The Necessity of Christ's Sacrifice for Salvation

Devotional

Day 1: The Necessity of Christ’s Suffering and Resurrection

The salvation offered through Jesus was not an afterthought or one of many options—it was absolutely necessary because of the depth and pervasiveness of human sin. No prophet, no moral teaching, and no religious effort could fix the brokenness that entered the world through the fall; only the Son of God taking on flesh, suffering, dying, and rising again could bring true repentance and forgiveness. This is why the message of the cross is central: it is the only remedy for the human condition, and it is available to all who turn to Him. [07:39]

Luke 24:46-49 (NKJV)
Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have tried to “fix yourself” or rely on your own strength instead of surrendering to the necessity of Christ’s work? Will you bring that area to Jesus today and trust Him to do what only He can do?

Day 2: The Depth of the Human Condition

Sin’s impact is not superficial; it has corrupted every part of human existence—body, soul, and spirit. From our physical decay to our darkened minds, rebellious wills, twisted memories, and even our affections, every aspect of who we are has been touched by the fall. This is why we cannot simply “try harder” or rely on good intentions; we need a complete transformation that only God can provide, making us new from the inside out. [14:17]

Romans 5:12 (NKJV)
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.

Reflection: In what ways do you see the effects of the fall in your own life—whether in your thoughts, emotions, or actions—and how does recognizing this deepen your appreciation for the salvation Jesus offers?

Day 3: The Need for a New Heart and Mind

The natural heart is deceitful and desperately wicked, and the mind is darkened, unable to comprehend spiritual truth apart from God’s intervention. We are not just people who occasionally do wrong; our very nature is opposed to God, and we need Him to give us a new heart and renew our minds. Only then can we truly love what is good, understand His ways, and walk in the light rather than darkness. [25:17]

Jeremiah 17:9-10 (NKJV)
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.”

Reflection: Ask God to show you one area where your heart or mind resists His truth, and pray specifically for Him to give you a new heart and renewed mind in that area today.

Day 4: The Miracle of New Birth and Adoption

Through faith in Jesus, we are not only forgiven but made entirely new—born again into God’s family, given a new nature, and sealed with His Spirit. No longer defined by the brokenness inherited from Adam, we become children of God, able to call Him “Abba, Father,” and look forward to the redemption of our bodies and the renewal of all creation. This is a miracle of grace, not something we could ever achieve on our own. [50:20]

John 1:12-13 (NKJV)
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Reflection: How does knowing you are a child of God, born not of your own effort but by His will, change the way you see yourself and your relationship with Him today?

Day 5: The Call to Respond—Today Is the Day of Salvation

The gospel is not just information to consider; it is an urgent invitation to surrender to Jesus and receive the new life He offers. No one is too far gone, and no one is here by accident—God is calling each person to turn from self-reliance and religious appearance, and to trust wholly in Christ’s finished work. Today is the day to respond, to step into the freedom and transformation He alone can give. [01:00:55]

2 Corinthians 6:2 (NKJV)
For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Reflection: Is there any hesitation or excuse holding you back from fully surrendering to Jesus? What step can you take right now to respond to His call and embrace the new life He offers?

Sermon Summary

Tonight, we explored the depth and necessity of Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection, focusing on why it was absolutely essential for our salvation. Beginning with Jesus’ words in Luke 24, we saw that the cross was not just a tragic event, but the only possible solution to the human condition. The problem of sin is not superficial or limited to our actions; it is a pervasive corruption that touches every part of our being—body, soul, and spirit. From Adam’s disobedience, sin entered the world and brought death, decay, and separation from God, affecting not only individuals but all of creation.

We often underestimate how deeply the fall has affected us. Our bodies are subject to decay and death, our spirits are dead to God, and our souls—comprising our mind, will, emotions, conscience, affections, and memories—are all twisted and broken by sin. The heart, as Jeremiah says, is deceitful and desperately wicked. Our minds are darkened, unable to comprehend spiritual truth without God’s intervention. Our affections naturally love darkness and resist the light. Even our will, which we like to think is free, is actually bound by sin and unable to choose God apart from His drawing.

