What exactly did Jesus sacrifice?

First critical point; Jesus did not sacrifice himself so that he could become God! That idea smacks more of Mormonism than anything, and it isn't Christian teaching. He sacrificed himself because he was God! If he had just been a good man (even a perfect man) his sacrifice could only have benefitted one sinner, not all the multitude of the redeemed portrayed in Revelation chapter 7. Only if he was both perfect man and perfect God could he be "the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).

Second critical point; Jesus did not come into existence with his birth on earth. He was the Word of God who was with God from the beginning, who is God, and who made everything that was made (John 1:1-3). Now, this brings us to your valid points about sacrificing himself to himself.

What Jesus sacrificed was a sinless life. He gave up that sinless human life in order that sinful humans might be redeemed from their downward spiral of sin and death. Jesus need not have died, you see. He was without sin and could have lived forever on earth. He could have acquired monumental power because of that! He could have become ruler of the whole earth, if he'd so desired! All the wealth of the world could have been his to command. But he allowed himself to be handed over for crucifixion even though he had done nothing deserving of that (and Pilate knew it). He could have even come down off the cross as mockers challenged him to do. He chose to suffer to the death because that was the only way a once-for-all-time perfect sacrifice for sin could be made to God in heaven.

When Jesus died, the thick curtain in the Temple (separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place) was miraculously rent from the top down to the bottom. This showed that the way into God's very presence in heaven was now opened, and that Christ's sacrifice had been accepted. The symbolism for all of that is in the Old Testament but there isn't room here to go into it all.

Now, Jesus' sacrifice also included abasing himself to the point where he had to demonstrate faith in the promises of God. He knew he had been given authority from God to lay down his human life and to raise himself from the dead (John 10:18), but he first had to show he trusted in that promise of God by dying. Obedience had to come first. That's trust. That's faith. And when he was on the cross, having sin heaped on him like a ton of sewage, that faith was tested to the limit. When the Father forsook him (because God cannot look upon sin, and Christ BECAME sin on the cross), the holy, sinless Son of God knew what it was, personally, to be unclean and filthy in God's eyes. You and I cannot begin to imagine what that was like for the one who had been eternally with the Father and the Holy Spirit in the Godhead!

The sacrifice entailed the sinless One becoming sin although he had done no sin. That's what his sacrifice was all about - sacrificing his sinlessness without commiting sin. It was necessary because none of us could ever do enough to pay for our own sin. Jesus paid for it all, by 'handing over' his perfect, sinless life to God and having faith that God would accept that as a legal satisfaction for divine justice. You see, if God just decided to forgive people without that, then Satan could accuse God of being unjust! Satan would be vindicated in his rebellion against God! It's a massive issue, and it all hinges on Jesus being God incarnate.

Jesus sacrificed himself for us. There is the blessed trinity of the Father, Son (Jesus), and the holy spirit. Jesus was born through his mother Mary. While Jesus was alive he did many wonderful things and lived his life for others. Jesus was tempted by the devil while he was alive, but did not give in. He also had the choice to do what he wanted. He was born a man on earth and had temptations as we do. Jesus performed wonderful miracles and did many great things while he was alive as written by his disciples in the bible (some in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). Jesus sacrificed himself on the Cross to cancel our debt of sin, to reconcile us with God, and to reopen heaven to us. As God's only Son, he is the only mediator between God and man. Jesus's resurrection showed he was truly the Son of God. Jesus had won the greatest victory of all. He defeated sin and conquered death. Good point in saying why couldn't the creator of all the laws of the universe just forgive everyone. It would be so much easier. It is hard to tell because only God knows that. Adam and Eve messed up from the beginning and I always wondered why it just could not end there instead of generations suffering. The devil tempted Adam and Eve. The devil thought he was better than God and he was a fallen angel. God allowed the devil to tempt people on earth for a certain period and see how things would go. Not very well. The devil is a good example of how bad things can go without God.

God does not "forgive everyone" ..because not everyone repents of their sin.

Your arrogance will never be seen in heaven (prime example)

The whole matter you don't comprehend is a "sorting out" process...

Some of His creation in heaven abused the free will He created in them,

and they were kicked out and confined to this world ... where they now

spread the same rebellion in whoever is inclined that way (like you).

Those who honour God are given a way around the problem (called "sin")

that humans are all less than God's holiness and perfection.

