3 deaths of the Final week of Jesus Part 3

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III)DEATH OF SUBSTITUTION Matt 27:32-56

III)DEATH OF SUBSTITUTION Matt 27:32-56

Matthew 27:32–56 KJV 1900
32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. 33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, 34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. 35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. 36 And sitting down they watched him there; 37 And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. 39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, 40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. 41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, 42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. 43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. 44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. 45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? 47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. 48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. 49 The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him. 50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. 54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. 55 And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: 56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.

III) Crucifixion of Jesus

III) SATAN'S SEEMING JOY VERSES SATISFYING THE FATHERS’ REDEMPTIVE PLAN.

Showing the complete PREEMINENCE of Jesus Christ

CHRIST, OUR GREAT SUBSTITUTE

( 2 Cor 5:21 )
2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV 1900
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

WHAT IS SUBSTITUTIONARY ATONEMENT?

The cross of Jesus is where the substitutionary atonement happened.

On the cross, Jesus served as our substitute and atoned for our sin ( .( 2 Cor 5:21 )

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV 1900
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

At the cross, our sin became Christ’s sin, our blameworthiness became Christ’s blameworthiness, the wrath we deserve from an infinitely just Being became the wrath He absorbed from an infinitely just Being.

It made salvation possible for spiritually dead sinners wrought with guilt.

As if this weren’t good news enough, Christ’s blamelessness became our blamelessness, Christ’s reward became our reward, Christ’s perfection our perfection, and Christ’s confident standing before the holy and just Father became our confident standing before the holy and just Father.

We can no more improve on Christ’s imputed righteousness than we can count past infinity. “This is our acquittal: the guilt that held us liable for punishment has been transferred to the head of the Son of God…

We must, above all, remember this substitution, lest we tremble and remain anxious throughout life—as if God’s righteous vengeance, which the Son of God has taken upon himself, still hung over us…

.[To] take away all cause for enmity and to reconcile us utterly to himself, he wipes out all evil in us by the expiation set forth in the death of Christ; that we, who were previously unclean and impure, may show ourselves righteous and holy in his sight.”

(John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, vol. 2, pp. 506, 510) “When we think of such an act of grace on God’s part, we have the answer to our question: how can God justify the ungodly?

The righteousness of Christ is the righteousness of his perfect obedience, a righteousness undefiled and undefileable, a righteousness which not only warrants the justification of the ungodly but one that necessarily elicits and constrains such justification.

God cannot but accept into His favor those who are invested with the righteousness of His own Son.” (John Murray, Redemption Accomplished and Applied, 124) “Religion says, ‘attain’; the gospel says, ‘obtain.’ Religion says, ‘attempt’; the gospel says, ‘accept.’ Religion says, ‘try’; the gospel says, ‘trust.’ Religion says, ‘do this’; the gospel says, ‘it is done.’” (Ajith Fernando, The Supremacy of Christ, 144)

OTHER ATONEMENT THEORIES

The redemptive suffering of Jesus stands in stark contrast to the following sub—biblical theories:

Origen’s Ransom Theory:

Alexandrian thinker Origen taught in the 3″’ century that Jesus’ death was a ransom paid to the devil.

As Wayne Grudem points out, “it falsely thinks of Satan rather than God as the one who required that a payment be made for sin and this completely neglects the demands of God’s justice with respect to sin.

It views Satan as having much more power than he actually does, namely, power to demand whatever he wants from God.” (Systematic Theology, 581)

Abelard’s Moral Influence Theory:

French thinker Peter Abelard taught in the 12″“ century that Jesus’ death was just God’s way of saying “l love you” to the human race, but there was no payment for sin involved.

Although the cross is a powerful “I love you” from God to humans to influence us to a moral life, this view leaves us without a solution to our problem of our objective blameworthiness before a just God.

This view has witnessed a resurgence in today’s church as God’s wrath and our guilt have been downplayed ( to appease consumers) so that the cross becomes merely an expression of God’s love rather than of God’s love and justice.

The cross-work of Christ is the ultimate display of God’s retributive justice and His redeeming love. If either God’s justice or love is compromised, so is the gospel.

Socinus’ Example Theory:

Italian thinker Socinus taught in the 16th century, Jesus’ death does nothing more than give us with an example of the kind of obedience God desires from His creatures.

While the cross does serve as a powerful example of costly obedience we ought to mirror, this view, along with the Ransom and Moral Influence theories, overlooks that God requires payment for the offense of sin against His holy nature.

Leo X’s Penance Theory:

As Pope Leo X and John Tetzel taught in the 16th century, the crosswork of Jesus is not sufficient to save sinners.

We must supplement the work of Christ by purchasing indulgences, gazing at relics, and committing acts of penance to work off whatever sins were not payed for on the cross.

This view resorts to our own religious performance in a futile attempt to gain God’s favor.

It reduces “good works” to insecure attempts to become saved  rather than grateful acts because we are saved thanks to Christ’s work as our Great Substitute.

When the church loses sight of the good news of Christ’s substitutionary death we slide into performance-based spirituality, embracing the bad news (the anti-gospel) that man must save himself.

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV 1900
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

CHRIST, OUR SUBSTITUTE: THE MEANING OF THE CROSS

Several biblical terms express (but do not exhaust)  the ministry of Jesus as Substitute—and the meaning of the cross—including (but not limited to):

Jesus as our PROPITIATION. “He is the propitiation for our sins…” ( 1 John 2:2 ) Related to the ancient Jewish world of temple sacrifices, the core meaning of propitiation (Greek=ἱλασμός “hilasmos”) speaks of Christ as our “wrath taker” (see also 1 John 4:10 ; Rom 3:25 ; Heb 2:17 ).

1 John 2:2 KJV 1900
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 4:10 KJV 1900
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Romans 3:25 KJV 1900
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Hebrews 2:17 KJV 1900
17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

Jesus as our SACRIFICE.

“But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Heb 9:26 )

Also related to the ancient Jewish system, sacrifice (Greek=θυσίας “thusias”) speaks of Christ as the final and all-sufficient substitute, pouring out His blood for our life, rendering the old system of animal sacrifice obsolete.2

Hebrews 9:26 KJV 1900
26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Jesus as our REDEMPTION. “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace”

(Eph 1:7 ) Related to the first century world of slave trading, redemption (Greek=ἀπολύτρωσις “apolutrosis”) speaks of Christ paying the price to purchase freedom for slaves (like us) incapable of self-liberation (see also Col 1:14; Heb 9:12; 1 Cor 6:20Gal 3:13 ).

Ephesians 1:7 KJV 1900
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Colossians 1:14 KJV 1900
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Hebrews 9:12 KJV 1900
12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
1 Corinthians 6:20 KJV 1900
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Galatians 3:13 KJV 1900
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Jesus as our RECONCILIATION.

“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.” (2 Cor 5:18-19 )

Related to first century family and social relationships, reconciliation (Greek=καταλλάξαντος “katallaxantos“) speaks of Christ mending the relational rift between God and men resulting in relational peace where there used to be war and a deep love connection where there used to be a vast disconnect (see also Rom 5:10).

2 Corinthians 5:18–19 KJV 1900
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Romans 5:10 KJV 1900
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Jesus as our JUSTIFICATION.

“who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” (Rom 4:25)

Related to the first century legal world, justification (Greek=δικαίωσιν “dikaiosin”) speaks of Christ as the one in whom we are declared legally righteous in the eyes of God, the divine Judge (see Rom 4:25 , 5:16 , 18 ).

God the Father declared His own Son, who was actually righteous, sinful and punished Him as such, so He could declare us, who are actually sinful, righteous and reward us as such (see also John 11:50-52 ; Rom 5:8-9; Phil 3:9 ; Titus 2:13-14; 1 Peter 2:21-25 , 3:18).

Romans 4:25 KJV 1900
25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Romans 4:25 KJV 1900
25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Romans 5:16 KJV 1900
16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
Romans 5:18 KJV 1900
18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
John 11:50–52 KJV 1900
50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. 51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; 52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
Romans 5:8–9 KJV 1900
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Philippians 3:9 KJV 1900
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Titus 2:13–14 KJV 1900
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
1 Peter 2:21–25 KJV 1900
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
1 Peter 3:18 KJV 1900
18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

Jesus as our ADVOCATE.

“…we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (1 John 2:1)

Another term from the first century courtrooms, advocate (Greek=παράκλητον “parakleton”) speaks of Christ as our defense attorney arguing our “not guilty” verdict before the Father by appealing to His own completed death sentence as sufficient payment for our law-breaking.

1 John 2:1 KJV 1900
1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

IN CHRIST ALONE

In this manifold work of God, through Jesus, we find the incredible gospel truth of substitutionary atonement.

This grace-saturated doctrine reminds us that, in submission to the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ stood as our substitute, in our place, to serve as our propitiation, our sacrifice, our redemption, our reconciliation, our justification, our advocate.

“In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” (Eph 1:11-14)

Ephesians 1:11–14 KJV 1900
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Substitution God’s righteousness and justice demand that he execute the sentence He has decreed upon sin.

”The soul that sinneth it shall die Ezek 18:20 ) ”The wages of sin is death …” (Rom 6:23) This means that judgment must fall on every human being, because we are all sinners.

Ezekiel 18:20 KJV 1900
20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
Romans 6:23 KJV 1900
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

However, the word of God tells of that our judgment has, in fact fallen on another person, the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is the fact of Christ’s taking the punishment that was meant for us that is known as the doctrine of substitution.

You can see a simple example of the idea of substitution in Mark 15:7 .

Mark 15:7 KJV 1900
7 And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.

Barabbas was guilty of several crimes, including murder and insurrection.

The Roman government had already condemned him to death by crucifixion.

But Barabbas never saw his cross!

Because Jesus took his place on the cross.

In fact, Christ was Barabbas’s substitute both physically and spiritually.

The doctrine of substitution describes both the nature of Christ’s death and the method God uses in providing salvation for all of us.

The guilt of the sinner is never denied.

Substitution is taught in the Bible in a variety of ways.

Substitution is Taught by Old Testament Sacrifices

There are six steps involved in making a sacrifice.

The first three steps were taken by the sinner for whom the sacrifice was being made.

He selected and presented the proper sacrificial animal, Lev 1:2

Leviticus 1:2 KJV 1900
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the Lord, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.

He identified with the sacrifice by placing his hand on its head, Lev. 1:4

Leviticus 1:4 KJV 1900
4 And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.

Then, he killed the animal, Lev. 1:9

Leviticus 1:9 KJV 1900
9 But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord.

Three actions were then performed by the priest:

He skinned the animal sacrifice and cut it into pieces, Lev. 1:6 He prepared the altar, Lev 1:7

Leviticus 1:7 KJV 1900
7 And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire:

He burned the sacrifice on the altar, Lev 1:9

Leviticus 1:9 KJV 1900
9 But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord.

The purpose of the sacrifice was to gain the sinner’s acceptance.

The sacrifice was made that it may be accepted for him to make atonement on his behalf.

The sacrifice made a covering and gained acceptance before the Lord.

Substitution is Taught by Direct Prophecy

The portion of Isaiah from chapter 40 to chapter 66 is the heart of the Old Testament teaching about the Messiah.

It begins with a prophecy of the ministry of John the Baptist in Isa 40:3-5, and it concludes with the new heavens and new earth in Isa 66:22

Isaiah 40:3–5 KJV 1900
3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted, And every mountain and hill shall be made low: And the crooked shall be made straight, And the rough places plain: 5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together: For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
Isaiah 66:22 KJV 1900
22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, Shall remain before me, saith the Lord, So shall your seed and your name remain.

The general lines of truth are as follows.

Summary of the Messiah’s Work, Isa. 52:13-15

Isaiah 52:13–15 KJV 1900
13 Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, He shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. 14 As many were astonied at thee; His visage was so marred more than any man, And his form more than the sons of men: 15 So shall he sprinkle many nations; The kings shall shut their mouths at him: For that which had not been told them shall they see; And that which they had not heard shall they consider.

Jehovah (one name for God) introduces the Messiah with the words “Behold, my servant…”

The word behold calls out attention to important matters.

It says “wake up, don’t miss this.”

The word servant is a reference to the Messiah.

The New Testament clearly shows the Lord Jesus to be the one who fulfills this prophecy.

When Philip was talking with the Ethiopian eunuch as he read this very passage in Isaiah, the issue was raised as to the identity of the servant.

Philip took this passage and preached Jesus to him (Acts 8:26-35 ).

