Good Friday – April 2, 2010

I finished the book “Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die” by John Piper today.  This book helped me reflect on the meaning of Christ, the cross and the reasons Christ died the way He did.

I have listed the reasons below along with personalizing some to make then more meaningful to me.

Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die By John Piper.

1. To absorb the wrath of God.
2. To please His Heavenly Father.
3. To learn obedience and be perfected.
4. To achieve His own resurrection from the dead.
5. To show the wealth of God’s love and grace for sinners – like me.
6. To show His own love for me.
7. To cancel the legal demands of the law against me.
8. To become a ransom for many – including me.
9. For the forgiveness of sins – my horrible sins.
10. To provide the basis for “my” justification.
11. To complete the obedience that becomes “my” righteousness.
12. To take away “my” condemnation.
13. To abolish circumcision and all rituals as the basis for salvation.
14. To bring “me” to faith and keep “me” faithful.
15. To make “me” holy, blameless, and perfect.
16. To give “me” a clear conscience.
17. To obtain for “me” all things that are good for “me”.
18. To heal “me” from moral and physical sickness.
19. To give eternal life for all who believe in Him.
20. To deliver “me” from the present evil age.
21. To reconcile “me” to God.
22. To bring “me” to God.
23. So that “I” might belong to Him.
24. To give “me” confident access to the holiest place.
25. To become for “me” the place where “I” meet God.
26. To bring the Old Testament priesthood to an end and become the eternal High Priest.
27. To become a sympathetic and helpful priest.
28. To free “me” from the futility of “my” ancestry.
29. To free “me” from the slavery of sin.
30. The “I” might die to sin and live to righteousness.
31. So that “I” would die to the law and bear fruit for God.
32. To enable “me” to live for Christ and not “myself”.
33. To make His cross the ground for all “my” boasting.
34. To enable “me” to live by faith in Him.
35. To give marriage its deepest meaning.
36. To create a people passionate for good works – that includes “me”.
37. To call “me” to follow His example of lowliness and costly love.
38. To create a band of crucified followers – a band that I belong to!
39. To free “me” from bondage to the fear of death.
40. So that “I” would be with Him immediately after death.
41. To secure “my” resurrection from the dead.
42. To disarm the rulers and authorities.
43. To unleash the power of God in the gospel.
44. To destroy the hostility between races.
45. To ransom people from every tribe and language and people and nation.
46. To gather all His sheep from around the world.
47. To rescue “me” from final judgement.
48. To gain His joy and “mine”.
49. So that He would be crowned with glory and honor
50. To show that the worst evil is meant by God for good.