The first covenant was to help people understand how humans fall short,

but that through repentance and sacrifice we may be forgiven. They had

to spend money on the best and cleanest sacrificial animals, so it COST

them something ... eliminating those with flippant ideas like yours.

Jesus brought the new covenant, after becoming the final sacrifice under

the old covenant. It COST Him alright. Clowns like you would never have

it in them to endure what He went through for those who honour Him.

It was His human flesh that suffered and died ... His deity continued.

During that 3 days & nights He ministered to souls that had left this life

in the time of Noah's flood. He always knew exactly what He was doing.

You don't comprehend the difference between Spirit and flesh, between

deity and humanity ... let alone any concept of what Jesus suffered.

He was sinless, and resurrected because He could not legally remain

dead. When His followers have their sins covered by His blood, we also

cannot legally remain dead ~ and will rise to join Him in a sin-free heaven.

1. Jesus sacrificed His life. Of course He knew he was going to die ultimately. We all die.

2. He did not know he was God and he is not God. He is the Son of God. Lightning explains this perfectly.

3. He did not know he would be resurrected. That decision was down to the Father.

4. You say He did not suffer much. That is a pathetic statement. He was betrayed, stripped bare, whipped and beaten, with bare feet carried His Cross, falling 3 times, was nailed to the Cross, had a crown of thorns on his head and suffered beyond any of us can fully comprehend.

5. God did not sacrifice himself to himself as Jesus the Son of God suffered His life for His Father to save us mere mortals from our sins.

6. Yes Jesus descended into Hell and on the third day rose again. Thus proving God's ability to perform miracles.

Your second point as you state is easily answered. God, our creator, needed to teach, via his Begotten Son, that to be forgiven you have to forgive and redeem yourself. Hence the ultimate sacrifice.

Hope this explain some of your misconceptions. Niamh

He obeyed all the way to the cross, and was crucified for several excruciating hours. It has been suggested that He was crucified for 6 hours before He died. Now the bible tells us that He lost His freinds, His dignity, His clothes, His blood, and His relationship with the Father (momentarily), and His life. He gave up all He had in what is known as the devine exchange. He received the condemnation due to all humanity for our sins and suffered humiliation pain and separation from the Father for us.

Lord Jesus (Yeshua) is the begotten Son of God (begotten meaning He was born Son of God) and lived a sinless life to make up for what Adam and Eve did (He is considered the second Adam) and performed countless miracles (not everything that Yeshua did is in the Bible) everytime we sin God looks to His Son to those that believe in Him and forgets the sin that was acted upon us, which is usually unintentional sin and repenting afterwards.

God hates sin and those that are workers of iniquity, so He sent His only begotten Son as a sacrifice to pay for our sins for those that believe in Him and follow the gospel in order to reach Heaven. What else would be ultimate?

@Nihmh: The Lord Yeshua actually did claim to be God and is God. I never mentioned he wasn't God. He is part of the 3 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father is the greatest as the Lord Yeshua mentions.

Being crucified was considered the most painful and tormenting way to die in those times.

And Jesus wasn't worshipped during his time on earth, everyone mocked him because they thought he was lying about everything and they stoned him, disrespected him, and crucified him.

Jesus actually spent time in hell until he was resurrected from the dead. He did nothing to deserve this.

But He conquered death and because of what He did we can have eternal life if we just accept Him and repent of our sins.

first it is written that he shed drops of blood from his pores, that mustve been intense by itself, it is said that this happened because of something spiritual that night while he was praying.

just think how powerful something has to be in order to shed blood as sweat.

then there is the physical whipping and scourging and the mental humilation

being nailed to the cross would seem petty in pain to the former. so he paid the price with his blood. but thats not all he did, the atonement and the 2000 years of being high priest, lord and judge of the world has also got to be intense. but not for pain but for steadfast comittment and longsuffering. He said if we would receive his atonement we would not have to suffer the same way. however, he has said and hinted on the fact that if we dont repent, it might be necessary to take upon us every stripe and pain that his atonement had. just by the mere covenant of us willing to take upon us His name.

its conjecture to me at this point, but i think all of us who need to, will one day be a lamb ready for the slaughter. if we are willing and prepared we all could become saviours so that others might live and be saved. (but so far, thats only my own beliefs - one with more athority than i would have to confirm it)

His separation from GOD...he was sin who new no sin, he took on the sins of the world.

God loves you....

His Physical Life

His Blood

His dignity