Acts 8:26–35 KJV 1900
26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. 27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. 34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

Jehovah made a triple declaration about the Messiah.

First, He said that the Messiah would be successful in His work.

The passage says that He shall deal prudently, the word meaning to act intelligently so as to succeed.

It refers to effective action.

It is placed before the words my servant and is em­phatic.

Jehovah then says that the Messiah will be glorified.

“He shall be exalted..”, or a more literal translation, “He shall rise.”

This is the beginning of His glory and is fulfilled in his resurrection.

Then, extolled, that is, he will raise himself, the continuation of phase one and fulfilled in the ascension of Christ.

Then, he shall be very high, a phrase in which the Hebrew uses a stative verb which refers to a fixed position.

This is fulfilled in the session of Christ (Heb 1:3), where He is seated at the Father’s right hand.

Hebrews 1:3 KJV 1900
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Substitution

Jesus Is Our Substitute

The word “substitution” means “to put in the place of another, or in behalf of another, to exchange, or interchange.”

The Latin word “substitute” was used as a military word, where a person was engaged to serve in the room of another; or one delegated by Law to act for another.

Just as in the Old Testament the innocent animal took the place of the guilty sinner, so in the fulfillment of that type, Jesus Himself became our substitute as the Lamb of God offered up for our sins on the cross.

Consider the following examples of sacrificial substitutes:

The animal which died to provide the coats of skin for Adam and Eve (Gen.3:21; 4:4).

Genesis 3:21 KJV 1900
21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
Genesis 4:4 KJV 1900
4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

The sacrificial victims Noah offered (Gen.15:7-17).

Genesis 15:7–17 KJV 1900
7 And he said unto him, I am the Lord that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it. 8 And he said, Lord God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it? 9 And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon. 10 And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not. 11 And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away. 12 And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. 13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; 14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. 15 And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. 16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. 17 And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.

The ram caught in the thicket by its horns and offered by Abraham “in the stead of” Isaac. (Genesis 22)

Genesis 22 KJV 1900
1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. 2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. 3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. 4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. 5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you. 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? 8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. 9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 11 And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. 12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen. 15 And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, 16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: 17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. 19 So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beer-sheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba. 20 And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcah, she hath also born children unto thy brother Nahor; 21 Huz his firstborn, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram, 22 And Chesed, and Hazo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Bethuel. 23 And Bethuel begat Rebekah: these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. 24 And his concubine, whose name was Reumah, she bare also Tebah, and Gaham, and Thahash, and Maachah.

The temple sacrifices also illustrated this principle, where innocent animals took the place of the offerer (Lev 1-7,16; Num 19,28-29).

