What Does the Cross Accomplish?

For the past seven weeks I've been teaching at the afternoon and the evening Bible studies atonement theology. My point has been to present the cross as Christ dying as our sacrifice to atone for our sin. At our last study I hoped to summarize the work of the cross with the 26 points below. I was helped by John Piper's book on the subject, a free on-line version of this is available here. http://www.desiringgod.org/media/pdf/books_pojc/bpojc_all.pdf

I write this after the last evening study and I am relieved that it is over. I am relieved partially because it has been a lot of work, but mainly because this subject matter is very emotional. Everything that matters to me matters because of the atoning work of Christ on the cross. And I so desperately want our church to respond to the cross with the deepest appreciation at every point of our life. The application of the cross is endless. We will fall away from faith or the church because we don't understand and haven't been affected by the work of the cross. I am appreciative of all who attended the studies, yet I am deeply concerned for those who don't feel the weight of importance that this event has. It is not dull theology, but the life-changing work of God to which there is no substitute. A break from the weight of these concerns is needed for me. Be amazing this Easter at the glory of the atonement.

Here are the 26 points. This is good news.

Satisfied his justice over sins gone unpunished before Jesus’ death
‘in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins’ (Romans 3:25)

We no longer face the consequences of the fall and our own sin
‘redeemed us from the curse of the law’ (Galatians 3:13)

God is pleased
‘a fragrant offering and a sacrifice to God’ (Ephesians 5:2)

God shows he loves us
‘God shows his love for us’ (Romans 5:8)

We lose our criminal record
‘canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands’ (Colossians 2:13)

Our sins are forgiven
‘redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses’ (Ephesians 1:7)

To abolish all rituals as a path to salvation
‘but if I, brothers, still preach circumcision’ (Galatians 5:11)

To bring us to faith and keep us in the faith
‘I will make with them an everlasting covenant...And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. (Jeremiah 32:40)

To make us holy
‘in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him’ (Colossians 1:22)

To give us a clear conscience
‘purify our conscience from dead works’ (Hebrews 9:14)

To give us all things that are good
‘will he not also with him graciously give us all things’ (Romans 8:32)

To save us from the evil in the world today
‘to deliver us from the present evil age’ (Galatians 1:4)

We are friends, not enemies of God
‘we are reconciled’ (Romans 5:10)

To create the church
‘care for the church of God, which he bought with his own blood’ (Acts 20:28)

To bring to an end the OT Priesthood and sacrificial system
‘He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily’ (Hebrews 7:26-27)

We can fully love each other
‘that you may belong to another’ (Romans 7:4)

Live for God
‘those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised’ (2 Corinthians 5:15)

To show married couples how to live
‘Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her’ (Ephesians 5:25)

To give us an example of how to live in a sinful world
‘Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example’ (1 Peter 2:21)

To destroy the devil and slavery to the fear of death
‘destroy the one who has the power of death’ (Hebrews 2:15)

That we would be with him when we die
‘whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him’ (1 Thessalonians 5:10)

To secure our resurrection from the dead
‘we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his’ (Romans 6:5)

To unleash the power of God in the world
‘it is the power of God’ (1 Corinthians 1:18)

To destroy hostility between races
‘people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation (Revelation 5:9)

To bring us and him joy
‘For the joy that was set before him’ (Hebrews 12:2)

Blessings are bestowed on Christ
‘to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing’ (Revelation 5:12)

Did Jesus descend into hell?

The idea that Jesus descended into hell after his death on the cross comes from a document titled 'The Apostles Creed'. You have likely read it aloud before during a church service. Here is a Lutheran English translation:

The Apostles Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Christian Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

It is thought that the origins of the document are to the Apostles themselves. The idea is that this document summarized what the Apostles believed. And since the Apostles believed this, so should we.

And now, the rest of the story...

There are a number of reasons why we should be careful not to believe that Jesus descended into hell. First, is the appearance of this particular phrase 'He descended into hell.' It is not original. The first time it appears in this document, is in 390 (300+ years after the death of the apostles). And the second time it appears in a manuscript is in the year 650. So, if the Apostles Creed can be traced back to the Apostles, certainly the phrase in question was not part of their statement.

Second, we notice that the Apostles Creed is not part of the Bible. Those who decided which books were scripture and which books were not chose not to include this text. That doesn't mean the document isn't important. It can be a helpful summary of the beliefs of scripture if it correctly summarizes scripture. So does scripture teach that Jesus descended into hell?

Third 'it is finished' are famous words of scripture uttered by Christ on the cross. What is finished? The atonement. What Christ accomplishes dying on the cross as a sinless sacrifice we could not do. We would spend an eternity suffering and still not pay for our sins. Jesus' words 'it is finished' teach us that Jesus does not need to descend into hell and suffer some more because he is different than us - he is perfect. The point of the Bible studies I have been teaching recently are to show how the scriptures point continuously to the suffering and death on the cross to atone for sin. Nothing is mentioned about Jesus having to descend to hell to atone for sin. So if he isn't descending to hell to atone for sin, what is he doing there? Jesus came to suffer a vicarious death not for his sake, but for ours.