Jesus took the Punishment for our Sins

Article for April 26, 2026

John 10:7b–10 7b “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

No one goes to heaven without going through Jesus Christ who is the way, the truth, and the life.  There are some who think they will go to heaven not because they believe but because they feel they are normally good people.  What is normal and who made the standard for being normal? 

God gave us His commandments, and I suppose if one abides by them perfectly then one could be deemed as being normal.  But this excludes everyone because everyone breaks every commandment.  So, with that in mind, Jesus was the only normal person to walk this earth.  The good news is when we are all taken up to heaven, we will be made normal to God’s standard of normal.  Because man’s standard of normal changes over time and is based on legalizing their sinful desires.

Unfortunately, there are more and more people who think they have total control of where they are going when they parish from this world.  Good luck with that, but I prefer to trust my Lord Jesus Christ and His word.  Just the same, those who do not trust God’s word will find out the truth and we should pray they find the truth before it to late.  No one will ever get to heaven on their own merit.  No one can control God not even the unholy one.

1 Peter 2:19–20 19This is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.

We should all aspire to be good and godly people, that is to say, we should not act like gods but imitate our Lord Jesus Christ.  God forgives us but does not always stay the consequences of our sin.  When we suffer the consequences of our sin it is our own fault, our own most grievous fault. 

What God does for us is forgive us and lead us to repent so we do not have to suffer the consequences of our sin repeatedly.  At least in hope.  And God’s forgiveness will of course lead to eternal life and relationship with Him.  Though we might suffer in the little time we spend in this life, we will not suffer in the eternal relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The time is coming and it has been here for quite some time.  The world is in fact ramping up its attack on all believers of the Christian faith and Jewish faith.  It is the worlds opinion that it is time for Christianity and Judaism to come to an end.  I see it all the time when idiots who either don’t study the Bible or read it with an agenda to kill the Bible and write articles or comments on the internet.  These very people are trying their best to nail Christians and Jews as haters and even murderers.

Peter is pointing out that it is somewhat noble to endure the suffering for our sin, but it is noble and godly for the times we endure suffering for our faith and in our faith for the good that we do.  As Peter says it is a gracious thing we do when we suffer and endure, for doing good and keeping our faith.

1 Peter 2:21–23 21For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

We might not have to be nailed to a cross, nor will all of us suffer that we might have to endure the pain and humility that our Lord Jesus Christ did for us.  But we should be prepared for any suffering we might face because of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Remember He willingly suffered and died on a criminals cross for all.  Not only did Jesus Christ die for our sins, but He also endured all that went with the suffering and not once did He scoff those who crucified, mocked, or threw insults at Him while He was nailed to the cross of our salvation.

1 Peter 2:24–25 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Jesus did more than suffer and die on that criminal’s cross as He took the punishment for our sins.  Jesus defeated death, sin, and the unholy one forever.  And not only this, but Jesus also opened the door to our salvation to be resurrected as He too was resurrected to live an eternal life of true righteousness born by Jesus clothing us in His own righteousness.  And this is forever and ever.  Amen.

Written by Pastor Curtis A. May