Leviticus 1–7 KJV 1900
1 And the Lord called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the Lord, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock. 3 If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord. 4 And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. 5 And he shall kill the bullock before the Lord: and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 6 And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces. 7 And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire: 8 And the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar: 9 But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord. 10 And if his offering be of the flocks, namely, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish. 11 And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the Lord: and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar. 12 And he shall cut it into his pieces, with his head and his fat: and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar: 13 But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water: and the priest shall bring it all, and burn it upon the altar: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord. 14 And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to the Lord be of fowls, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves, or of young pigeons. 15 And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and wring off his head, and burn it on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar: 16 And he shall pluck away his crop with his feathers, and cast it beside the altar on the east part, by the place of the ashes: 17 And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord. 1 And when any will offer a meat offering unto the Lord, his offering shall be of fine flour; and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon: 2 And he shall bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests: and he shall take thereout his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, to be an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord: 3 And the remnant of the meat offering shall be Aaron’s and his sons’: it is a thing most holy of the offerings of the Lord made by fire. 4 And if thou bring an oblation of a meat offering baken in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil. 5 And if thy oblation be a meat offering baken in a pan, it shall be of fine flour unleavened, mingled with oil. 6 Thou shalt part it in pieces, and pour oil thereon: it is a meat offering. 7 And if thy oblation be a meat offering baken in the fryingpan, it shall be made of fine flour with oil. 8 And thou shalt bring the meat offering that is made of these things unto the Lord: and when it is presented unto the priest, he shall bring it unto the altar. 9 And the priest shall take from the meat offering a memorial thereof, and shall burn it upon the altar: it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord. 10 And that which is left of the meat offering shall be Aaron’s and his sons’: it is a thing most holy of the offerings of the Lord made by fire. 11 No meat offering, which ye shall bring unto the Lord, shall be made with leaven: for ye shall burn no leaven, nor any honey, in any offering of the Lord made by fire. 12 As for the oblation of the firstfruits, ye shall offer them unto the Lord: but they shall not be burnt on the altar for a sweet savour. 13 And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt. 14 And if thou offer a meat offering of thy firstfruits unto the Lord, thou shalt offer for the meat offering of thy firstfruits green ears of corn dried by the fire, even corn beaten out of full ears. 15 And thou shalt put oil upon it, and lay frankincense thereon: it is a meat offering. 16 And the priest shall burn the memorial of it, part of the beaten corn thereof, and part of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof: it is an offering made by fire unto the Lord. 1 And if his oblation be a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offer it of the herd; whether it be a male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the Lord. 2 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron’s sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about. 3 And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the Lord; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards, 4 And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away. 5 And Aaron’s sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt sacrifice, which is upon the wood that is on the fire: it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord. 6 And if his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering unto the Lord be of the flock; male or female, he shall offer it without blemish. 7 If he offer a lamb for his offering, then shall he offer it before the Lord. 8 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron’s sons shall sprinkle the blood thereof round about upon the altar. 9 And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the Lord; the fat thereof, and the whole rump, it shall he take off hard by the backbone; and the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards, 10 And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away. 11 And the priest shall burn it upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire unto the Lord. 12 And if his offering be a goat, then he shall offer it before the Lord. 13 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of it, and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation: and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle the blood thereof upon the altar round about. 14 And he shall offer thereof his offering, even an offering made by fire unto the Lord; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards, 15 And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away. 16 And the priest shall burn them upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire for a sweet savour: all the fat is the Lord’s. 17 It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood. 1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them: 3 If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the Lord for a sin offering. 4 And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock’s head, and kill the bullock before the Lord. 5 And the priest that is anointed shall take of the bullock’s blood, and bring it to the tabernacle of the congregation: 6 And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the Lord, before the vail of the sanctuary. 7 And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the Lord, which is in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 8 And he shall take off from it all the fat of the bullock for the sin offering; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards, 9 And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away, 10 As it was taken off from the bullock of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall burn them upon the altar of the burnt offering. 11 And the skin of the bullock, and all his flesh, with his head, and with his legs, and his inwards, and his dung, 12 Even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire: where the ashes are poured out shall he be burnt. 13 And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty; 14 When the sin, which they have sinned against it, is known, then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin, and bring him before the tabernacle of the congregation. 15 And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before the Lord: and the bullock shall be killed before the Lord. 16 And the priest that is anointed shall bring of the bullock’s blood to the tabernacle of the congregation: 17 And the priest shall dip his finger in some of the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before the Lord, even before the vail. 18 And he shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar which is before the Lord, that is in the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall pour out all the blood at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 19 And he shall take all his fat from him, and burn it upon the altar. 20 And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them. 21 And he shall carry forth the bullock without the camp, and burn him as he burned the first bullock: it is a sin offering for the congregation. 22 When a ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance against any of the commandments of the Lord his God concerning things which should not be done, and is guilty; 23 Or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish: 24 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat, and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the Lord: it is a sin offering. 25 And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out his blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering. 26 And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him. 27 And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty; 28 Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned. 29 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering. 30 And the priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar. 31 And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour unto the Lord; and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him. 32 And if he bring a lamb for a sin offering, he shall bring it a female without blemish. 33 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay it for a sin offering in the place where they kill the burnt offering. 34 And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar: 35 And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat of the lamb is taken away from the sacrifice of the peace offerings; and the priest shall burn them upon the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the Lord: and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath committed, and it shall be forgiven him. 1 And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity. 2 Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcase of an unclean beast, or a carcase of unclean cattle, or the carcase of unclean creeping things, and if it be hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty. 3 Or if he touch the uncleanness of man, whatsoever uncleanness it be that a man shall be defiled withal, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty. 4 Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever it be that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty in one of these. 5 And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing: 6 And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the Lord for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin. 7 And if he be not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring for his trespass, which he hath committed, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, unto the Lord; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering. 8 And he shall bring them unto the priest, who shall offer that which is for the sin offering first, and wring off his head from his neck, but shall not divide it asunder: 9 And he shall sprinkle of the blood of the sin offering upon the side of the altar; and the rest of the blood shall be wrung out at the bottom of the altar: it is a sin offering. 10 And he shall offer the second for a burnt offering, according to the manner: and the priest shall make an atonement for him for his sin which he hath sinned, and it shall be forgiven him. 11 But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon: for it is a sin offering. 12 Then shall he bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it, even a memorial thereof, and burn it on the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the Lord: it is a sin offering. 13 And the priest shall make an atonement for him as touching his sin that he hath sinned in one of these, and it shall be forgiven him: and the remnant shall be the priest’s, as a meat offering. 14 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 15 If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the Lord; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the Lord a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering: 16 And he shall make amends for the harm that he hath done in the holy thing, and shall add the fifth part thereto, and give it unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and it shall be forgiven him. 17 And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the Lord; though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity. 18 And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his ignorance wherein he erred and wist it not, and it shall be forgiven him. 19 It is a trespass offering: he hath certainly trespassed against the Lord. 1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the Lord, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour; 3 Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein: 4 Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found, 5 Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering. 6 And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the Lord, a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest: 7 And the priest shall make an atonement for him before the Lord: and it shall be forgiven him for any thing of all that he hath done in trespassing therein. 8 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 9 Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering: It is the burnt offering, because of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it. 10 And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh, and take up the ashes which the fire hath consumed with the burnt offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar. 11 And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place. 12 And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings. 13 The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out. 14 And this is the law of the meat offering: the sons of Aaron shall offer it before the Lord, before the altar. 15 And he shall take of it his handful, of the flour of the meat offering, and of the oil thereof, and all the frankincense which is upon the meat offering, and shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour, even the memorial of it, unto the Lord. 16 And the remainder thereof shall Aaron and his sons eat: with unleavened bread shall it be eaten in the holy place; in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation they shall eat it. 17 It shall not be baken with leaven. I have given it unto them for their portion of my offerings made by fire; it is most holy, as is the sin offering, and as the trespass offering. 18 All the males among the children of Aaron shall eat of it. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations concerning the offerings of the Lord made by fire: every one that toucheth them shall be holy. 19 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 20 This is the offering of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer unto the Lord in the day when he is anointed; the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a meat offering perpetual, half of it in the morning, and half thereof at night. 21 In a pan it shall be made with oil; and when it is baken, thou shalt bring it in: and the baken pieces of the meat offering shalt thou offer for a sweet savour unto the Lord. 22 And the priest of his sons that is anointed in his stead shall offer it: it is a statute for ever unto the Lord; it shall be wholly burnt. 23 For every meat offering for the priest shall be wholly burnt: it shall not be eaten. 24 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 25 Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying, This is the law of the sin offering: In the place where the burnt offering is killed shall the sin offering be killed before the Lord: it is most holy. 26 The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in the holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation. 27 Whatsoever shall touch the flesh thereof shall be holy: and when there is sprinkled of the blood thereof upon any garment, thou shalt wash that whereon it was sprinkled in the holy place. 28 But the earthen vessel wherein it is sodden shall be broken: and if it be sodden in a brasen pot, it shall be both scoured, and rinsed in water. 29 All the males among the priests shall eat thereof: it is most holy. 30 And no sin offering, whereof any of the blood is brought into the tabernacle of the congregation to reconcile withal in the holy place, shall be eaten: it shall be burnt in the fire. 1 Likewise this is the law of the trespass offering: it is most holy. 2 In the place where they kill the burnt offering shall they kill the trespass offering: and the blood thereof shall he sprinkle round about upon the altar. 3 And he shall offer of it all the fat thereof; the rump, and the fat that covereth the inwards, 4 And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul that is above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away: 5 And the priest shall burn them upon the altar for an offering made by fire unto the Lord: it is a trespass offering. 6 Every male among the priests shall eat thereof: it shall be eaten in the holy place: it is most holy. 7 As the sin offering is, so is the trespass offering: there is one law for them: the priest that maketh atonement therewith shall have it. 8 And the priest that offereth any man’s burnt offering, even the priest shall have to himself the skin of the burnt offering which he hath offered. 9 And all the meat offering that is baken in the oven, and all that is dressed in the fryingpan, and in the pan, shall be the priest’s that offereth it. 10 And every meat offering, mingled with oil, and dry, shall all the sons of Aaron have, one as much as another. 11 And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he shall offer unto the Lord. 12 If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried. 13 Besides the cakes, he shall offer for his offering leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace offerings. 14 And of it he shall offer one out of the whole oblation for an heave offering unto the Lord, and it shall be the priest’s that sprinkleth the blood of the peace offerings. 15 And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day that it is offered; he shall not leave any of it until the morning. 16 But if the sacrifice of his offering be a vow, or a voluntary offering, it shall be eaten the same day that he offereth his sacrifice: and on the morrow also the remainder of it shall be eaten: 17 But the remainder of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burnt with fire. 18 And if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings be eaten at all on the third day, it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be imputed unto him that offereth it: it shall be an abomination, and the soul that eateth of it shall bear his iniquity. 19 And the flesh that toucheth any unclean thing shall not be eaten; it shall be burnt with fire: and as for the flesh, all that be clean shall eat thereof. 20 But the soul that eateth of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, that pertain unto the Lord, having his uncleanness upon him, even that soul shall be cut off from his people. 21 Moreover the soul that shall touch any unclean thing, as the uncleanness of man, or any unclean beast, or any abominable unclean thing, and eat of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which pertain unto the Lord, even that soul shall be cut off from his people. 22 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 23 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Ye shall eat no manner of fat, of ox, or of sheep, or of goat. 24 And the fat of the beast that dieth of itself, and the fat of that which is torn with beasts, may be used in any other use: but ye shall in no wise eat of it. 25 For whosoever eateth the fat of the beast, of which men offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord, even the soul that eateth it shall be cut off from his people. 26 Moreover ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings. 27 Whatsoever soul it be that eateth any manner of blood, even that soul shall be cut off from his people. 28 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 29 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, He that offereth the sacrifice of his peace offerings unto the Lord shall bring his oblation unto the Lord of the sacrifice of his peace offerings. 30 His own hands shall bring the offerings of the Lord made by fire, the fat with the breast, it shall he bring, that the breast may be waved for a wave offering before the Lord. 31 And the priest shall burn the fat upon the altar: but the breast shall be Aaron’s and his sons’. 32 And the right shoulder shall ye give unto the priest for an heave offering of the sacrifices of your peace offerings. 33 He among the sons of Aaron, that offereth the blood of the peace offerings, and the fat, shall have the right shoulder for his part. 34 For the wave breast and the heave shoulder have I taken of the children of Israel from off the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them unto Aaron the priest and unto his sons by a statute for ever from among the children of Israel. 35 This is the portion of the anointing of Aaron, and of the anointing of his sons, out of the offerings of the Lord made by fire, in the day when he presented them to minister unto the Lord in the priest’s office; 36 Which the Lord commanded to be given them of the children of Israel, in the day that he anointed them, by a statute for ever throughout their generations. 37 This is the law of the burnt offering, of the meat offering, and of the sin offering, and of the trespass offering, and of the consecrations, and of the sacrifice of the peace offerings; 38 Which the Lord commanded Moses in mount Sinai, in the day that he commanded the children of Israel to offer their oblations unto the Lord, in the wilderness of Sinai.
Leviticus 16 KJV 1900
1 And the Lord spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the Lord, and died; 2 And the Lord said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat. 3 Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering. 4 He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on. 5 And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering. 6 And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house. 7 And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the Lord, and the other lot for the scapegoat. 9 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the Lord’s lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. 10 But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness. 11 And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself: 12 And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the Lord, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail: 13 And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not: 14 And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times. 15 Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat: 16 And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness. 17 And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel. 18 And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the Lord, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about. 19 And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel. 20 And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat: 21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: 22 And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness. 23 And Aaron shall come into the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall put off the linen garments, which he put on when he went into the holy place, and shall leave them there: 24 And he shall wash his flesh with water in the holy place, and put on his garments, and come forth, and offer his burnt offering, and the burnt offering of the people, and make an atonement for himself, and for the people. 25 And the fat of the sin offering shall he burn upon the altar. 26 And he that let go the goat for the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward come into the camp. 27 And the bullock for the sin offering, and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place, shall one carry forth without the camp; and they shall burn in the fire their skins, and their flesh, and their dung. 28 And he that burneth them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp. 29 And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: 30 For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the Lord. 31 It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever. 32 And the priest, whom he shall anoint, and whom he shall consecrate to minister in the priest’s office in his father’s stead, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen clothes, even the holy garments: 33 And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar, and he shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation. 34 And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the Lord commanded Moses.
Numbers 19 KJV 1900
1 And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 2 This is the ordinance of the law which the Lord hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke: 3 And ye shall give her unto Eleazar the priest, that he may bring her forth without the camp, and one shall slay her before his face: 4 And Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger, and sprinkle of her blood directly before the tabernacle of the congregation seven times: 5 And one shall burn the heifer in his sight; her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, with her dung, shall he burn: 6 And the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer. 7 Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp, and the priest shall be unclean until the even. 8 And he that burneth her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the even. 9 And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up without the camp in a clean place, and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation: it is a purification for sin. 10 And he that gathereth the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: and it shall be unto the children of Israel, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among them, for a statute for ever. 11 He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days. 12 He shall purify himself with it on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean: but if he purify not himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean. 13 Whosoever toucheth the dead body of any man that is dead, and purifieth not himself, defileth the tabernacle of the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel: because the water of separation was not sprinkled upon him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is yet upon him. 14 This is the law, when a man dieth in a tent: all that come into the tent, and all that is in the tent, shall be unclean seven days. 15 And every open vessel, which hath no covering bound upon it, is unclean. 16 And whosoever toucheth one that is slain with a sword in the open fields, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days. 17 And for an unclean person they shall take of the ashes of the burnt heifer of purification for sin, and running water shall be put thereto in a vessel: 18 And a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it upon the tent, and upon all the vessels, and upon the persons that were there, and upon him that touched a bone, or one slain, or one dead, or a grave: 19 And the clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day: and on the seventh day he shall purify himself, and wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at even. 20 But the man that shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from among the congregation, because he hath defiled the sanctuary of the Lord: the water of separation hath not been sprinkled upon him; he is unclean. 21 And it shall be a perpetual statute unto them, that he that sprinkleth the water of separation shall wash his clothes; and he that toucheth the water of separation shall be unclean until even. 22 And whatsoever the unclean person toucheth shall be unclean; and the soul that toucheth it shall be unclean until even.
Numbers 28–29 KJV 1900
1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire, for a sweet savour unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season. 3 And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the Lord; two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, for a continual burnt offering. 4 The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even; 5 And a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a meat offering, mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil. 6 It is a continual burnt offering, which was ordained in mount Sinai for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the Lord. 7 And the drink offering thereof shall be the fourth part of an hin for the one lamb: in the holy place shalt thou cause the strong wine to be poured unto the Lord for a drink offering. 8 And the other lamb shalt thou offer at even: as the meat offering of the morning, and as the drink offering thereof, thou shalt offer it, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord. 9 And on the sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and the drink offering thereof: 10 This is the burnt offering of every sabbath, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering. 11 And in the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the Lord; two young bullocks, and one ram, seven lambs of the first year without spot; 12 And three tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one bullock; and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one ram; 13 And a several tenth deal of flour mingled with oil for a meat offering unto one lamb; for a burnt offering of a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the Lord. 14 And their drink offerings shall be half an hin of wine unto a bullock, and the third part of an hin unto a ram, and a fourth part of an hin unto a lamb: this is the burnt offering of every month throughout the months of the year. 15 And one kid of the goats for a sin offering unto the Lord shall be offered, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering. 16 And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the Lord. 17 And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten. 18 In the first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work therein: 19 But ye shall offer a sacrifice made by fire for a burnt offering unto the Lord; two young bullocks, and one ram, and seven lambs of the first year: they shall be unto you without blemish: 20 And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil: three tenth deals shall ye offer for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram; 21 A several tenth deal shalt thou offer for every lamb, throughout the seven lambs: 22 And one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you. 23 Ye shall offer these beside the burnt offering in the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering. 24 After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord: it shall be offered beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering. 25 And on the seventh day ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work. 26 Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the Lord, after your weeks be out, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: 27 But ye shall offer the burnt offering for a sweet savour unto the Lord; two young bullocks, one ram, seven lambs of the first year; 28 And their meat offering of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto one bullock, two tenth deals unto one ram, 29 A several tenth deal unto one lamb, throughout the seven lambs; 30 And one kid of the goats, to make an atonement for you. 31 Ye shall offer them beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, (they shall be unto you without blemish) and their drink offerings. 1 And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing the trumpets unto you. 2 And ye shall offer a burnt offering for a sweet savour unto the Lord; one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year without blemish: 3 And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram, 4 And one tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs: 5 And one kid of the goats for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you: 6 Beside the burnt offering of the month, and his meat offering, and the daily burnt offering, and his meat offering, and their drink offerings, according unto their manner, for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the Lord. 7 And ye shall have on the tenth day of this seventh month an holy convocation; and ye shall afflict your souls: ye shall not do any work therein: 8 But ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the Lord for a sweet savour; one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year; they shall be unto you without blemish: 9 And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals to a bullock, and two tenth deals to one ram, 10 A several tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs: 11 One kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the sin offering of atonement, and the continual burnt offering, and the meat offering of it, and their drink offerings. 12 And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work, and ye shall keep a feast unto the Lord seven days: 13 And ye shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord; thirteen young bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year; they shall be without blemish: 14 And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto every bullock of the thirteen bullocks, two tenth deals to each ram of the two rams, 15 And a several tenth deal to each lamb of the fourteen lambs: 16 And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering. 17 And on the second day ye shall offer twelve young bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without spot: 18 And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: 19 And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and the meat offering thereof, and their drink offerings. 20 And on the third day eleven bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish; 21 And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: 22 And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering. 23 And on the fourth day ten bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish: 24 Their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: 25 And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering. 26 And on the fifth day nine bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without spot: 27 And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: 28 And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering. 29 And on the sixth day eight bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish: 30 And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: 31 And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering. 32 And on the seventh day seven bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish: 33 And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: 34 And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering. 35 On the eighth day ye shall have a solemn assembly: ye shall do no servile work therein: 36 But ye shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord: one bullock, one ram, seven lambs of the first year without blemish: 37 Their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullock, for the ram, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: 38 And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering. 39 These things ye shall do unto the Lord in your set feasts, beside your vows, and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings, and for your meat offerings, and for your drink offerings, and for your peace offerings. 40 And Moses told the children of Israel according to all that the Lord commanded Moses.

These were only temporary measures however, awaiting the permanent exchange which was to take place at the cross.

The following statement by H R Willmington concisely presents this amazing truth:

“Thus, Christ became on the cross what he was not—namely, sin—that we might become what we were not—namely, righteous. The Son of God became the Son of man that sons of men might become the sons of God.” Willmington’s Guide to the Bible

Through the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross:

The just died for the unjust (1 Peter 3:18)

1 Peter 3:18 KJV 1900
18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

The righteous died for the unrighteous (2 Corinthians 5:21)

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV 1900
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

The Godly (God Himself) died for the ungodly (Romans 5:6)

Romans 5:6 KJV 1900
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

The Innocent died for the guilty

The Perfect One died for all imperfect ones

The sinless died for the sinful

The Son of God died for the sons of satan (1 John 3:10)

1 John 3:10 KJV 1900
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

Whereas under the Old Covenant the lamb died on behalf of the shepherd, in the New it was the Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep (John 10:11)

John 10:11 KJV 1900
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

We were indeed under a death sentence. After a lifetime of slavery to a thankless master called sin, all we had to look forward to as our payment was death, the final degradation (Romans 6:23).

We deserved to die, and our natural father Adam had sold us into the hands of sin and satan for as many generations as ever would be.

Romans 6:23 KJV 1900
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Christ owed nothing to sin. He was the sinless One, the only one who had never bowed His knee to this tyrannous master, and whose heritage did not sell Him into the hands of the slave master.

He and He alone was in a position to take our place, for He had no debt of His own to pay, and take our place He did.

Our perfect substitute.

