The Cross: What Jesus Actually Accomplished by Accepting Death
The image of the cross is universally recognized, a symbol steeped in history, pain, and profound meaning. For us, as followers of Christ, it is the central event of human history, the pivotal moment upon which our faith rests. Yet, beyond the historical facts of Jesus’ crucifixion, the crucial question we often ponder, and the one we seek to understand more deeply, is: What did Jesus actually achieve by accepting the punishment of death on that cross?
It wasn’t merely a tragic end to a remarkable life. We understand it as a deliberate, divine act, a sacrifice with far-reaching and eternal consequences. By willingly embracing the agony and death that He did not deserve, Jesus accomplished a series of interconnected feats that fundamentally altered the relationship between God and humanity, and indeed, the very fabric of existence for those who believe.
We see several key accomplishments stemming directly from His acceptance of the cross:
Reconciliation with God
Perhaps the most foundational accomplishment is the reconciliation of humanity with God. We know that sin created a vast chasm, a state of alienation and separation between a holy God and sinful humanity. Our iniquities built a barrier that we, in our own strength, could never overcome.
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8 (NIV)
This verse beautifully encapsulates the divine initiative behind the cross. It wasn’t our effort that repaired the relationship; it was God’s love expressed through Christ’s death. Jesus, through His blood shed on the cross, became the mediator, the bridge across that chasm. He bore the weight of our sin, the penalty we deserved, thereby satisfying the demands of divine justice and opening the way for us to be brought back into a right relationship with our Creator. We were enemies of God, estranged and hostile because of our sin, but through the cross, we are offered peace and friendship with Him. This reconciliation is not earned but received as a gift of grace through faith. We are brought near to God, not based on our merit, but on the merit of Christ’s sacrifice.
Redemption and Freedom from Bondage
Another critical accomplishment is our redemption. The concept of redemption involves buying back or setting free something or someone held in bondage by paying a price. Before the cross, we were enslaved – enslaved to sin, to the power of death, and to the dominion of the devil. Our freedom was lost, our will compromised by the pervasive nature of sin in the world and within ourselves.
Jesus’ death served as the ransom price. He paid the debt we owed, a debt so immense that only a perfect, sinless sacrifice could possibly cover it. By offering His life, He purchased our freedom from these oppressive forces.
Consider what we were redeemed from:
- The power of sin: No longer are we held captive by its dominion; we are given the power to resist and overcome it.
- The curse of the Law: The Law revealed our inability to meet God’s standards and pronounced a curse upon disobedience. Christ became a curse for us, freeing us from condemnation (Galatians 3:13).
- The fear and finality of death: While physical death still occurs, for the believer, its sting is removed, and it is no longer the final end but a passage to eternal life with God.
- The dominion of darkness: The cross was a victory over the powers of evil that sought to keep humanity captive.
Through redemption, we are not just freed from something negative, but we are also transferred to a new state: belonging to God, having freedom to live righteously, and possessing the hope of eternal life. We are no longer slaves but adopted children in God’s family.
Propitiation and Expiation: Addressing God’s Wrath and Removing Sin
These related concepts highlight how the cross addressed the holiness and justice of God in the face of human sin.
- Propitiation means appeasing wrath or satisfying the just demands of an offended party. God’s holiness means He cannot tolerate sin; His justice means sin must be punished. The cross was where God’s righteous wrath against sin fell upon His Son, Jesus, who willingly bore it in our place. This doesn’t mean God was an angry deity who needed to be pacified by an unwilling victim. Rather, it shows the paradox of divine love and justice: in His love, God provided the means (Jesus) to satisfy His own just requirement for sin, thus turning His wrath away from us towards His Son who stood as our substitute.
- Expiation means removing guilt or making amends for wrongdoing. Through His sacrifice, Jesus cleansed us from our sins, removing their stain and guilt from before God. Our sins are not just covered up; they are taken away, expiated by the blood of Christ.
Together, propitiation and expiation show that the cross fully dealt with the problem of sin from God’s perspective – both satisfying His justice and removing our guilt. We no longer stand condemned, but cleansed and pardoned.
Victory Over Sin and Death
The cross, often viewed as a symbol of defeat, was in reality the ultimate conquest. By dying, Jesus entered the realm of death itself, and by rising, He demonstrated His absolute power over it. Sin’s ultimate wage is death (Romans 6:23), and for humanity, death was an inescapable fate, the final enemy.
