Was Christ's death on the cross God's afterthought or part of a preordained plan?
Christ's death on the cross was not an afterthought. It was part of the whole preordained plan of the ages, according to Scripture. Paul received and delivered this gospel from the ascended Lord: Christ died for our sins. The finished work of the cross was part of that preordained plan.
Les explains that the gospel Paul delivered was not from Christ's earthly ministry but from the ascended Lord, after the finished work of the cross was behind Him. Paul declares that Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture. Les emphasizes it wasn't just an afterthought; it was in that whole preordained plan of the ages that Christ went to the cross. This fits God's non-compromising plan of salvation, illustrated by Cain and Abel: Abel believed and acted on what God said, while Cain rationalized and tried his own effort, but God did not accept it. Salvation is received by believing what God says, not by conniving around the simple gospel.
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
More Questions
Was Jesus' death for sin part of God's plan from the beginning?
Christ's death for sins was the fulfillment of God's whole design from day one — that He would take upon Himself men's sin.