Sermons

The reason for Jesus' death is because it was the will of God, anchored in the Trinity's agreement and will, the eternal covenant, before the world began. It was established then that the Son would be crushed and put to grief. This is part of Christ's passive obedience to God the Father's will. Jesus submitted to the eternal covenant for our salvation. In this, God worked through secondary causes, including Pontius Pilate, who declared that he found no guilt in this man, but who assented to the justice of God. This was that someone else, Jesus, would suffer death in our place. To the world, Jesus' life was a waste. However, to those given spiritual discernment, this was the only way to our salvation. This is the doctrine of intercession, by which comes our victory over sin and death. Through it, we become heirs, sharing in Jesus' victory. Who receives this victory? Those whom the Father has chosen. He died for the sins of some people, not all people. This leads to the doctrine of adoption, by which those who are chosen become sons of the living God, living in obedience to His commands and receiving light, which we must strive to let shine. We receive a new sense of God's care and a new sense of eternity and destiny.