Study Guide: Christ Died for Our Sins
Quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB); please check each one in your own Bible.
The Big Idea
The big idea: Christ died for our sins, as the Scriptures had said: he gave his life willingly as a ransom and a sacrifice, God gave him out of love, and his one offering brings forgiveness to everyone who believes in him (1 Corinthians 15:3; Mark 10:45; Romans 5:8; Hebrews 10:12; Acts 10:43).
Read Aloud
Surely he has borne our sickness and carried our suffering; yet we considered him plagued, struck by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray. Everyone has turned to his own way; and Yahweh has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
— Isaiah 53:4–6
For the Son of Man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
— Mark 10:45
For while we were yet weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man. Yet perhaps for a good person someone would even dare to die. But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
— Romans 5:6–8
Every priest indeed stands day by day serving and offering often the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins, but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God, from that time waiting until his enemies are made the footstool of his feet. For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
— Hebrews 10:11–14
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness. You were healed by his wounds. For you were going astray like sheep; but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
— 1 Peter 2:24–25
Where We Stand
Scripture says
- Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, and was raised on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3–4).
- The servant of Isaiah 53 was pierced for our transgressions and bore the sins of many, and Jesus said that its words “He was counted with transgressors” (Luke 22:37) must be fulfilled in him (Isaiah 53:5, 12).
- Jesus came to give his life as a ransom for many, and his blood of the new covenant was poured out for many for the remission of sins (Mark 10:45; Matthew 26:28).
- No one took Jesus’ life from him; he laid it down by himself (John 10:18).
- God showed his love in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8; John 3:16; 1 John 4:10).
- God reconciled us to himself through Christ, and sent Christ to be an atoning sacrifice to demonstrate his righteousness, that he might be just and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:18–19; Romans 3:25–26).
- Christ offered one sacrifice for sins forever, and where sins are forgiven there is no more offering for sin (Hebrews 10:12, 18).
- Everyone who believes in him will receive remission of sins (Acts 10:43).
We conclude
- Our conclusion: the Scriptures Paul means in 1 Corinthians 15:3 include Isaiah 53 (Luke 22:37; Acts 8:32–35; 1 Peter 2:22–25).
- Our conclusion: the servant of Isaiah 53 is one who suffers for God’s people Israel, and not the nation itself (Isaiah 49:5; 52:4; 53:8–9; 42:19; 59:3).
- Our conclusion: the cross was not a defeat that overtook Jesus against his will; he gave himself, in obedience to his Father, for others (John 10:18; Mark 14:36).
- Our conclusion: the Father and the Son are of one purpose in the cross: the Father loved and gave, and the Son loved and gave himself (Romans 8:32; Galatians 2:20).
- Our conclusion: no further offering for sin is needed to add to Christ’s one offering (Hebrews 10:12–18).
- Our conclusion: the warnings of Hebrews 6:4–6 and 10:26 speak of treating the Son of God with contempt, not of believers who sin and come back (Hebrews 6:6; 10:29; 1 John 1:9; 2:1).
The Hard Questions
- Is the servant of Isaiah 53 the nation of Israel (Isaiah 49:3; 41:8)? See The strongest objection under Christ Died for Our Sins, as the Scriptures Said.
- If God desires mercy and not sacrifice, and forgave the repentant before the cross, why was a death needed (Hosea 6:6; Psalm 51:16–17; Ezekiel 18:21–22)? See The strongest objection under Jesus Gave His Life as a Ransom, Willingly.
- Would it be unjust for one to bear the sins of others, when God’s law says “The soul who sins, he shall die” (Ezekiel 18:20; Proverbs 17:15; Exodus 32:32–33)? See The strongest objection under God Showed His Love: Christ Died for Us While We Were Sinners.
- If we sin willfully after we know the truth, is there no more sacrifice for us (Hebrews 10:26–27; 6:4–6)? See The strongest objection under He Offered One Sacrifice for Sins Forever.
- Can one who has truly believed fall away for good (Hebrews 6:4–6; 10:26–29)? See Whether a true believer can fall away for good under Questions Answered.
- Will the lost suffer forever, or be destroyed? See Whether the lost suffer forever or are destroyed under Questions Answered.
- Does salvation depend on these questions? See Whether salvation depends on these questions under Questions Answered.
Discussion Questions
- What passage was the Ethiopian reading, and what did Philip preach to him from it? (See the opening.)
- In Isaiah 53, for whose transgressions was the servant pierced? (See Christ Died for Our Sins, as the Scriptures Said.)
- What did Jesus say about his own life in John 10:18, and how does his prayer in Mark 14:36 fit with it? (See Jesus Gave His Life as a Ransom, Willingly.)
- According to Romans 5:8, how did God show his love, and when? (See God Showed His Love.)
- Whom does the warning of Hebrews 10:26–29 describe, and what does 1 John 2:1 say to a believer who sins? (See the objection under He Offered One Sacrifice for Sins Forever.)
- What does it mean for you that God says he will remember your sins no more? (See Hope.)
Hope
“Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). Of those in the new covenant God says, “I will remember their sins and their iniquities no more.” (Hebrews 10:17).
For the Leader
Allow about 45 minutes for one session. Read Isaiah 53:4–6 first, then Mark 10:45, Romans 5:6–8, Hebrews 10:11–14 and 1 Peter 2:24–25. Invite everyone to open and check each verse in their own Bible.
© 2026 Elvis Lucas, Open the Text. Original: https://openthetext.com/series/the-good-news/04-christ-died-for-our-sins-study-guide/
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