Scriptures

Romans 5:8; Galatians 2:20; 1 Peter 3:18; Galatians 3:13; Isaiah 53:4-6
Isaiah 53:4–6 KJV 1900
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Substitution (Part 1)

Substitution is the process by which the guilt of a repentant sinner is transferred to the Lord Jesus, and the righteousness of the Lord Jesus is reckoned to the sinner.

This means that because the Lord has borne the punishment in that sinner’s place, God is able righteously to forgive his sins and receive him back to Himself and bless him.

The New Testament was originally written in Greek, and the Bible we have today has been translated from that language.

Note that the Bible never says that the Lord Jesus gave Himself anti (i.e. in place of) all.

Rather, He died instead of those who trust Him- i.e. only those who actually take the step of trusting Him benefit from His work on the cross.

The concept explained

The message of the Christian gospel starts with a very uncomfortable truth: that mankind is guilty before God.

God is the Creator of the universe, and as such it is His right to make laws that His creation must obey.

Some of these laws are specified in the Ten Commandments.

Because God is intrinsically righteous, the laws He establishes are also righteous, and it is our duty as created beings to obey Him.

However, we have all broken God’s laws.

In one way or another, every one of us has done something that contravenes a divine commandment.

For example, the two greatest commands in the Bible are these:

‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’

This is the first commandment.

And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

There is no other commandment greater than these (Mark 12:30-31).

Mark 12:30–31 KJV 1900
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

No-one on earth can claim to have fulfilled these commands to the letter, and therefore, as Romans 3:19 tells us, the whole world stands guilty before God.

Now, because God is righteous, He cannot overlook sin- His justice demands that wrongdoing must be punished.

For Him to do otherwise would be unrighteous, and the sentence of divine law is that “the soul who sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18:20).

Romans 3:19 KJV 1900
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Ezekiel 18:20 KJV 1900
20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

Twofold problem

First, because God is love He does not desire anyone’s death- as a loving Creator, His desire is that all the world should be saved.

However, His justice requires that He must punish sin. How then can God simultaneously be loving yet just?

The second difficulty is on our part: by our own efforts we cannot erase our guilt.

Even if I have kept some commandments, it does not undo the fact that I have broken others.

James 2:10-11 makes it clear that to break one commandment is to be guilty of breaking all:

James 2:10–11 KJV 1900
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

‘For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.

For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder."

Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.’

Even in a human court, it is no defence for a man charged with theft to plead that he has not committed murder, or that he has been a good citizen in all other areas of life.

If I have broken a law, I am guilty- this is true whether the law is human or divine.

It seems therefore as if there are only two possible options in such a situation: either God must be true to His righteousness and punish mankind, or He must allow His mercy to override the demands of justice, and allow mankind to escape the requirements of the Law.

The problem is that both the love and the righteousness of God are absolutes: He cannot sacrifice either of them.

How then is the problem to be solved?

The solution

God has provided a substitute for guilty sinners.

When Christ died on the cross, He bore the punishment that righteousness demanded.

Having no sins of His own, He was guiltless before the law of God, but willingly died in the place of all who trust Him.

This means that the demands of justice have been satisfied, because punishment has been carried out, but it also means that the love of God is able to offer forgiveness to those who want it.

This is the only way by which the two seemingly

(!) opposing characteristics of God (His love and His righteousness) can both find their fulfilment, and it is one of the greatest aspects of the Christian gospel.

When a repentant sinner places his trust in the Lord Jesus, Christ becomes his substitute – all the guilt of the sinner is placed on Christ, and all the righteousness of Christ is in return imputed to the sinner.

When I trust Him, His death becomes my death, and, as far as the law of God is concerned, all the punishment for my sins has been meted out at the cross.

This means that I am set free, since the penalty of my sins has been paid, and I come into the good of all the blessings that are found in Christ.

The wonder of it all is that the whole thing is accomplished on a righteous basis, in complete harmony with the holiness and justice of God.

Of course, in order to be sure that this is true, it is necessary to show that the Bible actually teaches it.

Human reasoning alone cannot offer spiritual peace of mind; rather, before we rely on any doctrine we must know that it is in God’s word.

Although the word “substitution” is not found in the Bible, the concept is very definitely a scriptural one.

For example, Galatians 3:20 tells us that “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us – that is, He bore the curse so that those who belong to Him need not bear it.

Galatians 3:20 KJV 1900
20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

Similarly, 2 Corinthians 5:21 says that God “made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV 1900
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Here is a clear statement of substitution – He took His people’s place under the judgement of God so that they could be made righteous in God’s sight.

There are many occasions in the New Testament where the idea of Christ giving Himself for His people is found- eg Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 5:21.

Galatians 2:20 KJV 1900
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Ephesians 5:21 KJV 1900
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Another very important verse in which this truth is found is Mark 10:45 (and the parallel passage in Matthew 20:28), where the Lord says that He has come “to give His life a ransom for many”.

Mark 10:45 KJV 1900
45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Matthew 20:28 KJV 1900
28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

The Greek preposition translated “for” here is of great significance – it is the word anti.

Usually, where we have the expression “He gave Himself for all” (or similar- e.g. 2 Corinthians 5:14, 1 Timothy 2:6 etc), a different preposition is used- the Greek word huper.

2 Corinthians 5:14 KJV 1900
14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
1 Timothy 2:6 KJV 1900
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

The difference is this: huper has the idea of doing something for the benefit of others, on behalf of others; anti conveys the idea of doing something instead of or  in place of someone else.

It is clear from the Lord’s words that while He gave Himself for the good of all, He gave Himself in place of the many who trust in Him 2.

Substitution Illustrated

In the Bible is we often find the truths of the gospel illustrated by actual events, some of which took place many centuries before Christ came.

This is true when we come to substitution- at least four passages of Scripture demonstrate various aspects of this doctrine.

From the hymn “From whence this fear and unbelief” by A. M. Toplady.

Scriptural Illustrations

Genesis 22. In this chapter we find the story of Abraham and Isaac.

Genesis 22 KJV 1900
1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. 2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. 3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. 4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. 5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you. 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? 8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. 9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 11 And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. 12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen. 15 And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, 16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: 17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. 19 So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beer-sheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba. 20 And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcah, she hath also born children unto thy brother Nahor; 21 Huz his firstborn, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram, 22 And Chesed, and Hazo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Bethuel. 23 And Bethuel begat Rebekah: these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. 24 And his concubine, whose name was Reumah, she bare also Tebah, and Gaham, and Thahash, and Maachah.

Isaac was destined to die as a sacrifice, until God provided a ram that would die in Isaac’s place.

From this we learn that substitution is a concept initiated by God Himself.

This is important when we think about the death of the Lord Jesus.

The fact that He becomes the substitute of those who believe in Him is not an idea devised by mankind – it is a revelation from God.

Genesis 44 This passage teaches another important lesson about substitution.

Genesis 44 KJV 1900
1 And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man’s money in his sack’s mouth. 2 And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack’s mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken. 3 As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses. 4 And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good? 5 Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing. 6 And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words. 7 And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing: 8 Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks’ mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord’s house silver or gold? 9 With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord’s bondmen. 10 And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless. 11 Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack. 12 And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. 13 Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city. 14 And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph’s house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground. 15 And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine? 16 And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord’s servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found. 17 And he said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father. 18 Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh. 19 My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a brother? 20 And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him. 21 And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him. 22 And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die. 23 And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more. 24 And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. 25 And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food. 26 And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down: for we may not see the man’s face, except our youngest brother be with us. 27 And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons: 28 And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since: 29 And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. 30 Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad’s life; 31 It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave. 32 For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever. 33 Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren. 34 For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father.

When there was a need for someone to take Benjamin’s place as a captive in Egypt, his brother Judah offered himself for that role.

There was no coercion involved- he did it of his own free will.

In the same way, at Calvary the Lord Jesus also freely offered Himself so that the love of God for sinners might be demonstrated in all its fullness.

His Father sent Him, and He was willing to come.

Often in the Bible His giving of Himself is linked with His love; for example: ‘… the Son of God … loved me, and gave himself for me.’ (Galatians 2:20)

Galatians 2:20 KJV 1900
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

‘Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it’ (Ephesians 5:25).

Ephesians 5:25 KJV 1900
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

This shows that His death on the cross was a work that He willingly undertook, not something that was imposed upon Him.

Leviticus 16 This chapter outlines the ritual involved in the Jewish Day of Atonement.

Leviticus 16 KJV 1900
1 And the Lord spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the Lord, and died; 2 And the Lord said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat. 3 Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering. 4 He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on. 5 And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering. 6 And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house. 7 And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the Lord, and the other lot for the scapegoat. 9 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the Lord’s lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. 10 But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness. 11 And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself: 12 And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the Lord, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail: 13 And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not: 14 And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times. 15 Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat: 16 And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness. 17 And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel. 18 And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the Lord, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about. 19 And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel. 20 And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat: 21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: 22 And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness. 23 And Aaron shall come into the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall put off the linen garments, which he put on when he went into the holy place, and shall leave them there: 24 And he shall wash his flesh with water in the holy place, and put on his garments, and come forth, and offer his burnt offering, and the burnt offering of the people, and make an atonement for himself, and for the people. 25 And the fat of the sin offering shall he burn upon the altar. 26 And he that let go the goat for the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward come into the camp. 27 And the bullock for the sin offering, and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place, shall one carry forth without the camp; and they shall burn in the fire their skins, and their flesh, and their dung. 28 And he that burneth them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp. 29 And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: 30 For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the Lord. 31 It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever. 32 And the priest, whom he shall anoint, and whom he shall consecrate to minister in the priest’s office in his father’s stead, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen clothes, even the holy garments: 33 And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar, and he shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation. 34 And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the Lord commanded Moses.

It is the most overt picture of substitution in the Old Testament, and a fascinating depiction of the work of the Lord Jesus on the cross.

The part that is relevant to our subject is found in Lev 16: 21-22 , where the following events took place: a goat (often called the scapegoat) was taken, and the high priest of Israel placed both hands on its head while confessing over it all the sins of the nation.

Leviticus 16:21–22 KJV 1900
21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: 22 And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.

The goat was then led away to be set loose in the wilderness, never to return.

It pictured the sins of Israel being taken away.

The important point here is this: in confessing the nation’s sins, the priest was symbolically transferring their guilt to the goat.

This is a vital point: substitution DOES NOT involve the punishing of an innocent victim so that the guilty can escape.

Rather, guilt is transferred.

In other words, when the Lord Jesus died on the cross, the guilt of those who trust Him was transferred to Him.

This does not mean that the Lord Jesus became sinful in His character: while He bore our sins (1 Peter 2:24), and was made sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:20), He never became sinful in Himself.

1 Peter 2:24 KJV 1900
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
2 Corinthians 5:20 KJV 1900
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

He was as holy in His death as He was in His life.

While the guilt of sins was laid on him, the purity of His character remained unchanged.

This is illustrated in Leviticus 6:25, where the sin offering is described as “most holy” – the same expression that is used in Exodus 26:33-34 of the very dwelling place of God.

Leviticus 6:25 KJV 1900
25 Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying, This is the law of the sin offering: In the place where the burnt offering is killed shall the sin offering be killed before the Lord: it is most holy.
Exodus 26:33–34 KJV 1900
33 And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy. 34 And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.

In other words, although the sacrificial animal symbolically bore the punishment of sins, it did not in itself become sinful. So it is with Christ – He became the sin-bearer, but He never became sinful. Philemon Finally, notice the events that take place in Paul’s letter to Philemon. Briefly, the story is this: Onesimus, a slave, had stolen from his master Philemon and fled to Rome.

Onesismus was guilty but, having repented, wished to return.

As a friend of both men, Paul writes to encourage Philemon to receive Onesimus back again, offering to pay the debt that Onesimus owed.

Phile 17- 18 summarise Paul’s appeal: “If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me.

Philemon 17–18 KJV 1900
17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. 18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;

But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account.”

Notice what is happening here- Paul will bear the debt as though he were Onesimus, while Onesimus is to be welcomed back as though he were Paul.

This is the crowning glory of substitution- every sinner who comes to God in repentance, trusting in the One who died for the ungodly, is welcomed back as though he were Christ Himself.

Every blessing that Christ as the perfect man possesses is showered upon those who come to God through Him!

The implications

In closing, let us notice one other major outcome of substitution- the fact that once someone is saved, that person can never be lost.

