Question: The Bible states that the fruit of sin is eternal death and that Jesus paid for this debt by dying on the cross. However, Jesus did die but not eternal death as he was resurrected to a glorious body. How then can he pay the penalty if that sin-penalty is only satisfied by "eternal death."

Ernest

Answer: Dear Ernest,

If I capture the intent and direction of your question, I believe the answer has to do with the "worth" of the debt, and of the payment. Jesus was not simply another man who somehow was able to live a sin-free life – for if that was the case then he would have been able only to "buy" his own eternal life – with his perfection. A direct 1-1 correspondence exists – life for life. Since he did not sin, that human life was worthy of paying for one eternal life.

And that’s the issue. Who was Jesus? Who was it on that cross? Who came out of the empty tomb? Who is in heaven now, with a glorified body, to return to earth at some point in the future? Jesus was and is the God-man – very man and very God.

The Bible tells us and teaches that God came to us in the person of Jesus, becoming incarnate. He became something he had not been before (human) while obviously not ceasing to be God.

Because he was the God-man, his life and death are worth more than the sum total of all men and women who have ever lived and who ever will. The Creator dies for his creation. The Creator is superior and greater than what is formed and created. The debt is paid.

Hope this helps – a quick and brief answer to what I perceive to be your question.

In Christ,

Greg Albrecht