Answer: There is much confusion among Christians in general as to why Jesus had to die, so let us consider this subject by using 1 Timothy 2: 5, 6 as our text:

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”

Adam’s Sin of Disobedience

Over six thousand years ago Father Adam fell into sin through disobedience. As a result, he immediately lost the human perfection he had previously enjoyed as a gift from his benevolent Creator. Eventually, after much sorrow, pain and suffering, he lost life itself and went into the death state. We note that God had warned Adam that the penalty of disobedience was death (Genesis 2: 17). After Adam’s sin God confirmed that penalty to him (Genesis 3: 19).

Additionally, the entire human family suffers the same penalty of death, for all having descended from Adam, have inherited that same penalty.

“The Man Christ Jesus”

In order for Father Adam (and the entire human race in Adam) to be released from the death penalty, Divine Justice required an exact equivalent to Adam  a perfect man. That perfect man could then take the place of Adam as a substitute, and by going into death, would satisfy Divine Justice, and permit Adam and the whole human race to be released from the death penalty. But where could a perfect man be found, since all of Adam’s descendants are fallen and imperfect (Romans 3: 10)?

The answer is Jesus, who before becoming “the man Christ Jesus” was the highly exalted spiritual being, whom John 3: 16 speaks of as God’s “only begotten Son”  His First and Chief Son.

God offered Jesus the privilege of divesting Himself of the spiritual nature and becoming a human being, so that He could sacrifice His perfect human nature in death as Adam’s substitute. A great reward was attached to the faithful carrying out of God’s will in this matter  exaltation to the Divine nature, the highest of all spiritual natures, the very nature of God Himself. Jesus joyfully accepted the offer, carried out God’s will faithfully and was granted the promised reward (Philippians 2: 7-9).

“A Ransom for All”

The word “ransom” comes from the Greek word antilytron, meaning corresponding price. Divine Justice could not have accepted an angel as the ransom, for an angel, being of a higher nature than man would have been more than a corresponding price. An animal, lower than the human nature likewise could not have been acceptable, due to its being less than a corresponding price. Finally, an imperfect man from Adam’s race could not have been the ransom, for one already under condemnation to death could have nothing to offer (Psalm 49: 7).

The preceding paragraphs explain why Jesus alone was placed in the position to pay the exact equivalent price for Adam’s debt, by going into death as Adam’s substitute. The philosophy of the ransom may, in simplest terms, be viewed as a commercial business transaction, as shown in various Scriptures such as 1 Corinthians 6: 20:

“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”    

Divine Justice furthermore requires that Jesus’ human nature always remain in the death state, otherwise the ransom would be taken back, and Adam and his race would come under condemnation to death again. We are assured, however, that Jesus’ humanity will always remain dead, for the Divine nature, of which Jesus is a member, is unchangeable.

Although Divine Justice only required the death of the perfect man Jesus, God saw the wisdom of permitting Jesus to suffer (Isaiah 53: 4, 5). His sufferings not only proved to be tests of His faithfulness, but also prepared Him to sympathize with those He had come to redeem  the Church during the Gospel Age, and the world during the Millennial Age.    

“To be testified in due time”

The testimony referred to in verse 6 of our text indicates that there is a due time for the truth regarding the ransom and the work of the ransom to be accomplished. The due time for Christ’s Church to be given this testimony and to receive the benefit of the ransom has been the Gospel Age. But for the vast majority of the human race, their due time is future, in the Millennial-Age Kingdom of Christ and His Church. All will be granted release from Adam’s condemnation and given the opportunity to gain all that Adam lost  perfect human life forever on a perfect earth.

Note: Please find a more thorough examination of this subject in Study 9 of God’s Wonderful Plan of the Ages.

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