There are three reasons for this:

Salvation means that all the sinner’s guilt is transferred to the Lord Jesus.

There is enough in His work to cover not only the sins of their past, but also every future sin as well.Forgiveness has been obtained on a righteous basis.

This means that no-one in the universe can remove the Christian’s forgiveness.

Even in earthly terms, if someone gets something righteously (for example, by paying the correct price for it), it cannot be taken away from them.

It is the same with salvation: because it is given to the believer on a basis of justice having been satisfied, it can never be taken away.Satan cannot bring a charge against the Christian.

Even if he were to try, he would find that the sin that he tried to raise against the believer has already been punished at Calvary.

In the words of the hymn(1): “Payment God cannot twice demand”.

This is a wonderful thing – God’s inflexible justice, which previously would have condemned the sinner, is now the very thing that guarantees the believer’s eternal security!

No other message in the world can offer such hope to mankind!Summary

At the cross, the Lord Jesus (without ever being sinful Himself) bore the penalty for sins that the righteousness of God demanded, thus fulfilling the requirements of divine justice.

When a sinner trusts in Christ, their guilt is transferred to Him, thus freeing them from the penalty of their sins and bringing them into the position of blessing that Christ Himself (as the perfect man) merits.

6752 SUBSTITUTION

Jesus Christ died as the substitute for sinful humanity, taking humanity’s place on the cross.

OT images of substitution

Examples of substitution Gen 22:13 See also Num 3:12-13,44,45 ; Num 8:18; 1 Sam 17:; ; Lam 5:7 Ezek14:4 :

Genesis 22:13 KJV 1900
13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
Numbers 3:12–13 KJV 1900
12 And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine; 13 Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the Lord.
Numbers 3:44 KJV 1900
44 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
Numbers 3:45 KJV 1900
45 Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am the Lord.
Numbers 8:18 KJV 1900
18 And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel.
1 Samuel 17 KJV 1900
1 Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. 2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines. 3 And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them. 4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. 6 And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. 7 And the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam; and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him. 8 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. 9 If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us. 10 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. 11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid. 12 Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Beth-lehem-judah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul. 13 And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. 14 And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul. 15 But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Beth-lehem. 16 And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days. 17 And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren; 18 And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge. 19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. 20 And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle. 21 For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army. 22 And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren. 23 And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them. 24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid. 25 And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father’s house free in Israel. 26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? 27 And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him. 28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. 29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause? 30 And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner. 31 And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: and he sent for him. 32 And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. 33 And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. 34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: 35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. 36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. 37 David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee. 38 And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. 39 And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him. 40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine. 41 And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him. 42 And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. 43 And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field. 45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46 This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands. 48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled. 52 And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron. 53 And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents. 54 And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent. 55 And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell. 56 And the king said, Inquire thou whose son the stripling is. 57 And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. 58 And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Beth-lehemite.
Lamentations 5:7 KJV 1900
7 Our fathers have sinned, and are not; And we have borne their iniquities.
Ezekiel 14:4 KJV 1900
4 Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the Lord will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;

Lev 20:21-22 Substit:utes atoning for sin or acting as sin bearers Lev 1:4 See also Exod 28:38; Lev 16:21-22; 20:21-2

Leviticus 20:21–22 KJV 1900
21 And if a man shall take his brother’s wife, it is an unclean thing: he hath uncovered his brother’s nakedness; they shall be childless. 22 Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not out.
Leviticus 1:4 KJV 1900
4 And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
Exodus 28:38 KJV 1900
38 And it shall be upon Aaron’s forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the Lord.
Leviticus 16:21–22 KJV 1900
21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: 22 And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.
Leviticus 20:21–22 KJV 1900
21 And if a man shall take his brother’s wife, it is an unclean thing: he hath uncovered his brother’s nakedness; they shall be childless. 22 Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not out.
Leviticus 20:21–22 KJV 1900
21 And if a man shall take his brother’s wife, it is an unclean thing: he hath uncovered his brother’s nakedness; they shall be childless. 22 Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not out.

Anticipations of the substitutionary work of Jesus Christ Isa 53:4-6 NT writers have interpreted the servant as Jesus Christ: see Mt 8:17 and 1Pe 2:23-25. See also Ps 69:9

Isaiah 53:4–6 KJV 1900
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Matthew 8:17 KJV 1900
17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
1 Peter 2:23–25 KJV 1900
23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Psalm 69:9 KJV 1900
9 For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; And the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

The substitutionary work of Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ died for believers Mark 10:45; Rom 5:6-8; 1 Thess 5:10 See also John 10:11; John 11:50; Rom 14:15; 2 Cor 5:14; Gal 2:20; Gal 3:13; 1 Tim 2:6; Titus 2:14; Heb 2:9; 1 Peter 2:21 ; 1 John 3:16

Mark 10:45 KJV 1900
45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Romans 5:6–8 KJV 1900
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
1 Thessalonians 5:10 KJV 1900
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
John 10:11 KJV 1900
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
John 11:50 KJV 1900
50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
Romans 14:15 KJV 1900
15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
2 Corinthians 5:14 KJV 1900
14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
Galatians 2:20 KJV 1900
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Galatians 3:13 KJV 1900
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
1 Timothy 2:6 KJV 1900
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Titus 2:14 KJV 1900
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Hebrews 2:9 KJV 1900
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
1 Peter 2:21 KJV 1900
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
1 John 3:16 KJV 1900
16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

Jesus Christ died for sin 1 Peter 2:24 1 Peter 3:18 See also 2 Cor 5:21 ; Heb 9:28

1 Peter 2:24 KJV 1900
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1 Peter 3:18 KJV 1900
18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV 1900
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Hebrews 9:28 KJV 1900
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Jesus Christ’s substitution as an example 2 Cor 5:15 See also 1 Peter 5:21

2 Corinthians 5:15 KJV 1900
15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

Jesus Christ’s substitution as an act of love John 15:13 See also Exod 32:32; Rom 9:3 See also

John 15:13 KJV 1900
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Exodus 32:32 KJV 1900
32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.
Romans 9:3 KJV 1900
3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

He was a Substitute Isaiah 53:4-6

Isaiah 53:4–6 KJV 1900
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

1. He died for the result of sin (verse 4). 2. He died for the healing of sin (verse 5). 3. He died for the forgiveness of sin (verse 6).

Remember the Movie Narnia

This movie is based upon the book that C. S. Lewis first published in the 1950's, entitled, "the Lion, the and it has been a favorite children's story since that time.

If remember reading this story , and enjoyed it that is the entire series (of seven books) together.

The story is basically a broad allegory of the meaning of the death of Christ.

The story begins by introducing us to four children, who enter into a magical world, called Narnia, through a magical wardrobe.

Upon entering, they discover that the world is under the wicked spell of the White Witch.

Her spell was terrible. It caused the land of Narnia always to be winter, and never Christmas.

One of these four children, Edmund, proved himself to be a traitor. Rather than giving his allegiance to Aslan, the Christ figure, he gave his allegiance to the White Witch.

As a result, Edmund was rightfully the witch's property.

Even when Edmund was rescued and brought into Aslan's camp, he was still the property of the witch.

And so, there came to be a day in which the witch came into Aslan's camp to claim Edmund, who was rightfully hers.

But Aslan, wanting to protect Edmund, made a deal with the White Witch.

Aslan would die in Edmund's place. In so doing, Aslan became Edmund's substitute.

That is the great picture of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

When Jesus died upon the cross at Calvary, He died in the place of others.

He died in the place of sinners.

This is what the story of Narnia is all about! It's all about the sacrifice of Aslan, the Christ figure.

His sacrifice was in the place of Edmund. Just as Edmund deserved to die for his treachery, so also do we all deserve to die.

But, Jesus Christ took the place of those who believe on Him.

The main point of the gospel of Jesus Christ is all about substitution.

All of us have sinned. As such, we all deserve to die. Romans 6:23, "The wages of sin in death."

But, the good news is that Jesus Christ, died in our place. Jesus Christ died for us! Jesus Christ died instead of us!

In other words, Jesus Christ bore the punishment that our sins deserved, rather than we bearing the punishment ourselves.

This is the good news that we proclaim!

That's why we gather here each Sunday morning for worship!

That's why we exist as a church! That's what eternity is all about! Jesus Christ died in the place of sinners!

This truth is all over the Bible!

Please consider with me the following Scripture passages.

(Notice all of the subtitutionary words).

Mark 10:45 ,

Mark 10:45 KJV 1900
45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

John 10:11

John 10:11 KJV 1900
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

John 10:15

John 10:15 KJV 1900
15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Rom 5:6 -

Romans 5:6 KJV 1900
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Rom 5:8 -

Romans 5:8 KJV 1900
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Rom 8:32 ,

Romans 8:32 KJV 1900
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

1 Cor 15:3 , "

1 Corinthians 15:3 KJV 1900
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

2 Cor 5:15 ,

2 Corinthians 5:15 KJV 1900
15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
2 Corinthians 5:15 KJV 1900
15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

2 Cor 5:21, "

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV 1900
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Gal 1:4,

Galatians 1:4 KJV 1900
4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

Gal 2:20 ,

Galatians 2:20 KJV 1900
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Gal 3:13,

Galatians 3:13 KJV 1900
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Eph 5:2 ,

Ephesians 5:2 KJV 1900
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

Eph 5:25 ,

Ephesians 5:25 KJV 1900
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

1 Thess 5:9-10

1 Thessalonians 5:9–10 KJV 1900
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

Titus 2:14 ,

Titus 2:14 KJV 1900
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Heb 2:9 ,

Hebrews 2:9 KJV 1900
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

1 Peter 2:21 ,

1 Peter 2:21 KJV 1900
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

1 Peter 3:18 ,

1 Peter 3:18 KJV 1900
18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

1 John 3:16 ,

1 John 3:16 KJV 1900
16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

Why did I go through all of those verses?

Because, I wanted to show you that the idea of substitution in the sacrifice of Christ is all over the pages of Scripture.

The meaning of the death of Christ is clear for all to see: He died as a substitute.

But, furthermore, the idea of substitution in the sacrifice of Christ is all over the verses that we will be considering this morning.

I invite you to open your Bibles to Isaiah 53.

Isaiah 53 KJV 1900
1 Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, And as a root out of a dry ground: He hath no form nor comeliness; And when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is despised and rejected of men; A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: And we hid as it were our faces from him; He was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, Yet he opened not his mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: And who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living: For the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, And with the rich in his death; Because he had done no violence, Neither was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, He shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; For he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, And he shall divide the spoil with the strong; Because he hath poured out his soul unto death: And he was numbered with the transgressors; And he bare the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.

As we anticipate our Easter celebration next week, last week we began a three-week study of Isaiah's prophecy of the suffering servant.

Isaiah predicted that the Messiah would suffer, only to be followed by great glory afterwards (1 Peter 1:11 ).

1 Peter 1:11 KJV 1900
11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

We saw last week how accurately this described the life of Jesus Christ.

This week, we will see how theologically the death of the Messiah is explained.

Next week, we will see how clearly Isaiah anticipated the resurrection of Christ.

This morning, our focus will be upon Isa 53:4-6 .

Isaiah 53:4–6 KJV 1900
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

I have entitled my message this morning, "He was a Substitute."

As you look through these verses, you will find the concept of substitution seven times in three verses.

Consider the following verses:

Consider Isa 53:4-6

Isaiah 53:4–6 KJV 1900
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:4–6 KJV 1900
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

But in Isaiah 53: 8-12 , there are others that have this same idea.

Isaiah 53:8–12 KJV 1900
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: And who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living: For the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, And with the rich in his death; Because he had done no violence, Neither was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, He shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; For he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, And he shall divide the spoil with the strong; Because he hath poured out his soul unto death: And he was numbered with the transgressors; And he bare the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.

My aim this morning is very simple: I want for you to clearly understand that Jesus Christ died as a substitute for sinners.

If you are believer in Him this morning, the great reality of the universe is that He died in your place.

Throughout eternity, God will never allow us to forget this fact.

When we look upon Jesus for all eternity, He will look to us as a slaughtered lamb (Rev 5:6 ).

Revelation 5:6 KJV 1900
6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

Forever will this image will be before you to remind you of how Jesus died in the place of sinners.

Forever this will provoke your praise to Him!

1. He died for the result of sin (verse 4).

Look at the beginning of Isa 53 :4, "Surely our griefs He Himself bore and our sorrows He carried."

Isaiah 53:4 KJV 1900
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.

This verse anticipates the great healing power of Jesus.

