01.02.02 - The Substitutionary Death of Jesus Christ on our behalf

2. The Substitutionary Death of Jesus Christ on our behalf: In broad terms, since God’s perfect justice demands satisfaction for all sin, and since we human beings are without any means of providing that satisfaction short of suffering eternal condemnation, God Himself in His inexpressibly great mercy and kindness provided us with a substitute, His own dear Son our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For this reason while salvation has been made available to all mankind through Jesus’ death on our behalf, absent the acceptance of His Person and work by faith, the sure and certain prospect of condemnation remains. For God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him. The one who believes in Him is not being judged, but the one who does not believe has already been judged on the grounds that he has not put his faith in the Name (i. e., the Person) of God’s only Son. John 3:17-18.

He who believes in the Son has life. He who does not have the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on Him. John 3:36.

Jesus died in our place, and we most certainly did need Him to do so, for there was absolutely nothing that we could have done to avoid eternal condemnation otherwise. We were faced with a debt we could not pay, a debt moreover that had to be paid because of God’s perfect character. Only the perfect Son of God was qualified to pay this debt, and that is exactly what our Savior did for us, dying on the cross for us, atoning for our sins, that we might not be condemned but instead live forever with Him (Romans 5:19; Romans 6:10; Romans 8:3; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15; Galatians 3:13; Ephesians 2:14-16; Ephesians 5:25; Hebrews 2:10-18). This is My blood of the covenant which is poured out for the forgiveness of sins concerning many people. Matthew 26:28.

God made Him a means of atonement [achieved] by His blood [and claimed] through faith, to give proof of His justice in leaving unpunished in divine forbearance [all] previously committed sins, so as to prove His justice in the present, namely, so that He would be [shown to be] just [in this] and [justified] in justifying the one who has faith in Jesus. Romans 3:25-26. For not only did Christ die for us while we were helpless – He even did so at the critical time, [dying] on our behalf, ungodly though we were. For scarcely will someone die on behalf of a righteous person; and perhaps someone might also risk death on behalf of a good person. But God commends His love towards us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8. For I entrusted to you as of primary importance what I had also received, [namely] that Christ died on behalf of our sins according to (i. e., in fulfillment of) the scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15:3.

He made Him who had no [personal] experience of sinning [to be] sin (i. e., a sin offering) for us, so that we might have (lit., “become”) God’s righteousness in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21.

[Jesus Christ], who gave Himself on behalf of our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father. Galatians 1:4. And I no longer live myself, but Christ lives in me. And that which I now do live in the flesh, I live in faith for the Son of God, the One who loved me and who gave Himself up on my behalf. Galatians 2:20. And walk in love, just as also Christ loved you and gave Himself up as sacrifice and offering for a sweet smell to God. Ephesians 5:2.

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, in order that we might die to sins and live to righteousness. By His wound you are healed. 1 Peter 2:24.

[Jesus Christ] who gave Himself on our behalf to redeem us from all lawlessness (i. e., sin; cf. 1 John 3:4) and to cleanse for Himself a people [to be His] own unique possession, zealous for good works. Titus 2:14.