But the good news is that Jesus came to address every facet of this brokenness. Salvation is not just forgiveness; it is regeneration, justification, sanctification, adoption, reconciliation, and more. Christ’s work on the cross was comprehensive—He bore all our sin, took it into the grave, and rose again to give us new life. In Him, we are made new creations, given a new heart, a cleansed conscience, and the indwelling Holy Spirit. The curse is broken, and even creation itself awaits the full redemption that Christ will bring.

This is why religion, self-effort, or mere outward change cannot fix us. Only a new birth—a transformation from the inside out—can address the depth of our need. Jesus alone is the solution. He calls us not to patch up our old life, but to surrender to Him and receive the miracle of new life. If you recognize that the description of the fallen condition still fits you, turn to Jesus. He is willing and able to save, cleanse, and make you new. Today is the day of salvation; don’t delay in responding to His call.

Key Takeaways

1. The Depth of the Fall: Sin is not just a matter of bad behavior or poor choices; it is a deep corruption that affects every part of our being—body, soul, and spirit. Our hearts are deceitful, our minds are darkened, and our wills are bound. Recognizing the true depth of our brokenness is essential to understanding why only Christ’s sacrifice could save us. [21:57]
2. Salvation Is Comprehensive: God’s saving work in Christ is not limited to forgiveness. He regenerates our dead spirits, justifies us legally, sanctifies us for His purposes, adopts us into His family, and reconciles us to Himself. Every aspect of our fallenness is addressed in the cross, making salvation a total transformation, not a partial repair. [07:39]
3. The Inability of Self-Rescue: No amount of willpower, religion, or self-improvement can overcome the bondage of sin. Our very nature is the problem, not just our actions. Only by being born again—receiving a new heart and a new spirit from God—can we be truly free. This humbles us and drives us to depend wholly on Christ’s finished work. [36:15]
4. The Hope of New Creation: In Christ, we are not merely patched up; we become new creations. Old things pass away, and all things become new. This transformation is so profound that even our memories, affections, and conscience are renewed, and we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live in freedom and joy. [50:20]
5. Urgency of Response: The offer of salvation is not to be taken lightly or postponed. The difference between eternal life and eternal loss can hinge on our response to Jesus’ call. Today is the day of salvation—don’t let pride, religion, or fear of others keep you from surrendering to Christ and receiving the new life He offers. [60:55]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Introduction: The Necessity of Christ’s Suffering
[02:30] - Reading from Luke 24: The Risen Christ’s Words
[04:10] - Why Was the Cross Necessary?
[07:39] - The Fullness of Salvation: More Than Forgiveness
[12:46] - Freedom in Christ: Responding to Conviction
[14:17] - The Fall’s Impact on Body, Soul, and Spirit
[18:05] - Spiritual Deadness and the Need for New Birth
[21:57] - The Deceitful Heart and the Call for a New One
[25:17] - The Darkened Mind and Rebellion
[26:51] - Affections, Conscience, and the Love of Darkness
[30:29] - Emotions, Bondage, and the Fear of Death
[34:49] - The Bound Will and the Need for Rescue
[41:08] - New Creation: God’s Work in the Heart
[45:55] - Cleansed Conscience and Personal Testimony
[49:24] - The Nature of Man and the Image of Adam
[50:20] - Born Again into God’s Family
[53:08] - The Curse on Creation and Cosmic Redemption
[59:01] - The Only Solution: Christ’s Finished Work
[60:55] - The Urgency of Salvation
[63:23] - Prayer of Surrender
[66:41] - Invitation and Closing Remarks

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Luke 24:46-49 (NKJV) — > Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

Jeremiah 17:9 (NKJV) — > “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?”

