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Join me as I do a refresh of basic doctrinal topics of the gospel, these are personal study notes. KJV is used for Bible references. I've added an audio narration for convenience.
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In the last study, we saw that it was absolutely necessary for Jesus to die on the cross. Now, we must learn why He had to die. To understand why the Lord Jesus had to die, we must study the Four Basic facts of the Gospel

Fact 1: All men are guilty before God.

Romans 3:19. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

  • That All mouth may be stopped and All the world may become guilty before God.

  • We have already studied that all men are sinful and wicked (see Why do all men need to be saved pt-3).

  • As we stand before God the Righteous Judge, is the verdict Guilty or Not Guilty? The verdict is Guilty.

Fact 2: There's a penalty for our guilt.

Not only are we guilty, but there's a penalty involved.

Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

We learn in Ezekiel 18:4 that the person who sins shall? die.

  • Therefore because of our sins what do we deserve?
    1. a £500 fine?
    2. 5 weeks in prison?
    3. 10 years in prison?
    4. the death penalty?

The correct answer is: the death penalty.

Because of my sin, I deserve the death penalty.

Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

In Genesis 2:17, we see that the penalty for Adam's sin was also the death penalty.

  • What is the wages of sin according to Romans 6:23? Let's see: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
  • We see that the wages of sin is death.

If you were paid £10.00 per hour and you worked a 40 hour week, then you deserve to be paid how much money that week? the answer is £400,00.
If your boss were fair and honest, how much should your wages for that week be? £400,00.

Since God is perfectly fair and just, because of our sin, what do we deserve? to die.
We have earned the death penalty.

What is the death penalty

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

This death mentioned in Romans 6:23 is more than just physical death, although physical death is certainly included as part of the consequences of sin according to Genesis 3:19 which reads: In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

  • Death means SEPARATION from God and unless a person is saved, he will suffer eternal separation from the Lord.

  • Death also involves eternal punishment according to 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9. (In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power).

  • Those who do not believe on the Lord Jesus Christ will be punished with everlasting destruction and they will forever be separated from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power.

  • Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

  • According to the passage we have just read, The wicked (unbelievers) will be sent into what kind of fire? everlasting fire.

  • Whom was hell prepared for? the devil and his angels.

  • Matthew 25:46. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

  • The wicked shall suffer what kind of punishment? everlasting punishment.

  • Revelation 20:14. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

  • Eternal separation from God is called the second death.

  • Revelation 20:15. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

  • What will happen to those who are not found written in the book of life? They would be cast into the lake of fire.

  • Revelation 21:8. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

  • The lake of fire is called? the second death.

Fact 3: The penalty must be paid

God the righteous Judge cannot say: You deserve the death penalty, but because I am a merciful God, I'll forget about that and I'll let you live. If God were to do that, He might be merciful, but He would no longer be Just and He would no longer be Holy and He would no longer be Righteous!.
Imagine a judge saying to a criminal. I know you robbed that bank and shot the teller at the window, but because I'm merciful, I'll forget that it ever happened, and I'll let you go free. Would such a judge be exercising righteous justice? The answer is No.

  • Do criminals deserve to be punished? Certainly.
  • Do guilty people deserve to be punished? Yes.

  • Romans 3:19. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

  • Romans 3:23. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

  • According to these verses, am I a guilty person? Yes.
  • Do you deserve to be punished? Yes.
  • What punishment (penalty) do I deserve? Death.

Deuteronomy 25:1-2. If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked. And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain number.

  • If a person is righteous (innocent), the the judge should justify him (declare him to be innocent).
  • If the person is innocent, the the judge should say: You're not guilty.
  • If the person is guilty, then he should be condemned.
  • If the guilty man deserves to be beaten, should the judge let him go unpunished? Read Deuteronomy 25:2 again. (And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain number). The answer is No. The person should be punished.

Remember God is the Perfect Judge.

  • Is God every unfair? No.
  • Does God ever make a mistake? No
  • Does God see and understand all things? **Yes.
  • Does God know all the facts? Yes.
  • Is God ever wrong? No.
  • Is God ever unrighteous? No.
  • Is there ever a crime that God does not observe? No.
  • Is anything hidden from the eyes of God? To answer this, let's see Hebrews 4:13. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. The question again: is anything hidden from the eyes of God? No.
  • Is God's verdict ever wrong? No
  • Therefore, as God the Perfect Judge sees me and you, what is the verdict? Guilty.
  • Because of this verdict, what is the punishment? Death

Fact 4: Christ paid the penalty as our Substitute!

We deserve the death penalty and this penalty must be paid. We are all condemned sinners deserving an eternal death in the lake of fire which is the second death (Revelation 20:14. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death).
But. Hold on... Let's read this part straight out of John 3:17. (For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved).

God sent His beloved Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

The Lord Jesus came to pay the DEATH PENALTY for me!. He took my place and He died for me!.

1 Corinthians 15:3. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.

  • According to 1 Corinthians 15:3, what did the Lord Jesus do for me? He died for my sins..
  • Jesus paid the death penalty that I deserved!

Romans 5:6. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

  • In Romans 5:6 we learn that Christ died for what kind of people? sinners.

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

  • In Romans 5:8, we discover that even when we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Galations 1:4. Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.

  • We learn in Galations 1:4, that Christ gave Himself on the cross for whose sins? our Sins.
  • Therefore, who paid the penalty for our sins? Jesus Christ.
  • Who deserved to pay the penalty for our sins? We did.
  • Who paid the penalty even though He didn't deserve it? Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:24.Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

  • Christ bore whose sins in His own body on the tree according to 1 Peter 2:24? our sins.
  • What do you think tree means in this verse? compare Acts 5:30 and Acts 10:39. (Acts 5:30. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Acts 10:39. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree). So what do you think tree means? It means crucifixion.
  • How many times did Christ suffer for our sins according to 1 Peter 3:18? (For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit). The answer is once.
  • Therefore, is it necessary for Christ to die again on the cross? No.
  • Who is the Just One (the Righteous One), that this verse is talking about? Christ.
  • Who are the unjust ones (the unrighteous ones)? the answer is all mankind, myself being chief..
  • Christ died for us in order that He might? Bring us to God.

2 Corinthians 5:21. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

  • Who knew no sin? Jesus Christ.
  • Who was made sin for us? Jesus Christ
  • Why was He made sin for us? that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

O the depth of the riches both of the Wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgements, and His ways past tracing out. For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His Counsellor? or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again. For of Him, and through Him, and unto Him, are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen