Did Jesus Die Accidentally?
Ever heard of “Dispensational Theory”? This is a popular, yet false teaching that is prevalent in many religious organizations today. Their core claim: “The kingdom of God is at hand. The rule of Messiah on earth, promised in the Old Testament and earnestly longed for by the Jewish people, was near, for the Messiah had come. However, the people had rejected rather than accepted Him, and the fulfillment of the kingdom promises had to be delayed until God’s purpose in saving Jews and Gentiles and forming His church was completed. Then Christ will return and set up God’s kingdom on this earth, (Faith Baptist Bible college)”. In a nutshell, they teach that man was able to overpower God, or the plan of God failed, because of the intervention of man. I would remind you of two passages: Joshua 21:45 “Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.” Even a Pharisee, Gamaliel said, “but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God” (ACTS 5:39). Jesus has the power of “twelve legions of angels” (Matt. 26:53) at His command; How can you believe that man who in comparison to God is “a maggot” (Job 25:6), could interfere with God’s eternal plan? Furthermore, these false teachers teach Christ being frustrated in His mission due to “unforeseen” events caused the Old Testament prophecies to be postponed. WOW! No really, wow!
There is nothing that God didn’t see coming! My Bible, and yours, clearly teaches God is omniscient. The word “omniscient” comes from two Latin words omnis signifying all, and scientia signifying knowledge. God has perfect knowledge of all things. What does He need to learn? What did God forget? What could surprise Him? He knows everything that has happened and everything that will happen. You think, He knows it. You speak a word, He knew it before you say it (Psalm 139:1-6). “Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite” (Psa. 147:5). “Known to God from eternity are all his works” (Acts 15:18).
Ephesians 1:4 Concerning the church Paul wrote, “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world…” Make no mistake the “us” were the saints at Ephesus, the church. But what do they teach? The church was set up as an “interim arrangement” that is an afterthought, until Christ comes back to set up His kingdom and reign on David’s throne in earthly Jerusalem for a literal thousand years. Question: How on earth can they call Jesus “Lord and King” and then say He hasn’t a kingdom? “… He who is the blessed and only [a]Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords…” (1 Tim. 6:15; See Rev. 17:14, 19:16).
The dispensational (premillennial) theorist must be seen for what they truly are. This teaching is not harmless speculation, it is rank unbelief that makes the death of Christ an unfortunate, and unforeseen accident. The scriptures prove the mission of Christ was spiritual not physical. The cross was not accidental, it was His purpose. God sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (Rom. 3:24-26; 1 John 2:1-2). “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:15; 1 John 4:14; 1 John 3:5). The Hebrew writer tells us “…He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Heb. 9:26). Now did Jesus come to set up a material kingdom or to die for the sins of the world?
The salvation of man from sin is possible only because a sacrifice for sin has been made and Jesus came for that purpose, not to be served, “…but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28). Paul didn’t think the death of Christ was an accidental regrouping. He wrote, “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3). If His death was “according to the scriptures” how was it an accident? Jesus was, “…delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God…” (Acts 2:23). Jesus himself approached the cross saying, “The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him” (Matt. 26:24). But the dispensationalist makes the “just as it is written” an accident.
Think with me and reason. Recorded in Acts 8 an Ethiopian eunuch was reading none other than Isaiah 53, “of the suffering Savior”. He asked Philip “…of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” v.34. Philip’s answer, Jesus! Philip “preached Jesus” v.35! Some erringly seek to apply Isaiah 53 to the nation of Israel; But there are three reasons why this chapter cannot apply to national Israel. First, the chapter tells us of one who voluntarily suffered, did Israel ever voluntarily suffer for you? Second, the One who suffers in this chapter had to be innocent. Which nation, tribe, or man in all Israel was without sin? (Isa. 53:6). Peter, Luke and the writer of Hebrews all apply Isaiah 53 to Jesus (1 Pet. 2:21-25; Lk. 22:37; Heb. 9:28). Peter clearly connected Jesus to Isaiah: “For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and [d]Overseer of your souls” (1 Pet. 2:25). Third, the nation of Israel never suffered for the sins of the world. When you read Isaiah 53, you come face to face with Jesus. The message of that chapter is the Gospel message of the spiritual mission of Christ. Jesus said, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (John 6:38). His purpose was not to set up an earthly kingdom, but to die for our sins and establish a spiritual kingdom, that is the church. That’s where the saved are right now (Col. 1:13)!
Read Hebrews 10:5-10 and tell me again, how was this not God’s will from the beginning? Still need convincing? Jesus knew the cross was to be the conclusion of His journey on earth before He ever left heaven. Phil. 2:5-9: Jesus was, “in the form of God” (v.6), “made Himself of no reputation” (v.7), “humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (v. 8). Having read, to this point, these few scriptures how could you believe that His death was an accident?
Jesus is, “…the [a]author and [b]finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2). Jesus died for our sakes, yes for you and for me, for all mankind (2 Cor. 8:9). Jesus could have had all the kingdoms of this world as offered by the devil (Matt. 4:8-10) but rejected the offer, and faced excruciating and painful death of the cross, why? Because of the will of the Father (Matt. 26:39). Jesus was not a helpless, frustrated victim of man, but a worthy volunteer for man. His cry from the cross, “It is finished,” What was “it”? It was His mission to die for the sins of the whole world. The cry of the greatest victor the world has ever known. From the beginning it was the plan that Christ would die. Jesus said, “No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father” (John 10:18).
In Luke 24:1-27, we read of the risen Savior Jesus who upon meeting two, walking on the Road to Emmaus, who were contemplating the resurrection said to them “… O fools and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (vs.25-27).
Did you hear that? The scripture says that it was all about Jesus, about His suffering and death. Why would anyone choose to be slow of heart in believing them? But the truth be known, the dispensationalists are not slow to believe them, they don’t believe them at all! Why did Jesus put an “ought not Christ to have suffered these things” if it were all an accident? The facts prove dispensationalism is false to the core. The whole dispensational program is materialistic, unscriptural and those who accept it are guilty of unbelief. The people of God should not glory in some materialistic hope. With Paul let us say, “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Gal. 6:14).
Final thought from the wise man. “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever” (1 Chron 28:9).
In Love
Dave Scarpino