Jesus The Substitute Pt. 1
The scriptures mainly given in building support for this doctrine are as follows with a brief explanation:
Exodus 12, which narrates the events of the first passover. In this chapter, that the passover lamb functioned as a penal substitute, dying in the place of the firstborn sons of the Israelites, in order that they might escape the wrath of God.
Leviticus 16, briefly the book of Leviticus makes use of many sacrifices for atonement sake. It brings to light a Holy God dwelling amongst sinful people. Ch 16 highlights the fact that "Gods wrath must be overcome in order to draw near to Him, and that only by performing the sacrifices in the correct manner is this possible." The scapegoat is introduced in this chapter highlighting the use of a substitute and the anticipation of Christ to come. The summary as given by the authors is as such, "The book of Leviticus addresses the question 'How can a holy God dwell in the midst of sinful people?' The answer for old covenant believers was a system of atoning sacrifices, with the day of atonement at its heart."
Isaiah 52:13-53:12, This being perhaps the most well known passages concerning the doctrine. The suffering Servant in Isaiah at a glance seems to leave no doubt in the readers mind concerning Gods plan in the atonement to exchange Christs righteousness for our sinfulness. My hope for the reader of this blog is a desire to read the scriptures here and get a beautiful picture of Gods redemptive plan. The suffering servant lies at the heart of the gospel. The punishment in these verses seems obvious and we know that the New Testament uses the verses to speak of Christs death in penal substitutionary terms.
I had the wonderful opportunity to read "Pierced for our Transgressions" by Steve Jeffery, Michael Ovey and Andrew Sach. Prior to reading I really had no idea of the nature of attack of the doctrine of Penal Substitution. The doctrine of Penal Substitution states that God gave Himself in the person of His Son to suffer instead of us the death, punishment and curse due to fallen humanity as the penalty for sin.
The scriptures mainly given in building support for this doctrine are as follows with a brief explanation:
Exodus 12, which narrates the events of the first passover. In this chapter, that the passover lamb functioned as a penal substitute, dying in the place of the firstborn sons of the Israelites, in order that they might escape the wrath of God.
Leviticus 16, briefly the book of Leviticus makes use of many sacrifices for atonement sake. It brings to light a Holy God dwelling amongst sinful people. Ch 16 highlights the fact that "Gods wrath must be overcome in order to draw near to Him, and that only by performing the sacrifices in the correct manner is this possible." The scapegoat is introduced in this chapter highlighting the use of a substitute and the anticipation of Christ to come. The summary as given by the authors is as such, "The book of Leviticus addresses the question 'How can a holy God dwell in the midst of sinful people?' The answer for old covenant believers was a system of atoning sacrifices, with the day of atonement at its heart."
Isaiah 52:13-53:12, This being perhaps the most well known passages concerning the doctrine. The suffering Servant in Isaiah at a glance seems to leave no doubt in the readers mind concerning Gods plan in the atonement to exchange Christs righteousness for our sinfulness. My hope for the reader of this blog is a desire to read the scriptures here and get a beautiful picture of Gods redemptive plan. The suffering servant lies at the heart of the gospel. The punishment in these verses seems obvious and we know that the New Testament uses the verses to speak of Christs death in penal substitutionary terms.
...as we turn to the New Testament, I will give the authors summary of each book so as to let the point be made by which I cannot improve upon.
The Gospel of Mark, "The cup Jesus must drink, the darkness at noon, the cry of dereliction, and Jesus own predictions that He will be handed over to the Gentiles all testify that at the cross He suffers Gods wrath. Why is this? He dies as our substitute, paying the ransom price of His death for our life. Thus Marks gospel teaches penal substitution."
The Gospel of John, John the Baptist, in the opening chapter of John proclaims, "The lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." The book makes several comparisons to Jesus and the lamb sacrificed at the Passover. John 3 uses the text from Numbers 21:4-9 in which describes an episode during the wilderness wanderings of the Israelites after the exodus from Egypt. In the midst of the Israelites wickedness God sends judgment in the form of venomous snakes. Many Israelites died and during this they acknowledged their sin cried to Moses to pray for them. "The the Lord said to Moses, make a snake and put it up on a pole, anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." Any one who looked at the snake then lived. Jesus explains in John 3 that the Son of Man must be lifted up drawing the parallel between Himself being lifted up and Moses lifting up the snake. John uses the word perish throughout the gospel. To perish in John is to suffer the punishment for sin under Gods just condemnation. It is penal. Jesus perished in the place of His people, that hey might live. This is Penal Substitution.
The Gospel of John, John the Baptist, in the opening chapter of John proclaims, "The lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." The book makes several comparisons to Jesus and the lamb sacrificed at the Passover. John 3 uses the text from Numbers 21:4-9 in which describes an episode during the wilderness wanderings of the Israelites after the exodus from Egypt. In the midst of the Israelites wickedness God sends judgment in the form of venomous snakes. Many Israelites died and during this they acknowledged their sin cried to Moses to pray for them. "The the Lord said to Moses, make a snake and put it up on a pole, anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." Any one who looked at the snake then lived. Jesus explains in John 3 that the Son of Man must be lifted up drawing the parallel between Himself being lifted up and Moses lifting up the snake. John uses the word perish throughout the gospel. To perish in John is to suffer the punishment for sin under Gods just condemnation. It is penal. Jesus perished in the place of His people, that hey might live. This is Penal Substitution.
I feel I must make a brief interlude in this writing to take a moment and just praise Jesus. As I make my way through the book I feel compelled to just lift Christ on high. I am what I am through the grace that rests in Christ. I feel compelled to give Christ all the glory due His name. Not I, but the men who authored this work, took the time to assemble this work, and not I but Christ is the King over all His creation. I do not want this blog to ever attempt to make myself more than I am, a wretched sinner saved by grace. I claim no glory or accreditation for the body of this work but am merely sharing the essence of this wonderful snapshot of Christs work on the cross so that by becoming sin for us we might be made righteous in Him who knew no sin. That is the end of my ramblings.
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