Sin has a great effect upon our lives.

Do you know why sickness is in the world?

It is because of sin.

Do you know why disease is in the world?

It is because of sin.

Do you know why grief is in the world?

It is because of sin.

Do you know why sorrow is in the world?

It is because of sin.

When Jesus Christ died upon the cross, He was dying to remove these effects.

Jesus dealt with these thing during His time of stay upon the earth. Consider with me the healing ministry of Jesus.

When Jesus came to the people of Israel, He had great compassion upon those who were sick and diseased and grieving. On many occasions, large crowds of people came to Jesus, "bringing with them those who were lame, crippled blind and mute, ... [laying] them down at His feet" and waiting for Him to heal them (Matt 15:31 ).

Matthew 15:31 KJV 1900
31 Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.

What impresses every reader of the New Testament is that all who came to Jesus were healed of their sicknesses.

He healed lepers of their skin disease (Matt 8:1-4).

Matthew 8:1–4 KJV 1900
1 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. 2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

He reduced the fevers of the sick (Matt 8:14).

Matthew 8:14 KJV 1900
14 And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever.

He cast out the demons from the crazed Matt 8:28-34 ).

Matthew 8:28–34 KJV 1900
28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. 29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? 30 And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. 31 So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. 32 And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters. 33 And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils. 34 And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.

He gave strength to the legs of the paralytics (Matt 9:1-8.

Matthew 9:1–8 KJV 1900
1 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. 2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. 3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. 4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? 5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? 6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. 7 And he arose, and departed to his house. 8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

He open the eyes of the blind ( Matt 20:29-34 ).

Matthew 20:29–34 KJV 1900
29 And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. 30 And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. 31 And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. 32 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? 33 They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. 34 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

He restored withered hands (Matt 12:9-14.

Matthew 12:9–14 KJV 1900
9 And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue: 10 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. 11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? 12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. 13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other. 14 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.

So extensive was His healing ministry in those days that Matthew writes of how Jesus "was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people" (a literal translation of Matt 4:23 ).

Matthew 4:23 KJV 1900
23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

There were times in which the healing ministry of Jesus was so busy with all of the crowds coming to him that Jesus and His disciples didn't even have time to eat! (Mark 3:20; 6:30 ).

Mark 3:20 KJV 1900
20 And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.
Mark 6:30 KJV 1900
30 And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.

This is what Isa 53:4 is talking about.

Isaiah 53:4 KJV 1900
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.

"Surely, our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried."

When Jesus walked upon the earth, He bore our griefs and carried our sorrows.

These words were anticipating the healing ministry of Jesus. In Matt 8:17, the gospel writer tells us that the healing ministry of Jesus had a purpose.

Matthew 8:17 KJV 1900
17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

It was "to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: 'He Himself took our infirmities and carried away our diseases'" (Matt 8:17).

Matthew 8:17 KJV 1900
17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

This word translated, "grief" has the idea of weakness or sickness or disease.

The word translated, "sorrows" speaks a bit more generically about the "distresses" of life.

If there is any difference between these words, it's a difference between the physical and the spiritual.

Whereas the first word, "griefs" has a nuance more upon the physical pains of this life: the sicknesses, the illnesses, and the diseases.

This word, "sorrow" focuses more upon the general pain cause by sin.

He's talking about all of the effects that sin produces, or (as I have stated it), "He died for the result of sin."

I trust that you realize that when the devastation of sin is felt, it goes far beyond sickness and illness, which is merely felt in the body.

There is often great pain that is felt in the spirit of a man, and causes untold anguish of soul.

Often, such pain will far exceed the pains of sickness and disease.

For instance, think of the David.

He spoke of the sorrow caused by his own, unconfessed sin.

When David kept silent about his sin, he said that he would groan all day long (Ps 32:3).

Psalm 32:3 KJV 1900
3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old Through my roaring all the day long.

He said that his vitality was drained away from him as with the fever heat of summer (Ps 32:4).

Psalm 32:4 KJV 1900
4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: My moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.

But the effect of sin in your inner man doesn't merely come from your own sin.

It can come from others as well.

People can cause great sorrow in your heart without ever touching you.

A word spoken in anger can penetrate deep into your soul and cause much hurt and bitterness.

Fathers can devastate their children, by never allowing them to be good enough to be accepted in their sight.

Husbands can destroy their wives by speaking down upon them with regularity.

Wives can discourage their husbands through repeated nagging.

Words produced by our tongue can light a fire among people that can cause deep wounds.

Prov 16:28 says that "a slanderer separates intimate friends."

Proverbs 16:28 KJV 1900
28 A froward man soweth strife: And a whisperer separateth chief friends.

Imagine with me some close friends.

Along comes a slanderer and speaks to one of these friends a lie about the other one.

Though the lie is utterly untrue, a rift develops between close friends.

And soon, these friends are separated, never to commune closely again, ... all because of a lie.

And the sorrow that is caused by such broken relationships is great.

Such are some of the sorrows of life.

You can add to these the sorrows of the tragedies that take place all around us.

A terrorist attack that kills the life of a friend.

A hurricane that takes the life of a family member.

A debilitating illness that comes upon a spouse.

A broken marriage that destroys a sense of meaning in this life.

Enough of the bad news.

Let's look at the good news.

Jesus Christ bore our griefs and carried our sorrows (Isa 53 :4).

Isaiah 53:4 KJV 1900
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.

His work on the cross will take our sorrows away.

The idea here isn't so much that Jesus took our griefs and sorrows upon Himself, so that He was filled, Himself, with grief.

(That was the idea in Isa 53:3 , where we read that He was a man of sorrows and was acquainted with grief).

Isaiah 53:3 KJV 1900
3 He is despised and rejected of men; A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: And we hid as it were our faces from him; He was despised, and we esteemed him not.

But, the idea here is that Jesus took our griefs and our sorrows upon His own back, and then, He walked away with them, never to allow them to be seen again.

That's what it means that Jesus "bore" them.

It means that He took them away, by carrying them along, away from our presence.

His earthly ministry was only a taste of what He will ultimately do.

There is a day in which all of our griefs and all of our sorrows will be fully wiped away.

When God comes back to establish His eternal kingdom, God "will wipe away every tear from our eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain" (Rev 21:4 ).

Revelation 21:4 KJV 1900
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Can you even imagine this?

Our griefs ... turned into joy!

Our sorrows ... gone! Our broken relationships ... mended!

Our depression ... never to return!

Our guilt ... wiped clean. Can you imagine it?

Notice that there is a degree of certainty in these words.

Isaiah said, "Surely." "Surely He bore our griefs" as if to assure us that these things would take place.

As surely as we are gathered here this morning, Jesus Christ will remove all griefs and sorrows from our lives.

When Jesus died upon the cross, not only did Jesus bear our sins in His body on the tree, but He also bore all the results of sin.

"He bore our griefs" and "our sorrows He carried."

He did this all, even when we misjudged him.

We read at the end of verse 4, "Yet, we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted."

How easy is it for us to misjudge people. I was reminded this past week of how I misjudged a member of our congregation.

When the people of Jesus' day thought about Jesus, they thought him to be a wayward prophet.

Oh, certainly He displayed some wondrous powers.

But, where did it land Him? It landed Him upon the cross.

Perhaps you remember the crowds who saw Jesus hanging upon the cross.

They said to Him as He was dying, ...

... "You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself!" ... "If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross." ... "He saved others; He cannot save Himself." ... "He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him." ... "He trusts in God; let God rescue Him now, if He delights in Him; for He said, 'I am the Son of God.'" (Matt 27: 40-43 ).

Matthew 27:40–43 KJV 1900
40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. 41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, 42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. 43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

Such abuse came from those who were merely passing by on the road (Matt27:39).

Matthew 27:39 KJV 1900
39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,

Such abuse came from the chief priests (Matt 27:41).

Matthew 27:41 KJV 1900
41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,

Such abuse even came from the robbers who were crucified with Him (Matt 27:44 ).

Matthew 27:44 KJV 1900
44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.

When Jesus was upon the cross, nobody gave Him any respect at all. In fact, should you think for a moment about their accusations, you would quickly understand that they were mocking Jesus as a false prophet, who rightly deserved His death.

Indeed, the people of Jesus' day esteemed Jesus to be "stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted" (Isa 53 :4).

Isaiah 53:4 KJV 1900
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.

But, such mocking was the path to dealing with the result of sin.

Just as I have come to acknowledge my misjudgment of Doug, our setup chief, so also do you need to acknowledge any misjudgment of Jesus that you might have.

Perhaps you see Him as a misguided holy man, who deserved to die as a criminal, stricken and smitten by God.

Perhaps you seen in Him something that you don't like.

For you to experience the joys of having your griefs removed from you and your sorrows carried away, you need to acknowledge any way in which you have misjudged Jesus.

You need to realize that His death upon the cross came because he was a substitute for sin. Particularly, (1) He died for the result of sin ( Isa 53:4).

Isaiah 53:4 KJV 1900
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.

But, also, ...

2. He died for the healing of sin (Isa 53:5).

Isaiah 53:5 KJV 1900
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed.

Verse 5 says this: "But He was pierced through for our transgressions.

He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him.

And by His scourging we are healed."

These verses well describe the agony of the cross in bitter detail.

When Jesus was placed upon the cross, He was secured by long, Roman spikes that were driven into His hands and His feet.

During the hours of His torture, He was suspended by these nails.

Shortly after Jesus died, the Roman soldiers came to Him and "pierced His side with a spear" which produced a flood of blood and water that came out of His side (John 19:34).

Hundreds of years before crucifixion was even invented, Isaiah wrote that He would be "pierced through" (Isa 53:5).

John 19:34 KJV 1900
34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
Isaiah 53:5 KJV 1900
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed.

Before Jesus was placed upon the cross, He was taken away by some Roman soldiers, who made sport with Him.

The Bible tells us that these "soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head" (John 19:2).

They put a purple robe upon Him and mocked Him as a pretend king (John 19:2-3).

They also scourged Him (John 19:1).

A Roman scourge consisted of long stick with two or three thongs attached to it.

Each of these thongs were made of a rope-like material, in which pieces of bone or metal were woven.

The soldiers would use these scourges to beat Jesus.

Each time they struck Him with these scourges, the bone and metal would strike his back, causing great pain.

Upon pulling the scourge back, the bone and metal would often rip the skin, exposing His inner back to the air as an open wound, which would again be scourged.

John 19:2 KJV 1900
2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe,
John 19:2–3 KJV 1900
2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, 3 And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.
John 19:1 KJV 1900
1 Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.

I believe that such punishment could easily be described using Isaiah's words.

He said that Jesus would crushed.

To be sure, none of His bones were broken.

But, certainly the harsh treatment that Jesus received was a crushing, mortal blow to His body, as He eventually died from these wounds.

Isaiah also said that the Messiah would be chastened.

That is, He would be disciplined.

Roman citizens were often flogged for punishment of crimes that they had done.

So, as Jesus was scourged, this was surely a form of punishment that fell upon Him.

And so, we see the accurate description of the things that happened to Jesus, when He was crucified.

But, look at how Isaiah interpreted these events.

See, it's not just important that the Messiah would be brutally murdered.

But rather, these events have a specific meaning.

They have specific purpose.

And the purpose is substitution.

"He was pierced through for our transgressions.

He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him.

And by His scourging we are healed."

In the first two phrases, the suffering of Jesus was "for" the bad things that we have done.

In the last two phrases, the suffering of Jesus was "for" good things for us. In other words, the wrong that we have done has caused Jesus to suffer.

And the suffering that came upon Jesus was ultimately for our good.

The wrong that we had done is described in verse 5 as our "transgressions" and "our iniquities."

The good that we receive is our "well-being" (or peace) and our "healing."

There is this swap that took place. 2 Cor 5:21 says it about as good as any text in the Bible.

"God made Jesus who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

He took the bad. He gave the good.

In this verse we see the double substitution.

Jesus received the punishment that our sin deserved.

We receive the righteousness that only Jesus deserved.

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV 1900
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

It's a bit like the story, "The Prince and the Pauper."

It's the story of prince, who enjoys the pleasantries of nobility, and a pauper, who lives through all of the difficulties of poverty.

At one point, they encounter each other and realize that they look so much alike that they would be able to trade places.

And so they do.

Everything that the Prince had, the Pauper comes to enjoy.

And everything that caused the Pauper to suffer, the Prince had to endure.

This is the type of double substitution that took place in the cross.

