Gospels Part 003
Jesus came to earth as a physical, mortal human being subject to death. With that background, we have a much more complete picture of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. As God with the Father, He was eternal and could never die. But because of mankind’s sin—the sin of each and every human being who has ever lived—we needed a Savior, a sacrifice to pay the full penalty for all of it.
This is the reason no other sacrifice would be sufficient. Only the life of Jesus Christ, as the One who created all things including humans, could pay that penalty. It took the life of the Creator of all human life, of all who have lived or would ever live, to pay the death penalty for all the sins of all who have lived or would ever live.
Had Jesus been only a mere man, His sacrifice could only pay the death penalty for Himself—and if somehow sinless then perhaps for another person if that could even be acceptable before God. But Jesus was no mere man. He was God the Creator in the flesh, the only life that was more valuable than all other lives of all humanity throughout all time.
The great goal of God’s plan
Behind all of this is a plan few understand. It’s not just a matter of Jesus Christ dying so we can be forgiven. There is a great purpose behind our need for forgiveness. And that purpose is for God to “bring many children to glory” as part of His family!
Notice how this is beautifully spelled out in Hebrews 2:9-12:
“What we do see is Jesus, who for a little while was given a position ‘a little lower than the angels’; and because He suffered death for us, He is now ‘crowned with glory and honor.’ Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone. God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that He should make Jesus, through His suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation.
“So now Jesus and the ones He makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them His brothers and sisters. For He said to God, ‘I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people.’”
There is a reason the apostle Paul calls Jesus “the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29). In 2 Corinthians 6:18 Paul similarly writes of God the Father telling His people, “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
Astonishing as it may sound, this is the goal of God’s plan. This is why Jesus Christ emptied Himself of His glory, splendor and majesty that He shared with the Father as God in heaven. This is why He came to earth to live as a human being—and to give His life as a sacrifice for our sins. And this is why the Father resurrected Him to return Him to His previous glorious state as “the firstborn among many brethren.” Those “many brethren” are destined to be the very sons and daughters of God!
This is where you come in!
Jesus Christ exchanged His life for the lives of many. As God, He became man so that man—all who are willing to unreservedly give their lives to Him as He gave His life for us—could become God, as part of the divine family. That is the astounding truth of the Scriptures!
God’s plan is to “bring many children to glory” through Jesus Christ, “the firstborn of many brethren.” That plan and purpose includes you! You weren’t created for an empty and meaningless life, but for the greatest purpose imaginable—to become part of the family of God, one of God’s own children!
As we have seen, Jesus Christ offered the greatest sacrifice of all time. And He did it for you! This is why each of us should commit to making God’s purpose for us a reality by acknowledging the purpose for Jesus Christ’s suffering and death in our place and committing our lives to Him just as He gave His life for us!
Becoming a child of God is a huge subject that’s beyond the scope of Know Your Sword right now. If you would like to study more on this topic, we have a free study guide, Why Were You Born? that explores this subject in much more depth. Click on the linked title to read, download or request a printed copy.
© Scott Ashley, 2025. All rights reserved.
Course Content
Scott Ashley
Scott Ashley was managing editor of Beyond Today magazine, United Church of God booklets and its printed Bible Study Course until his retirement in 2023. He also pastored three congregations in Colorado for 10 years from 2011-2021. He and his wife, Connie, live near Denver, Colorado.
Mr. Ashley attended Ambassador College in Big Sandy, Texas, graduating in 1976 with a theology major and minors in journalism and speech. It was there that he first became interested in publishing, an industry in which he worked for 50 years.
During his career, he has worked for several publishing companies in various capacities. He was employed by the United Church of God from 1995-2023, overseeing the planning, writing, editing, reviewing and production of Beyond Today magazine, several dozen booklets/study guides and a Bible study course covering major biblical teachings. His special interests are the Bible, archaeology, biblical culture, history and the Middle East.
