25)

Believers are no longer to be called sinners, we are now “saints,” who have been saved and justified “by grace through faith” in Jesus Christ alone as our Savior.