This is a pretty fanciful hypothesis, IMO. I doubt you'll get any supporters for this idea.



Which is pretty hard to do. It's really hard to imagine that God would choose not to include this teaching in Scripture. I guess you don't think understanding Jesus' death is very important (this is assuming that God inspires important things to be included in Scripture).



My point was that justification by faith cannot be clearly articulated without understanding and articulating why Jesus died. Therefore if Christ's death was not clearly articulated, then neither was justification by faith.



Peter explains that Jesus Christ died to bring us to God. This is clearly explaining why Jesus Christ died. He did so in order to bring us to God.

Paul explains the same thing in Romans when he speaks of our being reconciled to God.

Obviously none of these passages CLEARLY explain why Jesus had to die. Yes, they allude to it, but they do not clearly explain it. That's been my point all along.


Again, neither one of these texts clearly say Jesus' death motivates sinners to love and obey God. Also, are you suggesting this is the only thing the Bible clearly says about why Jesus had to die? Or, if you believe there are others reasons why He had to die, then please post the passages that clearly teach them.


What are you suggesting, Tom? Are you suggesting it is implied rather than clearly explained? If not, please explain what you mean. Thank you.

"Allude" means:



This isn't what these passages are doing. They have, specifically, the death of Christ in mind, and they make an explanation of that fact. In the case of Paul, he goes on for chapter after chapter.

Peter says that Christ died "to bring us to God." What's not clear about that?

Jesus Christ explained His death to Moses. According to the SOP, Moses got it when Jesus (ironically enough) cited Moses. Why do you think Jesus Christ's explanation was not clear?



Sure they do.



There couldn't be a clearer statement of Christ's death motivating us than this. Here's something I found online:



So that this text explains how Christ's death motivates us is readily seen.



I just answered your question. You requested texts which explained how Christ's death motivates us, so I provided some.



I'll see if I can do this later tonight. If I can't, you can remind me.

Tom, you would fail in a court of law to prove that the Bible clearly explains why Jesus had to die. Reasonable doubt would be your undoing.

Mountain Man,

Unfortunately, this is a moot point. You would also fail in a court of law, for the same stated reason and possibly others besides, if you tried there to prove any of the following:

1) Jesus was God.
2) The Bible is God's Word.
3) A place called "Heaven" exists.
4) There is life after death.
5) God created the world.
6) The devil exists.

The fact is, all of the above would have been proven in a court of law already if such were possible, owing to debates such as Creation vs. Evolution, Sanctity of Life (abortion), Marriage, and "the devil made me do it!

Obviously, a court of law has no real interest in a Christian discussion.

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.

Ok, of course this is a subject which will be the study of eternity, so any answer to this question would be inadequate. But I'll try to provide here a brief outline of some themes which Scripture presents, and if you're interested in studying these further, I would probably help in providing references to resources for further study.

First of all, in studying the meaning of Christ's death, it's important that we not isolate His death from His life. Christ's death can only be understood in the context of His life. In a nutshell, the purpose of Christ's death is explained succinctly by the following SOP statement:



The "whole purpose" of Christ's mission on earth (which includes His death, of course) was "to set men right through the revelation of God."

So one can categorize the different themes involved under the umbrella of "revelation of God."

Of course, you asked for reasons based on Scripture, so let's go there. The above quotation was basically simply EGW commenting on John 17, so we'll look at that:



Here Jesus brings out that He revealed God (this is the principle verse EGW was commenting on above) which is the underlying theme of John in general. Verse 3 points out that eternal life comes by knowing God. Christ's fundamental purpose, as far as man is concerned, as that we might have eternal life by knowing God. For this purpose, He revealed God. So one theme of Scripture is that the death of Christ (actually His life, but His death was a part of that life, and the apex in terms of revealing God) is as revelation. In Christ's death, we see God revealed.

So what are some texts which deal with this theme?

First of all, we see texts in John scattered about. John 1:18 speaks of how Christ has shown us what God is really like. When Jesus spoke to Nicodemus, He explained to him that He would be lifted up like the serpent in the wilderness, bringing out the principle of "look and live." By seeing the love of God revealed at the cross, we are drawn to God, and led to repent of our sins, to ask and receive forgiveness for them, that we may be reconciled to God, and have peace with Him.

Using this as a segue, these are all purposes which Scripture discusses, Paul in particular, that by Jesus Christ we are led to repentance of our sins (Rom. 2:3,4), that we receive forgiveness of sins (Rom. 4), reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5; Rom. 5; 1 Pet 2:24, 25; 3:18) and have peace with God (Rom. 5:1). Of course these themes are discussed in many places in Scripture.

You already mentioned the aspect of motivation, which 2 Cor. 5:14, 15 and Gal. 2:20 are a couple of good places which discuss this.

Another theme we see presented at length in Scripture is that of Christ as healer. In regards to Christ's death, Isa. 53 in particular brings out this aspect, and this chapter is cited in numerous places in the NT, including, just off the top of my head, Matt. 8:17 and 1 Pet. 2:24, 25. The NASB (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isa%2053;&version=49;) has over 30 references it looks like from Isa. 53, so this would be a good place to see how NT writers develop this theme.

Other themes involving man involve inheritance (Eph. 1; Romans 4:13; 2 Pet. 3; Gal. 3:18), the Kingdom of God (Matthew; too many places to cite), redemption (Eph. 1:7), and service (Mark 10:42-45; John 13:1-17; John 12:24)

Ok, we've discussed a bit what Christ's death accomplished in terms of man (healing, eternal life, knowing God, forgiveness of sin, peace with God, repentance, revelation of God). Another aspect to consider is the more far-reaching purposes involving the universe.

Colossians brings out that the reconciliation which Christ effects is not only for man, but the universe. John touches on this theme as well (John 11:32; other verses I can't remember off the top of my head which speak of the "cosmos").

In basic terms, we can say that Christ's death served the purpose of defeating the powers of darkness (again emphasizing that we're really speaking of Christ's life and death here, as Christ's death should be seen as extension of His life). This is the underlying theme of the Gospels as a whole, especially the Synoptic Gospels. Paul develops this theme in a number of places, including Romans, Ephesians and Colossians (Col. 2:15 is an especially good verse regarding this; also Eph. 1:20-23).

This is the theme of Christus Victor, which is present in a massive number of texts, especially throughout Revelation, of which Rev. 12:10 is a nice verse. So is John 12:31. Col. 2:15 and Eph. 1:20-23 have already been mentioned.

Ok, this is woefully inadequate, but here are a few of the themes mentioned in the NT in terms of the meaning of Christ's death, by no means exhaustive.

Regarding doubt:



For those with eyes to see, there is ample evidence in Scripture as to the meaning of Christ's death being clearly explained.

Regarding an explanation from the SOP that Christ's death (again = Christ's life and death, but includes the meaning of Christ's death) is clearly explained in Scripture, the chapter "The Road to Emmaus" from "The Desire of Ages" develops this idea (and Moses is specifically mentioned!).

Tom, let's leave it at this - You believe the Bible clearly explains why Jesus had to live and die. I believe it is implied but not explicitly explained.

What about justification by faith? Would you say the same thing is true about that? (i.e., implied by the Bible, but not explicitly explained)