Did the Cross have a Purpose?

Well of course it did, you say. Because you know what the Bible says. What did Christ die for? “Christ died for our sins” (1 Corinthians 15:3).

But the Bible digs a lot deeper into this question. Paul gives an example in his letter to the Galatians, saying, “if … then Christ died for no purpose” (Galatians 2:21). What is this hypothetical “purposeless death”?

Paul’s example is one thing, but that one thing soon grows into a tremendous truth in its full application.

I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

The Apostle Paul (Galatians 2:21)

What is “the law”? In context, it’s clearly the Law of Moses given to Israel. He has been talking specifically about circumcision and dietary laws.

For example, the Apostle Peter had been eating with Gentiles (surely breaking all kinds of Jewish dietary laws in the act). But when certain Jewish brothers showed up, he backed off. “Nothing to see here! Me? Eat with Gentiles? You didn’t see anything of the kind.”

The problem was not who Peter was eating with, or what he was eating – the problem was that he was being hypocritical in the presence of people who thought that their food choices were a key to their salvation. And so Paul confronted Peter’s public hypocrisy publicly (Galatians 2:11-14).

So if you could be justified before God by obeying the Law of Moses, why would Christ need to die? The cross would be superfluous.

But is that the final application? What if there was another way in which we could repair our relationship with God? Maybe I could attend church a lot. Or perhaps “love my neighbour”. Or give to the poor. Maybe I’m just a nice guy.

The problem is the same. If there is any human way to avert God’s judgement, then the cross would have no purpose.

But what if the cross was just a demonstration of the cruelty of humanity – a way to encourage us to change? Or what if it was just a demonstration of love – giving your life for another – an example to follow? Wouldn’t that be a purpose?

It would, if we infinitely underestimated what God Himself was doing at the cross. And He promised it long before Jesus was born:

But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.

The Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 53:5)

There are other examples of love that we could have seen – other examples to follow. No, God was doing something much greater at the cross – something completely unique. And it was something no human could do.

Paul makes this clear. He isn’t just “free to try again”. God isn’t the “God of second chances” when it comes to salvation. And we can see this in the previous verse, as Paul describes his abilities and activities:

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

The Apostle Paul (Galatians 2:20

What is Paul? Paul is dead. All his human effort, all his abilities – dead. His life is Christ’s – a life of faith in Christ, and what He did (Philippians 3:8-9). Again, if there is any human way to avert God’s judgement, then the cross would have no purpose.

But what if someone were really really moral? The problem is built right into God’s Law, and explained in Deuteronomy. The law is a package – it must be obeyed perfectly.

For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”

The Apostle Paul quotes from Deuteronomy 27:6 (Galatians 3:10). Emphasis mine.

So what was the purpose of the cross? As many of you know, we’ve been working through Hebrews at our church in Las Palmas. Recently we finished Hebrews 10, which explains in summary what the book has been explaining all along.

Why are there no “second chances”? Why can’t you start with the cross, but finish off your salvation by your moral works (Galatians 3:3)? Because the offering of Christ on the cross was perfect.

The author of Hebrews uses the example of sacrifices. They had to be offered repeatedly. After all, people didn’t stop sinning after offering an animal as a bunt offering. The offerings were endless. Although instituted by God (as a symbol of the cross), they were still human offerings.

But then Jesus came, doing God’s will perfectly. Living that perfect life that we have already failed to live (Hebrews 10:5-9).

And then He offered Himself as a sacrifice to God on the cross. A substitute, as Isaiah explains. And that offering covers it all, as Ethel Taylor wrote:

Far dearer than all that the world can impart
Was the message that came to my heart;
How that Jesus alone for my sin did atone,
And Calvary covers it all.

Calvary covers it all,
My past with its sin and stain;
My guilt and despair
Jesus took on Him there,
And Calvary covers it all.

Ethel Taylor

(Of course, it not only covers my past, but also my future!)

Paul admits that we are still imperfect in our daily walk. But for the Christian, those sins no longer separate us from God’s grace. We are perfect in Christ, though still being sanctified in our behaviour (Galatians 5:13-26).

But when Christ died on the cross, it was not to mostly save us – as if we just have to “complete” the salvation through human effort. No, as Paul said, we as believers are “dead” – there is no more human offering. We are completely saved in Christ.

For by a single offering [Christ] has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

Hebrews 10:14

Before God, those with truth faith in Christ are 100% saved, completely, and for all time. That was the purpose of the cross.

If there is any other way, any other sacrifice, any other human effort, then the cross would have no purpose.

And so the author of Hebrews finishes his thought. If you’re looking for another way, another option, another salvation, don’t bother. If there were another way, the cross would have lost its purpose. But it hasn’t.

And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,
“This is the covenant that I will make with them
after those days, declares the Lord:
I will put my laws on their hearts,
and write them on their minds,”
then he adds,
“I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”
Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

Hebrews 10:15-18 (emphasis mine)