A couple more thoughts about Christ’s atonement

The truth about Christ’s penal substitutionary atonement is the key component to understanding the gospel.

And the Scriptures abound with images, references, and teaching about that atonement.

The Old Testament sacrificial system anticipated the atoning work of Christ — it anticipated the punishment being administered by the wrath of God, it looked forward to Christ fulfilling His role as the substitute for sinners, and it hoped for (was confident in) His ability to atone for the sins of men and satisfy God’s wrath.

Likewise, the New Testament abounds with references to this atoning work of Christ.  Consider:

• Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mk. 10:45)
• But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom. 5:8)
• He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? (Rom. 8:32)
• who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father (Gal. 1:4)
• Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE” (Gal. 3:13)
• and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. (Eph. 5:2)
• who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. (1 Th. 5:10)
• who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. (Titus 2:14)
• and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. (1 Pet. 2:24)

In many of these passages, it is important to notice the use of the preposition “for.”  It means that Christ was in the place of sinners when He was on the cross, and that as the substitute, He provided salvation, forgiveness, and redemption.

Substitution means that a real debt was paid and that sin is not overlooked.  Sin is fully considered (judged) by the righteous God who then pours out His wrath towards that sin against His Son who proves to be an eternally satisfying sacrifice and payment for that sin.  And by His death, then, He not only is the substitute for the wrath of God for those who will believe, but He also provides them with His perfect righteousness.

For more on the atoning, substitutionary work of Christ, consider these posts.