Jesus’ death broke the power of sin by paying its price fully. It also paved the way for His resurrection, which is the irrefutable proof that death has been defeated. Because He lives, we too can have eternal life and are freed from the fear of death. The writer of Hebrews tells us that through His death, Jesus “destroy[ed] him who has the power of death—that is, the devil—and free[d] those who all their lives were held in slavery by fear of death” (Hebrews 2:14-15). The cross was Satan’s supposed triumph turned into his decisive defeat. Jesus disarmed the powers and authorities, triumphing over them by the cross (Colossians 2:15).
Establishing the New Covenant
The death of Jesus also inaugurated a new and better covenant between God and humanity. The Old Covenant, established through Moses, was based on the Law and Levitical sacrifices. These sacrifices were temporary, had to be repeated, and could not ultimately take away sin or truly perfect the worshiper. They served as a pointer towards the ultimate sacrifice to come.
Jesus’ death was that ultimate sacrifice – a once-for-all, perfect offering that fulfilled the requirements of the Old Covenant and rendered its sacrificial system obsolete. His blood is the ‘blood of the covenant’ (Matthew 26:28), the seal of this new agreement.
Let’s look at some contrasts between the Old and New Covenants regarding access to God, made possible by the cross:
| Feature | Old Covenant (Before the Cross) | New Covenant (Enabled by the Cross) |
| Basis | Law and Obedience | Grace and Faith in Christ |
| Access to God | Limited (High Priest once a year, specific place) | Direct and unlimited for all believers (through Christ) |
| Sacrifice | Repeated animal sacrifices | Single, perfect sacrifice of Christ |
| Effectiveness | Covered sins temporarily | Takes away sins permanently, perfects the conscience |
| Indwelling | Holy Spirit came upon individuals for specific tasks | Holy Spirit indwells all believers |
| Written On | Tablets of Stone | Hearts and Minds |
The cross tore the temple veil from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51), symbolizing that the barrier between God and humanity was removed. Access to the Most Holy Place, God’s presence, is now open to all believers through the blood of Jesus. We can approach God with freedom and confidence (Hebrews 10:19-22).
Demonstration of God’s Love
While we’ve touched on this, it deserves its own emphasis. The cross is the ultimate, tangible, and undeniable proof of God’s immense love for humanity. It wasn’t simply a necessary transaction; it was an act of sacrificial love that surpasses human comprehension.
We are told that “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). Yet, Christ did more; He laid down His life for His enemies. This is a love that is unconditional, self-giving, and utterly transformative. The cross reveals that even in His justice and holiness, God is primarily motivated by love – a love that would go to the extreme length of personal suffering and sacrifice to save us.
The Basis for Justification and Sanctification
Finally, the cross provides the foundation for our justification and enables our sanctification.
- Justification: Through faith in Christ’s completed work on the cross, we are declared righteous in God’s sight. Our sins were imputed (credited) to Him on the cross, and His righteousness is imputed to us. We stand before God not based on our own flawed record, but on the perfect record of Christ, made possible by His sacrifice.
- Sanctification: While justification is a one-time declaration, sanctification is the ongoing process of becoming more like Christ, growing in holiness. The cross not only freed us from the penalty and power of sin but also empowers us for a life of obedience and holiness. The Holy Spirit, poured out because of Christ’s finished work, dwells within believers, enabling us to live according to God’s will.
Jesus’ acceptance of the punishment was crucial to all these accomplishments. Had He resisted, had He called down legions of angels (Matthew 26:53), the sacrifice would not have been voluntary, and the penalty for our sin would not have been fully and righteously paid. His obedience unto death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:8), was the active step that unlocked these incredible benefits for us.
In summary, by accepting the punishment of death on the cross, Jesus Christ accomplished:
- Our reconciliation with a holy God, bridging the gap created by sin.
- Our redemption from the bondage of sin, death, the Law, and the devil.
- The propitiation of God’s wrath and expiation of our guilt.
- Decisive victory over the powers of sin and death.
- The inauguration of the New Covenant, granting us direct access to God.
- The ultimate demonstration of God’s unfathomable love.
- The basis for our justification and the power for our sanctification.
The Cross Was a Complete Solution to Sin
Sin’s Problem: Separation from God
Humanity was separated from God because of sin (Romans 3:23).
Sin carries a penalty—spiritual death and eternal separation from God (Romans 6:23).
Jesus Took the Penalty on Our Behalf
Jesus, being sinless, died as a substitute for sinful humanity.
His death on the cross was a sacrificial atonement , paying the full price for sin once and for all (Hebrews 10:10–14).
“But we are made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” — Hebrews 10:10
Victory Over Death and Satan
