HIS SUFFERING AND DEATH

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HE SUFFERED

All the time He lived on earth, but especially at the end of His life, He bore, in body and soul, the wrath of God against the sin of the whole human race; in order that by His suffering, as the only atoning sacrifice, He might redeem our body and soul from everlasting damnation, and obtain for us the grace of God, righteousness, and eternal life.   (John 3:16; Romans 3:24-26)

SUFFERED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE AS JUDGE

He, being innocent, was condemned by a temporal judge, and thereby delivered us from the severe judgment of God, to which we were exposed. (Acts 4:27-28)

HE WAS CRUCIFIED

Thereby I am assured that He took upon Himself the curse which lay upon me, because the death of the cross was cursed of God. (Galatians 3:13-14)

IT WAS NECESSARY FOR CHRIST TO SUFFER DEATH

It was necessary for Christ to suffer death because the justice and truth of God required that satisfaction for our sins could be made in no other way than by the death of the Son of God. (Gen. 2:17; Heb. 2:14-15)

HE WAS BURIED

He was buried to show thereby that He was really dead. (Acts 13:29)

HE DESCENDED INTO HELL

In my greatest temptations I may be assured that Christ my Lord, by His inexpressible anguish, pains, and terrors, which He suffered in His soul on the cross and before, has redeemed me from the anguish and torment of hell.   (Psalms 116:3; Isaiah 53:1-12; Matthew 27:45-46)

(Adapted from the Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 15 & 16)

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