The Scriptures give a reasonable amount of information describing what Jesus’ death on the cross has achieved. The following is a list of many of them. I got this from a little Birdy (http://www.patheos.com/blogs/euangelion/2015/03/why-did-jesus-die-on-the-cross/).
- Ransom (Mark 10:45; Matt 20:28).
- New Covenant (Mark 14:22-25 and par.).
- Restores Israel and Draws the Nations (John 11: 51-52; Gal 3:13; Rev 5:9-10).
- Rescue / Deliverance (Gal 1:4).
- Reconciliation (Rom 5:10-11; 2 Cor 5:18-20; Eph 2:16; Col 1:20, 22).
- Redemption (Gal 3:13; Rom 3:24; 1 Cor 1:30; 7:23; Eph 1:7, 14; Tit 2:14; 1 Pet 1:18; Rev 5:9).
- Justification (Rom 3:24; 5:9; Gal 2:21).
- Forgiveness of sins (Matt 26:28; Eph 1:7; Heb 9:22; 1 John 1:9).
- Peace (Isa 53:5; Eph 2:14-17; Col 1:20).
- Healing (Isa 53:5; 1 Pet 2:24).
- Washing / Cleansing (Tit 2:14; Heb 1:3; 9:14-22; 10:2; 1 John 1:7, 9; Rev 7:14).
- An Example (Phil 2:5-11; 1 Pet 2:21; Heb 12:1-4).
- Love (Rom 5.8).
Ransom (Mark 10:45; Matt 20:28).
45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mk 10.45)
28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mt 20.28)
New Covenant (Mark 14:22-25 and par.).
22 And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” 23 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 24 And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” (Mk 14.22-25)
Restores Israel and Draws the Nations (John 11: 51-52; Gal 3:13; Rev 5:9-10).
51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. (Jn 11.51-52)
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. (Gal 3.13-14)
9 And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.” (Rev 5.9-10)
Rescue / Deliverance (Gal 1:4).
3 grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, (Gal 1.3-4)
Reconciliation (Rom 5:10-11; 2 Cor 5:18-20; Eph 2:16; Col 1:20, 22).
10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Rom 5.10-11)
18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, owe are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 1 For our sake he made him to be sin [sin offering] who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor 5.18-21)
16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. (Eph 2.16)
20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, (Col 1.20-22)
Redemption (Gal 3:13; Rom 3:24; 1 Cor 1:30; 7:23; Eph 1:7, 14; Tit 2:14; 1 Pet 1:18; Rev 5:9).
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written,t“Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” (Gal 3.13)
For there is no distinction: 23 for fall have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. (Rom 3.23-25)
22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. … 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God,righteousness and sanctification and redemption, (1 Cor 1.22-24,30)
22 For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. (1 Cor 7.23)
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, (Eph 1.7)
13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself to people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (Tit 2.13-14)
16 since it is written, m“You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (1 Pet 1.16-19)
9 And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.” (Rev 5.9-10)
Justification (Rom 3:24; 5:9; Gal 2:21).
For there is no distinction: 23 for fall have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. (Rom 3.23-25)
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. (Rom 5.8-9)
21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. (Gal 2.21)
Forgiveness of sins (Matt 26:28; Eph 1:7; Heb 9:22; 1 John 1:9).
28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (Mt 26.28)
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, (Eph 1.7)
22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. (Heb 9.22)
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 Jn 1.7-9)
Peace (Isa 53:5; Eph 2:14-17; Col 1:20).
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed. (Isa 53.5)
14 For He himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were afar off and peace to those who were znear. (Eph 2.14-17)
20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Col 1.20)
Healing (Isa 53:5; 1 Pet 2:24).
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed. (Isa 53.5)
24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. (1 Pet 2.24)
Washing / Cleansing (Tit 2:14; Heb 1:3; 9:14-22; 10:2; 1 John 1:7, 9; Rev 7:14).
14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself to people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (Tit 2.14)
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, (Heb 1.3)
14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.8 16 For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17 For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. 19 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, d“This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” 21 And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. (Heb 9.14-22)
2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? (Heb 10.2)
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and rto cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 Jn 1.7-9)
14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Rev 7.14)
An Example (Phil 2:5-11; 1 Pet 2:21; Heb 12:1-4).
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil 2.5-11)
21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. (1 Pet 2.21)
12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and cis seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. (Heb 12.1-4)
Love (Rom 5.8)
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom 5.8)
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