We receive the good of Jesus, while He took upon Himself all of our bad.

When you think about this for any length of time, you are immediately impressed with how unfair this is.

Our transgression and our iniquities deserve a bad result for us.

But, because of the work of Christ on the cross, we receive peace and healing.

The perfect life of Jesus deserved good results for Him.

But, He received torture instead. Our sinful lives deserved punishment.

But, we receive blessing instead.

And you have to ask, "Why?

"Why would God do such a thing?"

There is only one reason: God's grace.

His grace comes to us only because of His love and kindness toward us.

This is illustrated very nicely in a Charles Dickens novel entitled, "A Tale of Two Cities."

The story was about London and Paris in the late 1700's.

Two men come to play an important role in this story: Their names were Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton.

These men were as different as different could be.

Charles Darnay was a well-known and well respected teacher.

He was a man of dignity and held a high standing among the all the people.

Sydney Carton, on the other hand, was neither well-known, nor respected.

Though he was bright, he was a drunkard, who wasted his life in slothful living.

However, these men had two things in common.

First of all, they bore a striking physical resemblance to one another.

They could almost be confused as twins.

Secondly, they both were in love with the same woman, Lucie Manette.

Sydney Carton knew that he had no opportunity to win the love of Lucie on account of his own sinful living and poor reputation.

But one day, He had an opportunity to speak with Lucie alone.

On that day, he told her that he was unworthy of her love for him, but that his own love for her was great.

He said that we would willingly lay down his life for her.

With that, Sydney Carton leaves the story.

As the story unfolds, Lucie Manette and Charles Darnay united in holy matrimony.

As political tensions between France and England grew, Charles traveled to Paris to help some friends.

Unfortunately for him, Charles was captured and thrown into prison, accused of espionage.

After a trial, Charles was thrown into prison, where he awaited death by guillotine at three o'clock the next day.

Sydney Carton happened to be in France at this time and discovered what was about to take place.

He came up with a plan to secure the release of Charles (and to show his love for Lucie).

First of all, he sent a note to a friend of Lucie, Mr. Lorry, saying, ...

"Have a coach ready to leave Paris at two o'clock tomorrow afternoon.

Tell Lucie of the danger they are in and that for the sake of her child and her father, she must go with you.

Tell her this was her husband's final wish.

Be in the coach with them all and keep a place for me. As soon as I arrive, pull me inside and drive away.

Just be sure you have all the papers with you so that we can all leave for England.

And no matter what happens, you must not change your plans!"

Then, shortly after two o'clock, Sydney Carton came to visit Charles Darnay in prison. He said, ...

"I come with a request from Lucie. There is no time to explain. Just take off your jacket and tie and boots, and put on mine. And give me the ribbon from your hair and shake it loose like mine."

Initially Darnay refused the plan.

But Sydney Carton was insistent.

And so, they exchanged clothes.

At Sydney Carton's request, he had Charles write a note that simply said, ...

"If you remember the words that passed between us long ago, you will understand what I am doing.

... I am thankful to get the chance to prove those words I said to you so long ago--that I would lay down my life for you.

I do it now eagerly, and you are to have no grief, no regret."

At that point, Sydney Carton drugged Charles Darnay with a cloth soaked in ether, so that he lay unconscious on the ground.

Sydney Carton then stuffed the paper inside Darnay's coat and called for the guard.

He said, "Guard, take my visitor out; he has become ill."

Then, he told the guard to carry him to Mr. Lorry, who is waiting for him with his coach."

Shortly thereafter, the clock struck three o'clock.

The guards entered the prison tower and took Sydney Carton away to be executed as Charles Darnay.

Darnay, still unconscious, was brought to Mr. Lorry's carriage, where he was taken safely out of Paris on route back to England.

Jesus said, "Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13).

John 15:13 KJV 1900
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Out of his great love for Lucie, Sydney Carton laid down his life for Charles Darnay.

He was a substitute.

At some point, Charles Darnay would discover this cryptic note in his pocket.

As it wouldn't make entire sense to him, he would certainly share it with Lucie, who would understand.

This is what Jesus did upon the cross.

He laid down His life for the well-being of those He loved.

Do you understand these things?

Eph 2:4-5 tell us that "God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ.

By grace you have been saved.

Ephesians 2:4–5 KJV 1900
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

3. He died for the forgiveness of sin (Isa 53 :6 ).

Verse 6 reads, "All of us like sheep have gone astray.

Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him."

This verse summarizes my message this morning as well as any verse in the entire Bible.

We see the bad news in the first two phrases.

We see the good news in the last two phrases.

The bad news is that we are like straying animals.

We have gone astray from the glory of God. We have not sought for God and His righteousness.

We have chosen our own way instead.

When sheep wander off and follow their own ways, they are in danger ...

... of being caught in steep-walled canyons, ... of being stranded on high cliffs, ... of having no meadow in which to eat, ... of lacking the water they need to survive, ... of being exposed to the hot sun or the freezing rain, ... of being dinner for predators like coyotes, bears, wolves, or cougars. [1]

When sheep wander off, they don't wander off into good paths.

Rather, they often wander into paths of doom.

The parallel of sheep comes directly over to us.

When we choose our own path, it is often a path of doom.

The Proverbs tell us, "There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death" ( Prov 16:25 ).

Proverbs 16:25 KJV 1900
25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death.

This is the path that we walk down, if we aren't guided.

"A child left to his own way bring shame to his mother" (Prov 29:15), because he travels a bad path.

Proverbs 29:15 KJV 1900
15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: But a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

It's the path that all of us have traveled.

We have all traveled the path that has gone away from God.

Left to our own way, we will choose the wrong path.

When you talk about the probability of having a boy or girl some would flip a coin will be "heads."

The probability is one half. Half of the time the coin will be "heads" and half of the time the coin will be "tails."

Again, the probability is about half. could talk about a dice that you can roll.

One sixth of the time, it will be a "one."

One sixth of the time, it will be a "two."

One sixth of the time, it will be a "three."

It's pretty simple and straightforward.

But, should I have asked her about the probability we will walk the right path in this life, the probability wouldn't be too high.

In fact, apart from the help of God, the probability would be zero.

Verse 6 gives the odds.

"All of us like sheep have gone astray.

Each of us has turned to his own way."

This is a bit similar to Ro 3:23 , "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."

Romans 3:23 KJV 1900
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

There are none of us who have walked the right path.

There are none of us who have fully reached the glory of God.

We are like sheep on a cliff that need to be rescued.

In the physical realm, we understand what the shepherd must do.

He must go and find the lost sheep.

Once he found the sheep, he needs to bring the sheep safely to the good pastures, where there are no cliffs to fall down, where there is plenty of grass to eat, where there is plenty of water to drink, where there is ample protection from the hot sun or from the freezing rain, and where predators can't come in unawares.

In the spiritual realm, it's much the same.

The shepherd needs to go and find the lost sheep.

Once he found the sheep, he needs to bring the sheep safely into the safe paths of God.

Psalm 23 gives the picture of the great shepherd.

Psalm 23 KJV 1900
A Psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Perhaps these words are familiar to you, ...

Ps 23:3

Psalm 23:3 KJV 1900
3 He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

I'm not sure whether you heard what is different about the process of the spiritual shepherd of our souls.

Did you?

Before He guides you in the path of righteousness, He needs first to restore your soul.

Listen closely again to verse 3, "He restores my soul; He guides me in the path of righteousness for His name's sake."

This is what Isa 53:6 is talking about.

Isaiah 53:6 KJV 1900
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

In bringing us back on the right path, the LORD needs first to restore our souls.

As we sin against a holy God, we have broken His law.

We come back into His fold as a law-breaker.

(Certainly, this is true of sheep as well, but sheep don't know any better).

We need to deal with the laws we have broken.

The way to deal with such things isn't to make up for it with good deeds.

We don't make up for it by walking on the right path. None of that will suffice.

Rather, we need an atonement for our sin.

"According to the law, one may almost say that all things are cleansed by blood, and without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness" (Heb 9:22).

Hebrews 9:22 KJV 1900
22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

This is where the last phrase in verse 6 comes in. "The LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him" (verse 6).

Again, this ideas of substitution comes screaming out at us again.

The iniquity that should rightly fall upon us lands on someone else.

Our iniquity falls on Him! We simply need to believe this message.

If you believe this morning and trust in Christ, your iniquity had landed upon Him on the cross.

Peter put it this way, "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross" (1 Peter 2:24 ).

1 Peter 2:24 KJV 1900
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

This is the gospel.

This is our hope!

That Jesus Christ became our substitute, and thereby, He has established a way in which our sins may be forgiven.

[1] These observations come from page 88 of an excellent book written by Philip Keller, entitled, "A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23."

Psalm 23 KJV 1900
A Psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Jesus Our Substitute

(Isaiah 53:12

Isaiah 53:12 KJV 1900
12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, And he shall divide the spoil with the strong; Because he hath poured out his soul unto death: And he was numbered with the transgressors; And he bare the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.

(I Corinthians 1:2

1 Corinthians 1:2 KJV 1900
2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

(II Corinthians 5:21

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV 1900
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

(I Corinthians 15:34)

1 Corinthians 15:34 KJV 1900
34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

(Isaiah 53:3

Isaiah 53:3 KJV 1900
3 He is despised and rejected of men; A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: And we hid as it were our faces from him; He was despised, and we esteemed him not.

(Ephesians 1:6

Ephesians 1:6 KJV 1900
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

(Isaiah 53:3)

Isaiah 53:3 KJV 1900
3 He is despised and rejected of men; A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: And we hid as it were our faces from him; He was despised, and we esteemed him not.

(II Corinthians 5:17

2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV 1900
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

(Galatians 2:20

Galatians 2:20 KJV 1900
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

(Isaiah 53:4

Isaiah 53:4 KJV 1900
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.

(John 14:18

John 14:18 KJV 1900
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

(Matthew 8:16-17

Matthew 8:16–17 KJV 1900
16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: 17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

(I Peter 2:24)

1 Peter 2:24 KJV 1900
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

(Matthew 27:46)

Matthew 27:46 KJV 1900
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

(Hebrews 13:5

Hebrews 13:5 KJV 1900
5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

(Philippians 2:6-7)

Philippians 2:6–7 KJV 1900
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

(II Corinthians 8:9

2 Corinthians 8:9 KJV 1900
9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

(Galatians 3:13-14

Galatians 3:13–14 KJV 1900
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

(Ephesians 1:3

Ephesians 1:3 KJV 1900
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

(Romans 5:17

Romans 5:17 KJV 1900
17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

(I Peter 1:23

1 Peter 1:23 KJV 1900
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

(I John 5:13

1 John 5:13 KJV 1900
13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

(Romans 5:8

Romans 5:8 KJV 1900
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

(Matthew 1:21)

Matthew 1:21 KJV 1900
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

(Romans 6:6

Romans 6:6 KJV 1900
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

(Isaiah 50:6

Isaiah 50:6 KJV 1900
6 I gave my back to the smiters, And my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

(Romans 10:11)

Romans 10:11 KJV 1900
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

(Matthew 12:40

Matthew 12:40 KJV 1900
40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

(Acts 2:27)

Acts 2:27 KJV 1900
27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

(Revelation 20:14-15

Revelation 20:14–15 KJV 1900
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

(Hebrews 9:16-17

Hebrews 9:16–17 KJV 1900
16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

(Romans 8:17) [return]

Romans 8:17 KJV 1900
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

(Galatians 3:29

Galatians 3:29 KJV 1900
29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

(John 18:12

John 18:12 KJV 1900
12 Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,

(Isaiah 53:8

Isaiah 53:8 KJV 1900
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: And who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living: For the transgression of my people was he stricken.

(Luke 4:18

Luke 4:18 KJV 1900
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

(Isaiah 1:18

Isaiah 1:18 KJV 1900
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

(Revelation 7:14

Revelation 7:14 KJV 1900
14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

(Mark 14:64

Mark 14:64 KJV 1900
64 Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.

(Ephesians 1:7

Ephesians 1:7 KJV 1900
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

(Romans 8:1

Romans 8:1 KJV 1900
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

(Hebrews 2:18

Hebrews 2:18 KJV 1900
18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

(Hebrews 4:15

Hebrews 4:15 KJV 1900
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

(I Corinthians 10:13

1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV 1900
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

(Isaiah 53:7

Isaiah 53:7 KJV 1900
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, Yet he opened not his mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth.

