The Saving Substitute

Sproul says, in Chapter five of The Truth of the Cross, that Jesus lived vicariously through us as a substitute, dieing in our place, for our sin.

"Jesus acts as the Substitute, taking our place at the bar of God's justice....which means that when He offered an atonement, it was not to satisfy God's justice for His own sins, but for the sins of others. He stepped into the role of the Substitute, representing His people. He didn't lay down His life for Himself; He laid it down for His sheep. He is our ultimate Substitute."

"A substitute has appeared in space and time, appointed by God Himself, to bear the weight and the burden of our transgressions, to make expiation for our guilt, and to propitiate the wrath of God on our behalf. This is the gospel. Therefore, if you take away the substitutionary atonement, you empty the cross of its meaning and drain all the significance out of the passion of our Lord Himself. If you do that, you take away Christianity itself."

All I can say is that the more I preach, the more I become enamored with the gospel. It simply cannot escape the sermon, no matter what I'm preaching. It all comes full circle to the atoning work of Christ for my life. The gospel is not getting old, it's becoming more and more alive to me than ever before!

I think that I'm more grateful and excited about the Gospel today, than the day I was saved (19 years ago). For those who have long since embraced the gospel as well, this is my hope in reminding you, to look to Christ evermore!

"Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you. I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder"
~2 Peter 1.12-13

Shielded By Jesus Christ

“God’s wrath is his righteousness reacting against unrighteousness; it shows itself in retributive justice. But Jesus Christ has shielded us from the nightmare of retributive justice by becoming our representative substitute, in obedience to His Father’s will, and receiving the wages of our sin in our place.”

- J.I. Packer, In My Place Condemned He Stood

HT: Of First Importance

Day 7 -- The Cross He Bore

Today's chapter is pretty straight forward. Of all the chapters so far, the events in chapter seven were the most familiar to me. Nevertheless, the significance behind this event in chapter seven, of sentencing Christ to death, definitely heightens the emotions even more toward Christ.

"Then the high priest tore his robes, and said, 'He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your judgment?' They answered, 'He deserves death.' ~ Matthew 26.65-66

"The Jews saw the Nazarene as an arrogant impostor, robbing God of his glory by claiming divine prerogatives and even going so far as to claim equality with God. They simply saw him as a self-confessed fraud and a dangerous upstart."

So naturally, to these 'law abiding leaders', He "deserves" death.

In John 18.14 Caiaphas proclaims to the people something absolutely remarkable....

"Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people."

Fearing the response of the Romans, because of the popular following of Christ, Caiaphas made this statement without knowing that there was an incredible truth to its claim. The truth is, one Man must die on behalf of the people. But this is no prophet of God. This remarkable statement made by a despicable human being, actually spoke truth of the very act that was soon to take place.

"Ultimately two voices have spoken in that courtroom, the voice of God and the voice of Satan: both said, 'One for all.' But there is fundamental disagreement between them. God speaks in terms of redemptive substitution, substitutionary atonement; Caiaphas, who is Satan's tool as much as Judas, speaks in terms of elimination. God would have his Son die for his people so that they might live; Caiaphas would have Christ die in order to be rid of him..."

"Thus predestination and human responsibility meet as Christ is condemned."

"this Man, delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death." ~ Acts 2.23