On the Nature of Christ's Sacrifice

[Equites_Christi]

I was surprised the other day to find I didn’t really know what this is about. We say when Christ died he saved man from sin, but I don’t really see what that means since people have sinned ever since and will continue to sin. It can’t mean that He erased the power of sin to alter our eternal destiny, so what does it mean?

 

[scriabin]

He saved man from the consequences of sin–eternal damnation; provided we call to Him for mercy.

 

[LilyM]

I was surprised the other day to find I didn’t really know what this is about. We say when Christ died he saved man from sin, but I don’t really see what that means since people have sinned ever since and will continue to sin. It can’t mean that He erased the power of sin to alter our eternal destiny, so what does it mean?

Actually he did alter the eternal destiny that sin merits us. Every man woman and child of us by rights should be in hell due to either original or personal sin. THAT is the eternal destiny Adam and Eve chose for us.

Christ’s life as well as His death changed that bigtime. His gift of the sacrament of baptism enabled our cleansing from original sin - which previously had not been open to us.

And His institution of the other sacraments, as well as His saving death on the cross, enabled both the remission of personal sin and preemptively has prevented some sin due to the graces those sacraments and his death supply.

 

[Benadam]

Jesus was the only human who had a life to give. We are all destined to die. Jesus chose to die. He chose to lay down His life so He would raise it up. Being of our kind we can enter into His divine life.

Jesus entered into human experience divine life. That pattern of life is death to resurrection because of the state of human life under the law of death.

Jesus raised humanity to divine life as a consequence, that life is available to all human life.

That pattern of life marks our souls through Baptism.

Jesus gave suffering the power to redeem. Not just His suffering but through Baptism human suffering joined to His can be like His because of the human nature we share with Him.

 

[Strategery]

I was surprised the other day to find I didn’t really know what this is about. We say when Christ died he saved man from sin, but I don’t really see what that means since people have sinned ever since and will continue to sin. It can’t mean that He erased the power of sin to alter our eternal destiny, so what does it mean?

Christ bore the punishment for all of our sins - past, present, and future.

The wages of sin are death. Christ took on this punishment in our place. When he was scourged, beaten, mocked, and ultimately crucified, he was bearing God’s punishment for all of the sins that both you and I commit on a regular basis.

The paschal sacrifice does not mean that sin leaves the world. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We are fallen and sin will always be part of human nature. However, God has offered his only begotten son to atone for the sins we commit.

 

[Nita]

I was surprised the other day to find I didn’t really know what this is about. We say when Christ died he saved man from sin, but I don’t really see what that means since people have sinned ever since and will continue to sin. It can’t mean that He erased the power of sin to alter our eternal destiny, so what does it mean?

There are two sections in the Catechism of the Catholic Church that would be very helpful:

CCC #599 - 618 (Christ’s Redemptive Death In God’s Plan)vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P1O.HTM

and

CCC #1987 - 2005 (Grace and Justification)vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P6Y.HTM
vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P6Z.HTM

I included the websites in case you don’t have a copy of the Catechism. (The two sections together only total around 10 pages.)

Adam’s sin had many consequences. Jesus’ death does not save us from experiencing many of them. For example, we will all experience physical death; experience pain and suffering; experience disordered passions/concupisence.

But, the greatest effect of Adam’s sin was to separate us from union with God - from the presence of His eternal supernatural life (sanctifying grace) in our souls. To spend eternity without that Life and union with God is eternal death - Hell. Jesus died to make atonement for Adam’s sin and all subsequent sin - and thereby meriting a restoration of this life of grace for mankind.
Romans 5:12 - 19 Therefore as sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all men sinned – … For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. … For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification. If, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Then as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to acquittal and life for all men. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

When we say we are “saved from our sin”, it means our souls truly are made righteous - the “stain”, if you will, of sin is removed and we are filled with God’s life of grace. Also, as we cooperate with the power of God’s grace present in us, we are strengthened and can begin to overcome giving in to our sinful temptations.