Jesus did not die for your sins

Personal Responsibility for Sin
• Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
• This verse suggests that everyone is responsible for their own sins, implying personal accountability.
• Ezekiel 18:20: “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son.”
• This passage emphasizes individual responsibility for sin, suggesting that one person cannot atone for the sins of another.
Jesus as a Human Subject to Sin
• Hebrews 4:15: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.”
• While this verse states Jesus did not sin, it acknowledges his capacity to be tempted and suggests he was subject to human weaknesses.
• Matthew 27:46: “About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ (which means ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’)”
• Jesus’s cry of abandonment could be interpreted as a moment of human weakness or separation from God, suggesting he experienced the consequences of sin.
Jesus’s Death as a Personal Sacrifice
• John 10:17-18: “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.”
• This passage emphasizes Jesus’s control over his own life and death, which could be seen as a personal act rather than a substitutionary atonement.
• John 19:30: “When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
• Jesus declaring “It is finished” could be interpreted as completing his personal mission, which some might argue includes bearing the consequences of sin himself.
Alternative Interpretations of Atonement
• 1 Peter 2:24: “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.”
• While traditionally interpreted as Jesus bearing the sins of others, one might argue this refers to demonstrating the consequence of sin and calling others to righteousness through his example.
• Isaiah 53:5: “But 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.”
• This verse is often cited to support substitutionary atonement. However, it could be argued that the suffering of Jesus was a means to show the devastating effects of sin and to inspire personal transformation rather than a literal transfer of sin.

The Necessity of Overcoming Sin and Emulating Jesus for Salvation

Repentance and Transformation
The Bible repeatedly emphasizes the importance of repentance and turning away from sin as a prerequisite for salvation.
• Matthew 4:17: “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”
• Jesus starts his ministry by calling people to repent, highlighting the need to turn away from sin.
• Acts 3:19: “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out.”
• Repentance is presented as a critical step for the forgiveness of sins.
• 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
• Being in Christ involves a fundamental transformation, where the old sinful nature is left behind.
Living a Righteous Life
Scripture underscores the need to live righteously and emulate Jesus in order to attain salvation.
• 1 Peter 1:15-16: “But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’”
• Believers are called to live holy lives, reflecting God’s holiness.
• 1 John 2:6: “Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”
• Those who claim to follow Jesus must live as He did, exemplifying His righteousness.
Overcoming Sin
The New Testament frequently speaks about overcoming sin as essential for maintaining a relationship with God and achieving salvation.
• Romans 6:12-14: “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”
• Paul urges believers not to let sin control them, but to live righteously under God’s grace.
• James 4:7-8: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
• Resisting sin and drawing near to God involves active effort and purification.
Following Jesus as the Way to Salvation
Jesus is depicted as the perfect example to follow for attaining eternal life.
• John 14:6: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”
• Jesus explicitly states that He is the only path to God, implying that emulating His life and teachings is crucial for salvation.
• 1 John 3:5-6: “You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.”
• Abiding in Jesus means living without sin, as He did, underscoring the need to overcome sin.
Final Judgment and Reward
Scripture speaks of a final judgment where individuals are rewarded based on their deeds, emphasizing the importance of overcoming sin and living righteously.
• Matthew 16:27: “For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.”
• This verse indicates that actions and overcoming sin are essential for the final judgment.
• Revelation 20:12: “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.”
• Final judgment is based on deeds, suggesting the necessity of overcoming sin and living a Christ-like life.

Conclusion

The Bible provides a coherent narrative that emphasizes the need to overcome sin, repent, and live a righteous life in emulation of Jesus as the path to salvation. These principles are grounded in both the teachings of Jesus and the writings of the apostles, forming a consistent message across the New Testament.

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