1. The Plot! Why Did Jesus Have to Die?

2. God Invented the Classic Plot Line that successful authors follow.
j An Idyllic Beginning k A Ruinous Problem l The Improbable Solution m Surprising Success n Enhanced Restoration

3. The Plot of our World:
j An Idyllic Beginning – Genesis 1-2 k A Ruinous Problem – Satan & Sin

4. The treatment of Christ illustrates the corruptive effect of sin:
Judas’ Betrayal of Jesus
The religious leaders’ jealousy & hatred
The lies & distortions of the false witnesses
 Peter’s weakness & deceit
 The mob mentality of the people in the crowd
 Pilate’s cowardice
 The scourger’s sheer brutality
 The guards’ indifference
 Mocking, taunting, spitting, beating, crucifying, stabbing, killing.

5. And no one is immune! - Rom. 3:10-18
There is none righteous, not even one; 11 there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; 12 all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one. 13 Their throat is an open grave; with their tongues they keep deceiving, the poison of asps is under their lips; 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing & bitterness; 15 their feet are swift to shed blood, 16 destruction & misery are in their paths, 17 & the path of peace they have not known. 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

6. How Can It Be Set Right Again?
The Plot of our World:
j An Idyllic Beginning – Genesis 1-2 k A Ruinous Problem – Satan & Sin l The Improbable Solution
How Can It Be Set Right Again?

7. Justice & Love Justice requires that Wrongs must be punished.
 Isaiah 59:2 - “Your iniquities have made a separation between you & your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.”

8. Deut. 32:4 - “His work is perfect, For all His ways are just;
God is a God of Justice!
Deut. 32:4 - “His work is perfect,
For all His ways are just;
A God of faithfulness & without injustice.
Righteous and upright is He.”

9. Rom. 3:23 - ‘all have sinned & fall short of. the glory of God’ Rom
Rom. 3:23 - ‘all have sinned & fall short of the glory of God’ Rom. 6:23 - “The wages of sin is death.”
That’s Justice!

10. Love - God loves us!
“It is easier for a camel to go thru the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." 25  When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished & said, "Then who can be saved?"  & looking at them Jesus said to them, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:24-26

11. The Plot of our World:
j An Idyllic Beginning – Genesis 1-2 k A Ruinous Problem – Satan & Sin l The Improbable Solution – God’s love! m Success! Justice declared us guilty! Love took our punishment!

12. 1 Peter 2:24 - He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
2 Corinthians 5:21 - He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

13. Isaiah 53:4-6 - Surely our griefs He Himself bore, & our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, & afflicted. 5  But He was pierced thru for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well- being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. 6  All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.

14. Romans 3:26 “... so that He would be just & the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

15. The Plot of our World:
j An Idyllic Beginning – Genesis 1-2 k A Ruinous Problem – Satan & Sin l The Improbable Solution – God’s love! m Success! – Jesus’ Sacrifice! n Restoration!

16. One day there will be a sequel!
Jesus will return & fully restore His world & His people. And the new heaven & earth will surpass even the original.

17. Why did Jesus have to die?
We have sinned & we deserve to go to hell!
He is not asking for lip service that says, “I believe!”
He is asking for a faith that obeys…
… and lives faithfully!
“Be faithful unto death & I will give you the crown of life!” – Rev. 2:10