The death of Christ met and requited every demand of violated justice. In Romans 3:25-26, Paul wrote concerning the death of Jesus, “ Whom God set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus .” His death provided the opportunity for the great mercy of God to rejoice against His righteous judgment. The death of Christ made all this possible because His blood cleanses sins and separates the obedient from the non- obedient.
The death of Christ was the perfect plan for satisfying flawlessly and fully the divine plan of redemption. It is only through His death that the souls of many men have taken on the quality of the righteousness of God. The death of Christ provides us the chance to realize a nearer and closer relationship with God than we otherwise could realize. In Luke 7:41-43, Jesus tells a parable to a Pharisee named Simon. The parable is about a creditor forgiving two debtors—“ the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty .” He asks Simon, “ Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most ?” Simon returned the correct answer: “ I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most .” Jesus died for us (1 Cor. 5:21). Those who love Him do so more than they could otherwise love Him.
Therefore, concerning the death of Christ, just how much does God hate sin? Look in Gethsemane and see the drops of sweat as blood (Luke 22:44). Look at Calvary and hear the mocking of sinful, cursed men (Mark 15:29-32). Look at Jesus and hear him cry out, “ My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ?” (Matt. 27:46). Then we will see what it cost God to atone for the sins of humanity. When one understands this, there will be no hesitating in submitting to the command of baptism in the likeness of His death (Rom. 6:3-4)!