If Jesus hadn't died on the Cross?

Question

If he had lived to an old age and had died of natural causes, would we still be saved from our sins? Was it the act of being executed unwillingly (or willingly), which saves us from our sins.

I would like to hear different points of view.

I am posting this under education rather than religion, in hopes of getting diverse opinions.

I tried posting earlier under education, and for some reason it was removed. I'm not as interested in what theologins think who are answering questions in religion, than what a typical belief by educated persons would think.

PS. I have been a practicing Christian my whole life and haven't come across this question.

Answer 1

To answer your question, we must first figure out why the situation is as it is.  Why are we in the mess we are in?

Well, its because Adam sinned.  He disobeyed God.  

But what does that matter?  If the sin was that humans went against God, why does He simply not forgive and forget?  Its obvious He wants us around, otherwise He would simply have gotten rid of us and never gave it a second thought.  So why didn't He either get rid of us, or simply forgive us and let it go?

Well, that is because Adam's actions did two things.  One, it brought into question whether any human (perfect or not) could or would stay faithful to God.  And two, it brought up the question of whether humans were better off leading themselves than letting God continue as our leader.

Quite a few questions that needed answering.  And that was the whole point of Jesus coming to Earth and dying.  He came to answer those questions.

We'll get the easiest question out of the way first.  Are humans capable of leading themselves?  Well, it should be quite clear by now that humans are inept and worthless leaders.  Our entire history has been constant suffering and death; all done in an attempt to gain power over others.  Every system and form of government we have ever come up with all follow one basic rule:  If you aren't inflicting pain and suffering, you are receiving it.

Hardly a decent showing for our attempt to lead ourselves.

God knew this beforehand.  He knew full well we couldn't handle it.  So right from the beginning He promised us a way out would be coming.  That way out was Jesus.

But how did Jesus provide us a way out?  Well, first off He stayed faithful to God His whole life.  Jesus proved that if we were given perfection, it was possible that we could and would stay faithful to God.  Because of this, God has justification to everyone concerned (God, Satan, Angels, Demons, and Humans) to give us our perfection back; proof that we could and would use it properly.

Second, Jesus died.  Why does this matter?  Well, its based on God's specific Code of Justice.  In the Bible, God makes clear that His system of Justice is based on balance.  An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a life for a life.  In this case, a perfect life for a perfect life.  Adam gave his perfect life to allow us a chance to lead ourselves.  To repay that debt, we are incapable because we are imperfect.  Our lives are simply not worth Adam's.  But Jesus was perfect.  His life was equal to Adam's life.

By giving His life, Jesus restored the balance.  And in so doing, God can provide us salvation with mercy (since we no longer have to suffer and die for our sins) and justice (since the life was paid back).  God can maintain His Morality completely, and yet we can still come back to Him as well.  Which shows God's love, in giving us mercy while still making sure Justice is served; He held Himself to the same Justice that He holds us.  Moreso really, since He wasn't the One who screwed up; we were.

So if Jesus hadn't died on the stake (it wasn't a Cross--that came from old Egyptian theology and the early Catholics adopted it to make the Egyptian transition to Christianity easier), we would not be saved from our sins.

We would simply remain dead forever; which is the price of being sinners.  But Jesus' actions show that if we prove that we want to be faithful to God, He is justified in allowing us to continue living or to be brought back to life.

God has shown that only He can lead, we cannot.  If we accept that and accept God's leadership, we show that we will not rebel again if God gives us life everlasting.

Which is also the reason why the wicked won't be allowed in.  Its not that God hates them; quite the opposite, God loves them as much as the rest of us.  But in the end, if they refuse to accept the proof that God is the only capable leader, then they are saying outright that they will rebel again if God allows them into the Kingdom.

And all that would do is throw it back into chaos.  God isn't keeping them out because He hates them; He's keeping them out because its the only way to make sure that humans can keep it this time.  Its the only way to make sure that humans don't try to overthrow it again and then everything is lost a second time.  It will be because the ones who make it have seen that only God can lead, so they won't try to overthrow the only thing that can work.

Answer 2

then death wouldn't have been defeated and we would all get what we deserve,and that is h**l. and if you want to really dig deep then you could also say that God would not be God! our Lord sent his son in endless love and mercy, so if he did not so willingly allow the sacrifice of his son then all biblical prophecy and analogy pairing to jesus' birth, life,and death would be made null and void and Gods word would "be made void" thus un-deifying the Lord.(de-throning his perfection)

Answer 3

He came for that purpose--only! To fulfill the prophecy that the Lord God set for us.  If he had not been crucified--and there was no blood to save us, would we be saved from our sins?--Me, too! You count, Beth!

Answer 4

the point of view is jesus didn't die at the cross but someone else and he returned to god once again and he is returning back before the end of life to lead all people that still have faith in god .

Answer 5

I'm not a Christian now, but I was a raised as one.  I was always taught that the entire reason that we were saved was because Jesus provided humanity with the necessary blood sacrifice required by God.  I don't remember the exact Bible verse anymore, but the general idea was that God stated that there would be no forgiveness of sins without blood, and Jesus provided the blood willingly.  

I was also taught that the only reason that Jesus' blood was acceptable was because he was sinless.  Being sinless, he could provide a sacrifice that the average person could not, because the average person's blood was already forfeit for their own sins.  People in church used phrases like "washed in the blood of the lamb" and "saved by his precious blood", etc.

I currently do not believe that God requires a sacrifice of blood in order to forgive anyone, and I currently do not believe that any human being has ever shared divinity with God.

Answer 6

I like Beth's answer. I think she counts.:) Smart too!!!

Answer 7

Try watching "The Last Temptation of Christ", maybe even read the book, for your answer.

Answer 8

I think that if he hadn't died for our sins for some reason, then God would have provided another way for this to happen because he loves us :D.

I think it was the act of being executed willingly that saved us because that is what a sacrifice is?

I'm only 14 btw so I don't think I really count.

Answer 9

I can only say I agree with all the above