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) — > Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Observation Questions

According to Luke 24:46-47, what did Jesus say was “necessary” for the Christ to do, and what was to be preached as a result?
In Jeremiah 17:9, how does God describe the human heart?
From 2 Corinthians 5:17, what happens to someone who is “in Christ”?
The sermon described how sin affects not just our actions but every part of us—body, soul, and spirit. What are some specific ways the sermon said sin has impacted us? [[14:17]]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus say it was “necessary” for Him to suffer and rise from the dead? What does this reveal about the seriousness of the human condition? [[04:10]]
The sermon said our hearts are “deceitful and desperately wicked.” How does this understanding challenge the common idea that people are basically good at heart? [[21:57]]
The message emphasized that salvation is more than just forgiveness—it’s a total transformation. Why is forgiveness alone not enough to fix our problem, according to the sermon? [[07:39]]
The pastor said, “Religion, self-effort, or mere outward change cannot fix us. Only a new birth—a transformation from the inside out—can address the depth of our need.” What does this mean for how we approach spiritual growth and change? [[59:01]]

Application Questions

The sermon described how sin affects our minds, emotions, will, and even our memories. Which of these areas do you most relate to as being “twisted” or “broken” by sin? How have you seen this play out in your own life? [[14:17]]
The pastor said, “Only by being born again—receiving a new heart and a new spirit from God—can we be truly free.” Have you experienced this new birth? If so, what changed? If not, what holds you back from surrendering to Jesus? [[36:15]]
The message warned against trying to “patch up our old life” with religion or self-effort. Are there ways you’ve tried to fix yourself or manage your sin without really surrendering to Christ? What would it look like to let go of self-effort and trust Jesus fully? [[59:01]]
The sermon said, “In Christ, we are not merely patched up; we become new creations.” In what practical ways have you seen God make you new? Are there areas where you still feel stuck in old patterns? [[50:20]]
The pastor urged, “Today is the day of salvation; don’t delay in responding to His call.” Is there any area of your life where you are delaying obedience or surrender to Jesus? What is stopping you, and what step could you take this week? [[01:00:55]]
The message talked about the hope of new creation, not just for us but for all of creation. How does this bigger picture of redemption affect the way you see your struggles and the brokenness in the world? [[53:08]]
The pastor shared his own story of being changed from the inside out. Do you have a story of God changing your heart or conscience? If so, share it. If not, what would you hope God could change in you? [[45:55]]

Sermon Clips

What was it that was so bad that it was necessary for the God of heaven to put skin on, to come down to the planet, to live this life and then to go through the excruciating execution of the cross? What was so bad that that was the only thing that could happen that could bring repentance and forgiveness? How bad was it that this is the only thing that would work, that sending a prophet wouldn't work, he'd done that before, that sending someone just to tell people to behave, that's not going to work, that it literally took that the Son of God would put skin on and come down and that he would bleed and die? How bad was it? [00:03:09] (56 seconds) #TheCostOfSin

This is why the only solution to fixing all of this was God the Son coming in human flesh to bear your flesh, to bear your sin in his body on the tree so that you could be free, so that you could be free. It's the only answer. [00:55:57] (21 seconds) #GodInFleshSetsFree

This is why you must be born again, it must be a work that happens in your heart, it must be something where you literally hand yourself over to him and he says let me fix you and he can do a really good job of it. This is why the gospel itself is God's power unto salvation for everyone who believes. [00:58:01] (24 seconds) #BornAgainTransformation

``He loves you and Jesus was willing to take on all those things for you so he could set you free. When we talk about becoming a Christian it's not just forgiveness, my goodness all of it collectively I become a miracle and a sign of wonder in the midst of generations and the rest of the nations because of what he does in you that's incredible it's a so great salvation. [00:59:16] (38 seconds) #MiracleInYou

When we talk about becoming a Christian, it's not just forgiveness, my goodness, all of it collectively, I become a miracle and a sign of wonder in the midst of generations and the rest of the nations because of what he does in you, that's incredible, it's a so great salvation. [00:59:27] (28 seconds) #GospelPowerToSave

God is calling you right now. And he doesn't want you to play around anymore with any kind of religious bits and kind of like, well, I'll do a little bit and I'll do something for God. No, he wants to transform you from the inside out and completely. And today is the day of salvation. Now is the accepted time, what God says. [01:00:52] (21 seconds) #NowIsTheTime

I call you tonight to put your trust in Jesus. He's the only one that can make you free, make you clean and give you a brand new life. When you get to grow in it, it's just stepping in the door. There's all sorts in store. He loves you that much. Listen, if you'd ask me to go to the cross for you, I don't think I could do that. But he went there for you. And he loves you to that, that intense degree. [01:02:05] (36 seconds) #TrustJesusForFreedom

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