Why Did Christ Die? (Matthew 27)Thursday April 16, 2026
Main idea: Christ died for us —specifically, He died for us that He might bring us to God, He died for our sins, and He died our death—so that guilty sinners can be fully forgiven, reconciled to a holy God, and given new and eternal life.
Intro: Christ did not die for Himself. At the last Passover He made this very clear. His body for you. His blood for the forgiveness of sins.
We’re going to break that down into four parts, based on the work by John Stott in his book, The Cross of Christ.
1. Christ died for us. 2. Christ died for us that He might bring us to God. 3. Christ died for our sins. 4. Christ died our death.
1. Christ died for us.
Rom 5:6-8 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
It is voluntary, beneficial, altruistic to us. His cross was not for Him but for us.
Why us? We all sinned. All sin is rebellion against God and God is holy.
This love is proactive. We didn’t ask for it.
There should be a magnificent effect on you when you realize or are reminded that the eternal Son of God looked at you in your sin and said, “I will die for that one”?
2: Christ Died for us that He might bring us to God.
1Pe 3:18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God.
The focus now is on our reconciliation. The cross removes every barrier so that alienated sinners can be brought near to the holy God.
Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Near speaks of relationship with God.
Eph 2:18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father
That’s the cross. Jesus paid the debt, took the blame, and now the Father says to every believer, “Come home.”
The Old Testament sacrifices pointed forward: the blood of bulls and goats could never truly bring us to God (Heb 10:1-4). But Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice does.
Point 3: Christ Died for our sins
1Co 15:3-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.
Sin had to be paid for and could not be ignored or excused. Sin had to be removed.
Jer 31:32 My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them
Mat 26:28 this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.
Luk 22:20 “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.”
1Pe 2:24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross
2Co 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
This is substitutionary. Christ didn’t die with us or alongside us—He died instead of us.
Because He died for our sins, they are gone—forgiven, canceled, remembered no more (Heb 10:17-18). We are not just improved; we are cleansed.
Col 2:13-14 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
Point 4: Christ Died our death
“Christ died our death when he died for our sins.” [Stott]
He didn’t just die a death. He died the death we deserved—the full penalty of sin, including separation from the Father.
The death spoken of is the death we watched Christ look into in Gethsemane. It’s the death in the cup of God’s wrath.
Gen 2:17 the day that you eat from it you will surely die.
Rom 1:32 that those who practice such things are worthy of death
Rom 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned
Rom 6:16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Only Christ could do any of this and only He could experience death for the dead, and rise again as one not guilty, in the process healing us.
This is penal substitution at its core—yet wonderfully, it is the self-substitution of God.
Because Christ died our death, death no longer has the final word over us. We die physically, but we never face eternal separation from God.
1Co 15:25-26 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death.
Application:
If you have never trusted Christ as Savior: These words are God’s personal invitation to you. Christ died for you. He removed every barrier so He could bring you to God. Your sins have been paid for. Your death has been died. Believe in Him, in these truths of what He did and you will be saved, have eternal life with God, in relationship with God forever.
If you are a follower of Christ: teach the gospel to yourself every day:
If you feel alone → Christ died for you. When guilt accuses you → Christ died for your sins. When you feel distant from God → He died to bring you to God. When fear of death or judgment rises → He died your death.
Live as one who has been brought near. Walk in freedom, gratitude, and bold love for others. |