In the Augsburg Confession “(Jesus Christ) was born of the virgin Mary, truly suffered, was crucified, dead, and buried, that he might reconcile the Father to us and be a sacrifice not only for original sin but also for all actual sins of men.”[i] Paul also writes in Romans 3:23 “God put [Jesus] forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed.”
In the Old Testament, God gave the laws of Sacrifice to the Israelites. These highly specific laws where used to reconcile the relationship with God and the people of Israel. “If someone’s offering is a fellowship offering, and he offers an animal from the herd, whether male or female, he is to present before the Lord an animal without defect. He is to lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood against the altar on all sides. From the fellowship offering he is to bring a sacrifice made to the Lord by fire … then Aaron’s sons are to burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering that is on the burning wood, as an offering made by fire and aroma pleasing to the Lord.” (Leviticus 3:1-5)
In accordance with the Apostles’ Creed, Jesus Christ descended into the earth to sacrifice Himself for all humankinds’ sins. In 1 John 4:10 said that, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
In the Old Testament the orders of the Sacrifice are to take an animal without defect, kill the animal, sprinkle the blood and then burn the body as an offering. In the same way, Jesus has no sin in the presence of God, was killed by His own people, shed His blood and descended into hell.
In the New Testament, Jesus uses the words “hell” or “eternal fire,” connoting the same meaning. “Then he will say to those on his left, “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matt. 25:41) Jesus “descended into hell” so that He could serve as the replacement or sacrifice instead of humankind which would repair our relationship with God. Jesus was punished and cursed in the eternal fire instead of us.
When someone died without forgiven from God, they might go to hell and be punished in Hell’s eternal fire. However, Jesus physically died on the cross for our sins. Jesus descended into hell. He suffered in the fires of Hell for our absolution. After three days, He rose from the dead and ascended into heaven.
[i] Theodore Tappert, The Book of Concord (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1989), 30.3.
In the Old Testament, God gave the laws of Sacrifice to the Israelites. These highly specific laws where used to reconcile the relationship with God and the people of Israel. “If someone’s offering is a fellowship offering, and he offers an animal from the herd, whether male or female, he is to present before the Lord an animal without defect. He is to lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood against the altar on all sides. From the fellowship offering he is to bring a sacrifice made to the Lord by fire … then Aaron’s sons are to burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering that is on the burning wood, as an offering made by fire and aroma pleasing to the Lord.” (Leviticus 3:1-5)
In accordance with the Apostles’ Creed, Jesus Christ descended into the earth to sacrifice Himself for all humankinds’ sins. In 1 John 4:10 said that, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
In the Old Testament the orders of the Sacrifice are to take an animal without defect, kill the animal, sprinkle the blood and then burn the body as an offering. In the same way, Jesus has no sin in the presence of God, was killed by His own people, shed His blood and descended into hell.
In the New Testament, Jesus uses the words “hell” or “eternal fire,” connoting the same meaning. “Then he will say to those on his left, “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matt. 25:41) Jesus “descended into hell” so that He could serve as the replacement or sacrifice instead of humankind which would repair our relationship with God. Jesus was punished and cursed in the eternal fire instead of us.
When someone died without forgiven from God, they might go to hell and be punished in Hell’s eternal fire. However, Jesus physically died on the cross for our sins. Jesus descended into hell. He suffered in the fires of Hell for our absolution. After three days, He rose from the dead and ascended into heaven.
[i] Theodore Tappert, The Book of Concord (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1989), 30.3.