STUDY No. 3
THE DEATH OF CHRIST AS OUR SUBSTITUTE
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We believe Christ died for our sins
according to the scriptures!
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We believe that the forgiveness of
sins is only possible through the substitutionary death of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ.
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We do not believe His death was an
accident.
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We do not believe His death was that
of a martyr, dying only for a good cause.
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We do not believe His death was in
order to influence us and only express the love of God for us.
The first 4 verses of 1 CORINTHIANS
15 are worthy of careful consideration.
The words of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself adequately convey the reason
for His coming into this world and His death upon the cross:-
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Matthew 18:11
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Matthew 26:26-28
[NB. Matthew 18:11 is questioned or omitted in most modern versions.]
This is one of the central, yet most neglected, doctrines of the Christian
faith. Ever considered why? It is not because it is difficult to
understand - even a child can take it in.
HE DIED THAT WE MIGHT BE FORGIVEN
Ponder carefully the following aspects of Jesus' death:
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It involves a substitution
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Isaiah 53:5
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It involved a sacrifice
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Isaiah 53:10
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It was an act of redemption
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Galatians 3:10-13
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It provides reconciliation
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1 Peter 3:18
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It provides justification
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Romans 4:25 and 5:1
Sometimes modern versions replace some of these 'theological' words, with
shorter words which do not convey the full meaning, resulting in truth
being lost!
THINK ABOUT THE POWER OF HIS PRECIOUS BLOOD
Nowadays many religious teachers tend to discredit ‘the blood
of Christ’. But God values it, and without it there
is no remission of sins.
Notice the things we have through His blood:
| Colossians 1:20 |
Forgiveness |
| 1 Peter 1:18, 19 |
Redemption |
| Hebrews 9:14 |
Clean Conscience |
| Hebrews 10:19 |
Boldness |
| Hebrews 9:22 |
Remission |
| Revelation 5:9, 10 |
A New Song! |
Why does God value the blood so highly? What is the significance of
the blood?
The whole sacrificial system of the Old Testament teaches us aspects
of the ATONEMENT of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is an important word in
the New Testament - it describes the act of making reparation for sin.
THE NATURE OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST
| It was a VICARIOUS offering (An offering in
place of others) |
| John 8:46 |
1 Cor. 15:3 |
1 Peter 2:22 |
2 Cor. 5:21 |
Hebrews 4:15 |
Romans 5:8 |
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| It was a SATISFACTORY offering (Meeting the
payment demanded) |
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John 10:11 |
Mark 10:45 |
1 Peter 3:18 |
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| It was a RECONCILING offering (Providing a basis
for fellowship) |
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Romans 5:10 |
2 Cor. 5:18 |
Eph. 2:16 |
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| It was an ATONING offering (Providing a cover
for sin) |
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Lev. 6:2-7 |
Lev. 4:13-20 |
Exodus 12:3 |
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But see John 1:29.
The offering of Christ did more than merely cover our sins - it effectively
carried them away! See Psalm 103:12.
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In the beginning God and man were friends. In sinning, Adam turned away
from God. God turned away from Adam. At the cross, the Lord Jesus Christ
satisfied the righteous demands of a holy and just God. The penalty for
sin was paid in full. It was then that God turned toward man.
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It remains now for man to turn and face God. Indeed, man is commanded now
to repent (Acts 17:30)
and believe (1 John 3:23).
Only when man turns to God like this will God move in saving grace, add
faith to faith and create a new creature in Christ.
2 CORINTHIANS 5:17,18
sums up the result of man's response.
Because the sinless Saviour died, My sinful soul is counted free,
For God the just is satisfied, To look on Him and pardon me!
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