Did God have to send Jesus to the cross?
Well on one hand, of course not. We know that our God is perfect in power and strength. We know He knows all things and is absolutely unlimited in resources and capabilities. We know He is always present everywhere at all times and is bigger than our minds could ever even start to comprehend. So it would be foolish to think that God was not capable of fulfilling His plan in any other way. God does not HAVE to do anything in any certain way because there is absolutely no one greater than Him to answer to. He is the highest authority, sovereign over all things. He plays by His own rules because He is the author of those rules and Lord over every single thing that has ever existed. So did God have to send Jesus to the cross? The conclusion is that God can accomplish His purposes however He desires.
On the other hand, God did have to send Jesus to the cross. While He is perfect in power and strength, He is also perfect in love and grace and mercy. God's plans are always perfect, so anything other than the plan of redemption through the blood of Jesus would not suffice. God is perfectly just so He had to punish the wicked. But God also loves too perfectly not to offer a chance of redemption. And there is not a more perfect way to magnify His love to the World than by God the Father sending God the Son to bear the sins of mankind. There was no other way to have a perfect sacrifice because Jesus alone met the requirement. There was no way to exact perfect justice other than the shedding of blood and Jesus bearing the wrath of God. There was no better way to show perfect love than for the righteous king to offer His life as a ransom for the rebellious people. In order to stay consistent with His perfect character, God had to accomplish His purposes this way.
God was not obligated to offer salvation to us. Yet, His love is so great for us that He had to demonstrate it to us in this glorious way. He is the one who saves and the one worthy of all honor and praise, and because of His perfect character and plan there was no other way. I encourage you to take time to worship the God that bought you back so you could have the free gift of eternal fellowship with Him extended to you.
Well on one hand, of course not. We know that our God is perfect in power and strength. We know He knows all things and is absolutely unlimited in resources and capabilities. We know He is always present everywhere at all times and is bigger than our minds could ever even start to comprehend. So it would be foolish to think that God was not capable of fulfilling His plan in any other way. God does not HAVE to do anything in any certain way because there is absolutely no one greater than Him to answer to. He is the highest authority, sovereign over all things. He plays by His own rules because He is the author of those rules and Lord over every single thing that has ever existed. So did God have to send Jesus to the cross? The conclusion is that God can accomplish His purposes however He desires.
On the other hand, God did have to send Jesus to the cross. While He is perfect in power and strength, He is also perfect in love and grace and mercy. God's plans are always perfect, so anything other than the plan of redemption through the blood of Jesus would not suffice. God is perfectly just so He had to punish the wicked. But God also loves too perfectly not to offer a chance of redemption. And there is not a more perfect way to magnify His love to the World than by God the Father sending God the Son to bear the sins of mankind. There was no other way to have a perfect sacrifice because Jesus alone met the requirement. There was no way to exact perfect justice other than the shedding of blood and Jesus bearing the wrath of God. There was no better way to show perfect love than for the righteous king to offer His life as a ransom for the rebellious people. In order to stay consistent with His perfect character, God had to accomplish His purposes this way.
God was not obligated to offer salvation to us. Yet, His love is so great for us that He had to demonstrate it to us in this glorious way. He is the one who saves and the one worthy of all honor and praise, and because of His perfect character and plan there was no other way. I encourage you to take time to worship the God that bought you back so you could have the free gift of eternal fellowship with Him extended to you.