WHY?

I Believe

Why?

May 11, 2025

Chris Honess, Lead Pastor

He suffered …

A. to help us in our suffering.

Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Hebrews 2:18

B. to give meaning to our suffering.

Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.

Colossians 1:24

He was crucified, died and was buried …

A. to rescue us from our sins.

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance , that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

1 Corinthians 15:3

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.

1 Peter 3:18

B. to reverse the curse.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”

Galatians 3:13

He descended to the dead to take away the sting.

… and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

Matthew 27:52-53

“Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?”

1 Corinthians 15:55

Reading: Psalm 139:7-12