Question:
Now, I know that most Christians believe that Christ died for our sins, but I had a person who says that he is a Christian explain it to me different. He feels that many Christians have been misled for different reasons, one being they have strayed from the Authorized King James Version of the bible. Anyway, he claims that when the bible speaks of Jesus ‘dying for our sins’, it does not mean that he ‘died for our sins’. Ok let me explain. He claims that the word ‘for’ has about 14 different meanings. And in this case, the word for means because. So this is his reasoning. He feels that there is no way that Christ died to take away our sins, otherwise the world would be different.
Answer:
The Bible (King James) is translated correctly, that Christ died “for” our sins. If Jesus only died “because” of our sins, then that would not necessarily do us any good. If Jesus would have been murdered, then that would have been dying “because” of man’s sin (because sinful man would have killed Him), but then Jesus would not have been giving His life “for” man’s sin. But Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR THE SHEEP. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I LAY DOWN MY LIFE, that I might take it again. No man taketh 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 commandment have I received of my Father” (John 10:14-18). Jesus was not just dying “because” of man’s sin, but clearly “for” man’s sin.
You could die in a car accident “because” of someone else’s sin (they ran a stop sign….., they were drinking and driving…, they fell asleep at the wheel…, etc). Does that mean that your death would have helped them in the sin that they committed? Not at all. You would be dead, but your death would not help them and their sin in the least. The Bible (King James) is correct in its translation, Jesus died “for” our sins. “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (I Corinthians 15:3,4).
A gift will only benefit you, if you will receive it. You can be offered a check for a million dollars, but it will only do you good if you sign it and cash it. Jesus died for your sins, but it will never do you any good, unless you receive Him as your Savior. Will you receive Him now? “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12).