How is it that Jesus died for me in particular?

[Abba]

Hello Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus,

I wonder if some of you can help me to understand how Jesus died for me. There are ideas that I don’t understand and the lack of understanding serve as obstacles in my path. I don’t understand how Jesus died for me, in particular. Perhaps, if I come to a clearly understanding this, it will help me to come to appreciate, for instance, offering up sacrifices and in general help me to grow in the faith as it would remove some obstacles.

I don’t totally appreciate ‘sacrifice’ and have been in deep discussions trying to understand it, one of them was with CC_Carol from catholicforum.com about ten years ago or there abouts. Carol finally said, ‘just do it’ as you continue to try to understand. That’s what I have done. I just offer up sacrifices, here and there, but, I don’t really have an appreciation because I lack the foundational understanding. I was just thinking that if I come to understand how Jesus died for me in particular, that may help me to come to appreciate offering up sacrifices.

Galatians 2:20 is interesting but it is not enough. It does not provide a comprehensive theological explanation.

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

There is a key I found in my own process, that being ‘sinner’ - I am a sinner so He died for me in particular. But,… any thoughts?

 

[Jesus_123]

:bible1:
+“But He (Jesus) was
wounded
for our transgressions,
He was
**bruised **
for our iniquities: the
**chastisement **
of our
peace
was upon
**Him;
*and with His stripes we are
healed.”+

• Isaiah 53:5*

*

Lectio Divina (divine reading)
Archabbot Douglas R. Nowicki , O.S.B. (Order of St. Benedict)

“It is the **monastic insight **that reading, if it be authentic, cannot be undertaken simply with the eyes and the mind. Rather it must involve the whole person: mind, heart, body and spirit. It is reading not so much for information as for
formation,
that is, for encounter with the living God in this moment in such a way that one’s heart catches fire and one’s life is transformed …

In St. Benedict’s day reading a sacred or spiritual text was practiced not so much for the sake of ‘information,’ but rather in order to be
formed:
that is, to be
inwardly changed or shaped …

Thus the aim of
lectio divina (divine reading),
i.e., pondering the material in a slow, prayerful way, is to
dispose ourselves to welcome God’s ever-present grace and His efforts to conquer our hearts and transform us more and more into a holy people … ”
​

---

May God richly bless as you meditate upon His
Holy :bible1: Word . . .

---

“For God so loved the world,
that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in
Him
should not perish,
but have everlasting life.”
- John 3:16
*

. . . all for Jesus+
. . . thank You Dear Blessed LORD+
. . . praise God from Whom all blessings flow+
:harp:
​

 

[Abba]

Thank you for your response Jesus_123 and pardon my hard headed ignorance.

:bible1:
+“But He (Jesus) was
wounded
for our transgressions,
He was
**bruised **
for our iniquities: the
**chastisement **
of our
peace
was upon
**Him;
*and with His stripes we are
healed.”+

• Isaiah 53:5*

Yes, but how is this applied necessarily to the ‘particular’?

Here is generally speaking what I understand. Heaven was closed when Adam & Eve sinned. Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, offered Himself as a sacrifice in expiation for our sins and because He did, we can now go to Heaven. Prior to Jesus’ sacrifice, the people who died in grace went to The abode of the Fathers and the ones who died in very bad terms went straight to hell. When Jesus gave up His soul, He went to the Abode and liberated the ones who otherwise would go to heaven, and they did, e.g. Abraham. Now, Jesus was able to do this great sacrifice because He is divine.

I guess where I am kind of lost is that I understand from a different process people can go to Heaven other than Jesus having suffered for ‘me’ in particular. So, I understand heaven is now open, and now if people repent and try to abide by the Ten Commandments etc… they can make it to Heaven; but this understanding does not necessitate that Jesus suffered already for all of my sins in particular.

“For God so loved the world,
that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in
Him
should not perish,
but have everlasting life.”
- John 3:16

. . . all for Jesus+
. . . thank You Dear Blessed LORD+
. . . praise God from Whom all blessings flow+
:harp:
​

Yes, but this does not necessarily mean He suffered for all of my particular sins and those to come. It may, but it is not clearly stated. I am not arguing that it is not the case, I am trying to understand how it is.​

 

[CatholicRaven]

I don’t know if it would help you, but one thing that really helped me to understand and connect to Jesus’ suffering and death for my sins is Radix’s version of the Passion.

It’s really more of a mini-retreat or a meditation than just a performance or a play. It really draws me in and touches my heart.

One caution: you may want to have tissues handy, just in case. I don’t cry very easily, but this one never fails to bring me to tears.

 

[Monica4316]

Jesus’ Passion is universal. He suffered for all and for each as if they were the only one. Even a single sin would have needed to be expiated.

The grace of this redemption is applied to us through the Sacraments as the principal way

 

[Abba]

I don’t know if it would help you, but one thing that really helped me to understand and connect to Jesus’ suffering and death for my sins is Radix’s version of the Passion.

It’s really more of a mini-retreat or a meditation than just a performance or a play. It really draws me in and touches my heart.

One caution: you may want to have tissues handy, just in case. I don’t cry very easily, but this one never fails to bring me to tears.

Thank you for the recommendation. I tried ordering the DVD and got a Google warning about my connection not being private. It seems as though the website has a bug. I will look into it again and order it.

 

[Abba]

Jesus’ Passion is universal. He suffered for all and for each as if they were the only one. Even a single sin would have needed to be expiated.

The grace of this redemption is applied to us through the Sacraments as the principal way

Right, I see the Sacraments as having been left to us by Jesus as a way of redemption, but, this does not necessarily mean that He suffered for each and all of my sins in order for me to be forgiven. It could be that He left the sacraments because He opened the gate of Heaven.

Maybe the way to understand the ‘particular’ is via the ‘universal.’ So, the understanding goes that Jesus did not just open the gate of heaven ( by sacrificing Himself for original sin), but had to suffer all the sins of the world* in order to do so*, right? The basis for this understanding would be ‘universal justice.’ Based on the idea/understanding that God created the world in such a way as that it is governed by laws and when a law is broken it must be made up for. This is the reason why compensation had to be made for original sin, thru which, sin entered the world, and since the offense was against God; animal sacrifice was not enough and a human being could not make such a grandiose sacrifice to make amends. So, only a divine person could make the sacrifice - Jesus.

I don’t like the idea some people present about Jesus being the Just Judge because of these laws; as if He is entrapped by the universal laws. I think He is the Just Judge because He is Love( just a random thought).

Is it because of ‘universal justice’ that Jesus would have to have suffered for all the sins in order to open the gate?

 

[Jesus_123]

… I … I understand from a different process people can go to Heaven other than Jesus having suffered for ‘me’ in particular. …

The above statement has never has been a teaching of the Catholic Church . . . rather we embrace the below teaching of our LORD . . .

:bible1:
“Jesus saith unto him,
I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life:
no man
cometh unto the Father, but by Me.”+
- John 14:6

… So, I understand heaven is now open …if people repent and try to abide by the Ten Commandments … they can make it to Heaven;

The above is not a teaching of the Catholic Church . . . rather our Holy Mother Church teaches . . .

. . . :coffeeread: . . .
THE CATECHISM
OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
Section Two
The Seven Sacraments of the Church

CHAPTER ONE
THE SACRAMENTS OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION
**
II. Baptism in the Economy of Salvation**

1227
According to the Apostle Paul, the believer enters through Baptism into communion with Christ’s death, is buried with him, and rises with him:

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into **Christ Jesus **were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.29

The baptized have** “put on Christ.”**30 Through the Holy Spirit, Baptism is a bath that purifies, justifies, and sanctifies.31

VI. The Necessity of Baptism

1257
The** Lord **himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation.60 He also commands his disciples to proclaim the Gospel to all nations and to baptize them.61 Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament.62 The Church does not know of any means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude; this is why she takes care not to neglect the mission she has received from the Lord to see that all who can be baptized are “reborn of water and the Spirit.” God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments.

60 :bible1: Jesus answered: Amen, amen **I **say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. - John 3:5

61 :bible1: 19 Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever **I **have commanded you: and behold **I **am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world. - Matthew 28:19-20

62 :bible1: He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be condemned. - Mark 16:16

:compcoff: Link: usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2.shtml#art1​

… this does not necessarily mean He suffered for all of my particular sins and those to come. …

Clearly . . . in the below portion of :bible1: Scripture . . . the plural of sins is stated . . . it is up to you whether you want to surrender and commit to believing God’s Holy Word . . .

:bible1:
Because Christ also
died once for our sins,
the Just for the unjust:
that He might offer us to
**GOD, **
being put to death indeed in the flesh,
but enlivened in the spirit,
- 1 Peter 3:18

Abba . . . I have no idea where you have received so many corrupted and false ideas about Christianity, but you need to find a soundly orthodox Catholic Church . . . who’s priest honors Sacred Scripture & the Magesterial Teachings of our Holy Mother Church . . . and devote yourself to receiving the basic foundational truths of the Catholic Church . . .if you are really interested in Catholicism . . .

*

. . . all for Jesus+
. . . thank You Precious LORD+
. . .our **God *and our Wonderful Saviour+
. . . our All+​

 

[Abba]

Abba . . . I have no idea where you have received so many corrupted and false ideas about Christianity . . . but you need to find a . . . soundly orthodox Catholic Church . . . who’s priest honors Sacred Scripture & the Magesterial Teachings of our Holy Mother Church . . . and devote yourself to receiving the basic foundational truths of the Catholic Church . . . if you are really interested in Catholicism . . .

Good morning, Jesus_123,

Actually, I am a cradled Catholic raised by orthodox pious Catholics. No one has corrupted me nor are the priests I consult teaching unsound doctrine.

Sadly, when a person tries to understand deeper and tries to look behind the cliche and the pasted quotes, some react defensively and accusative.

I am simply trying to get a profound understanding, which I obvious lack in this matter. There are a lot of things that I understand about our faith, perhaps, some even better than you, but, there are areas inwhere I am weak. It takes a little courage to ask such elementary questions and show the world my ignorance, but, that’s who I am. I much rather expose my ignorance in a fundamental matter and learn it and carry on, than to pretend I know and stay ignorant. If you are offended by my questions, you can skip this thread, but, I will be responding to the other comments of your post.

You see, there are a lot of things to understand and the basic catechism offered for Confirmation barely begins to cover the vast knowledge and wisdom of the Catholic Church.

Peace,

Abba

 

[Abba]

The above statement has never has been a teaching of the Catholic Church . . . rather we embrace the below teaching of our LORD . . .

:bible1:
“Jesus saith unto him,
I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life:
no man
cometh unto the Father, but by Me.”+
- John 14:6

You are approaching me at the level of a university student working on a dissertation in this matter, while in actuality I am being spoon fed at elementary school. I am NOT presenting a foreign doctrine here, I am NOT claiming something to be Catholic teaching that it is not, I am NOT doing all the things that you think I am doing. Perhaps, you can take a breather and take two, and reread my questions and if you can’t handle it then skip it.

I know the Church teaches Jesus died for ‘me’ and all of my ‘particular’ sins; and this is what I am trying to understand. I think that not understanding this is creating a barrier in my spiritual development and this is all I am trying to understand.

What I find extraordinary is that what I am showing indirectly is how a person can embrace and understand so many of the Church’s teaching yet lack understanding in such a fundamental point.

So many things remain in harmony without understanding that Jesus died for me in particular and my particular sins. But, now, I can move forward in other areas and now it is an obstacle.

Peace,

Abba

 

[Abba]

I was just googling this query and this site comes up with an article on the topic with many biblical quotes: christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/19329/what-is-the-biblical-basis-for-thinking-that-jesus-died-for-me-specifically

But, I can’t find a comprehensive explanation. The quotes do not justify the conclusion. However, at the bottom of the article there is this comment:

“On the other hand, if your belief is that man has free will to accept salvation so Christ paid for all sins of all men in a generic way and is up to you to accept or not the salvation, it is more difficult to conciliate Jesus dying specifically for anyone. Nevertheless you can also believe that Jesus foreknew you would repent and believe in the Gospel so He knew He was dying for you”

"Generic’ or universally, is how I have understood it. I was never taught this, and have always heard that He died for ‘me’ etc… but, I have understood personally generically and salvation is open to me thru the Church, via the Sacraments etc…because Jesus made amends, but not necessarily for me in particular nor my particular sins.

I am surprise a Catholic has not written a concise explanation on this topic. Maybe, once I come at peace with it, I’ll write an ebook.