(John 10:17-18

John 10:17–18 KJV 1900
17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

(I John 5:4

1 John 5:4 KJV 1900
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

(Isaiah 53:10-11

Isaiah 53:10–11 KJV 1900
10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, He shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; For he shall bear their iniquities.

(Romans 4:25

Romans 4:25 KJV 1900
25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

(I Thessalonians 1:10

1 Thessalonians 1:10 KJV 1900
10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

(Mark 14:41

Mark 14:41 KJV 1900
41 And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

(Revelation 1:5

Revelation 1:5 KJV 1900
5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

I John 2:1

1 John 2:1 KJV 1900
1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

(II Corinthians 13:4

2 Corinthians 13:4 KJV 1900
4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

(II Corinthians 12:10

2 Corinthians 12:10 KJV 1900
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

1. . (Isaiah 53:12)

Isaiah 53:12 KJV 1900
12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, And he shall divide the spoil with the strong; Because he hath poured out his soul unto death: And he was numbered with the transgressors; And he bare the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.

.1 (I Corinthians 1:2).2

1 Corinthians 1:2 KJV 1900
2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

2. He was made to be sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (II Corinthians 5:21).3 (I Corinthians 15:34).4

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV 1900
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
1 Corinthians 15:34 KJV 1900
34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

3. He was rejected that we might be fully accepted in the beloved. (Isaiah 53:3).5 (Ephesians 1:6).6

Isaiah 53:3 KJV 1900
3 He is despised and rejected of men; A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: And we hid as it were our faces from him; He was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Ephesians 1:6 KJV 1900
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

4. He was bruised that we might be free from emotional bruises and gain a new identity in him. (Isaiah 53:3).7 (II Corinthians 5:17).8 (Galatians 2:20).9

Isaiah 53:3 KJV 1900
3 He is despised and rejected of men; A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: And we hid as it were our faces from him; He was despised, and we esteemed him not.
2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV 1900
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Galatians 2:20 KJV 1900
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

5. He bore our griefs and sorrows that we might be comforted. (Isaiah 53:4).10 (John 14:18).11

Isaiah 53:4 KJV 1900
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.
John 14:18 KJV 1900
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

6. He carried our diseases that we might be healed by his stripes. (Matthew 8:16-17).12 (I Peter 2:24).13

Matthew 8:16–17 KJV 1900
16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: 17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
1 Peter 2:24 KJV 1900
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

7. He was forsaken of the Father that we might be adopted as children of God never to be forsaken. (Matthew 27:46).14 (Hebrews 13:5).15

Matthew 27:46 KJV 1900
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Hebrews 13:5 KJV 1900
5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

8. He was made poor that we through his poverty might be made rich.  (Philippians 2:6-7).16 (II Corinthians 8:9).17

Philippians 2:6–7 KJV 1900
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
2 Corinthians 8:9 KJV 1900
9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

9. He was made a curse for us that we might be redeemed from the curse of the law and receive the blessings of the father. (Galatians 3:13-14). 18 (Ephesians 1:3).19

Galatians 3:13–14 KJV 1900
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Ephesians 1:3 KJV 1900
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

10. He died that we might be born of the seed of God, become children of God, and have eternal life. (Romans 5:17).20 (I Peter 1:23).21 (I John 5:13).22

Romans 5:17 KJV 1900
17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
1 Peter 1:23 KJV 1900
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
1 John 5:13 KJV 1900
13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

11. He took our sins upon himself that we might be saved from sin and the power of sin. (Romans 5:8).23 (Matthew 1:21).24 (Romans 6:6).25

Romans 5:8 KJV 1900
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Matthew 1:21 KJV 1900
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Romans 6:6 KJV 1900
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

12. He suffered shame that we might be free from shame. (Isaiah 50:6).26 (Romans 10:11).27

Isaiah 50:6 KJV 1900
6 I gave my back to the smiters, And my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
Romans 10:11 KJV 1900
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

13. He suffered three days in hell that we might be free from the second death which is the lake of fire. (Matthew 12:40).28 (Acts 2:27).29 (Revelation 20:14-15).30

Matthew 12:40 KJV 1900
40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Acts 2:27 KJV 1900
27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Revelation 20:14–15 KJV 1900
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

14. He also died that we might receive the inheritance of God as children of God. (Hebrews 9:16-17).31 (Romans 8:17).32 (Galatians 3:29).33

Hebrews 9:16–17 KJV 1900
16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
Romans 8:17 KJV 1900
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Galatians 3:29 KJV 1900
29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

15. He was made a captive that we might be delivered from bondage.  (John 18:12).34 (Isaiah 53:8).35 (Luke 4:18).36

John 18:12 KJV 1900
12 Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,
Isaiah 53:8 KJV 1900
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: And who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living: For the transgression of my people was he stricken.
Luke 4:18 KJV 1900
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

16. He shed his blood that we might be washed as white as snow. (Isaiah 1:18).37 (Revelation 7:14). 38

Isaiah 1:18 KJV 1900
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Revelation 7:14 KJV 1900
14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

17. He was condemned that we might be forgiven. (Mark 14:64).39 (Ephesians 1:7).40 (Romans 8:1).41

Mark 14:64 KJV 1900
64 Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.
Ephesians 1:7 KJV 1900
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Romans 8:1 KJV 1900
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

18. He was tempted that we might overcome temptation. (Hebrews 2:18).42 (Hebrews 4:15).43 (I Corinthians 1:13).44

Hebrews 2:18 KJV 1900
18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
Hebrews 4:15 KJV 1900
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
1 Corinthians 1:13 KJV 1900
13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

19. He was made a victim that we might be victorious over the enemy. (Isaiah 53:7).45 (John 10:17-18).46 (I John 5:4).47

Isaiah 53:7 KJV 1900
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, Yet he opened not his mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth.
John 10:17–18 KJV 1900
17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
1 John 5:4 KJV 1900
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

20. He suffered the wrath of God and was resurrected from death and hell that we might be justified. (Isaiah 53:10-11).48 (Romans 4:25).49 (I Thessalonians 1:10).50

Isaiah 53:10–11 KJV 1900
10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, He shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; For he shall bear their iniquities.
Romans 4:25 KJV 1900
25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
1 Thessalonians 1:10 KJV 1900
10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

21. He was betrayed that we might have an faithful witness before God the Father. (Mark 14:41).51 (Revelation 1:5).52 (I John 2:1).53

Mark 14:41 KJV 1900
41 And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Revelation 1:5 KJV 1900
5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
1 John 2:1 KJV 1900
1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

22. He was made weak that in him we might be made strong. (II Corinthians 13:4).54; (II Corinthians 12:10).55

2 Corinthians 13:4 KJV 1900
4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
2 Corinthians 12:10 KJV 1900
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

I. THE NEED OF PARDON, suggested by the word in our text — "sins."

Unless you come to know and feel your need of a thing, you will never desire or welcome it.

If I wished to convince you that you needed pardon, from your father, for instance, in an ordinary matter, I should first have to show you your offence.

I am afraid many young people do not feel their need of pardon in a far higher sense.

I wish I could write the word "sins" on your hearts today.

This is one of the greatest words in all the Bible — in all the world. It tells about our offences against God — about our breaking of His holy law — about the evil we have done against our loving Father in heaven.

And when once we come to get a sight of our sins as against God, we never can rest until we have got His pardon. II. THE GOSPEL WAY OF PARDON. Some people think it is enough to ask pardon.

Others think the way of pardon is to be sorry for their sins.

Others think the way of pardon is trying to be as good as they can — saying their prayers, and striving to do what is right.

Now the gospel way of pardon, though it might be said to include all these, is yet different from them all.

It is very simple. It is very shortly told.

I have heard an esteemed Edinburgh minister tell of his visiting an aged Christian man on his deathbed, and saying to him, "Is it not a happy thing that we have the gospel set forth in so few and in such simple words?"

The old man looked up and said, "One word, sir!" His friend said, "What is the one word?"

He replied, "Substitution!"

The whole gospel in one word — substitution! If anyone were to ask me, "What is the way of salvation?" and I wanted to put it as shortly and as fully as possible, I would say, "It is the immediate, present acceptance of Christ as the substitute on the authority of God's word and offer."

There is a touching story told regarding a body of men who had taken part in a rebellion, and were sentenced to have every tenth man of their number shot to deter others from doing what they had done.

Among these were two, a father and son.

We can fancy we see the men drawn up in a long line.

Fixing, perhaps, on the first man by lot, he is marked out for death, and every tenth man thereafter, counting from him.

The father and son stand together, and as the son runs his eye along the line he discovers that his father is a doomed man.

He realises what it will be to have their family left without a head, his mother a widow, the old home stripped of its light and joy, and, quick as thought, he steps in where his father stood, and falls in his stead.

He becomes his father's "substitute," and, if you ask the father in after years how he was saved, with the tear in his eye and a quivering voice, he will tell you he was saved by a substitute — that substitute his most loved and loving son.

This, then, is what I want to bring out as the most important thing.

The gospel way of pardon is by substitution — by One taking the place of another, by the Just taking the place of the unjust — the Good taking the place of the evil — the just Jesus, the good Jesus, taking the place of the unjust and the evil.

God is just and holy, as well as merciful and loving.

He is a King and Judge, as well as a Father.

The authority of His law must be maintained.

His justice must be vindicated.

The law in its precept and penalty must be satisfied.

It must be perfectly obeyed; and in the event of disobedience, the penalty of the broken law — death — must be suffered, either by each man himself, or by another in his room.

We have all disobeyed, and so there is no hope for any one of us, except in the obedience and death of Christ.

I would come to each of you and say, "You are lost, and unless you get pardon you will be lost forever.

The Lord Jesus Christ is willing to be your substitute now and here, and in God's name and on the authority of His own Word I offer Jesus Christ to be your substitute.

Here is One willing to take your place.

Will you have Him?

If you take Him you are saved, you are pardoned."

When visiting our Jewish Mission Schools at Pesth, the capital of Hungary, a few years ago, I heard the truth on which I have been dwelling strikingly brought out by one of the pupils.

The lesson was about the crucifixion of Christ, and the teacher asked, "What connection have we with the work and death of the Lord Jesus?"

A young Jew held out his hand, as being prepared to give an answer, and said, "It is just as if we had the merit; it is just as if we had been crucified!" III. THE RESULTS OF PARDON — that is to say, the consequences of being pardoned through the substitution of another — through the Lord Jesus taking our place. 1. The first thing that follows gospel pardon is safety.

There is no more danger.

There is no condemnation to them who are thus in Christ Jesus. 2. There is happiness. (1) This is the secret of happy living.

A young friend, who had been in much anxiety about her soul, was shown into my study one night.

Her face was quite radiant. It was such a change from what had been before that I could not help asking, "What has happened tonight?"

The brief but expressive answer was, "I have taken Him to be my substitute!"

That explained all. (2) This is the secret of happy dying.

Dr. Carey, the great Indian scholar and missionary, tells of his visit to one of the wards in an Indian hospital.

On a bed, in a corner of the room, lay a dying soldier.

Stepping gently up to him, he knelt at his bedside, and whispered into his ear, "My dear brother, are you afraid to die?"

Looking up with a smile, the dying man answered, "Oh, no, sir; I have died already!"

He meant that Jesus, his substitute, had died for him, and he had not to die, but only to fall asleep in Jesus. 3. There is gratitude — thankfulness. 4. There is love. 5. Lastly, there is service.

It is told of the Duke of Orleans ("Philip Egalite"), father of Louis Philippe, the last king of the French, that on one occasion he was out riding, followed by his servant, who was also on horseback.

The Duke had crossed an old bridge over a rapid stream in safety, but when his man servant was following, the bridge gave way, and horse and rider were thrown into the river.

In a moment the Duke leaped from his horse's back, plunged into the stream, and with considerable difficulty succeeded in saving the drowning man and bringing him to land.

Need I describe the scene that followed?

All dripping as he was, you might have seen the grateful servant prostrated at his master's feet, promising the gratitude and service of a lifetime, and asking what he could do to serve one who had done so much for him.

You know the story of "The Heart made Captive" — the slave bought with British gold, who vowed he would never serve his purchaser.

But when he learned that the stranger had bought him to set him free, there were no bounds to his love and gratitude, and no limits to his service.

When asked as to the secret of his constant and devoted service, there was but the one answer, "He redeemed me! he redeemed me!"

Such is the secret of all right-hearted service done for Christ, as well as of all holy living.

"He is my substitute.

He suffered for me.

He died for me.

Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?

What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits unto me?" 1 Peter 3:18-20

1 Peter 3:18–20 KJV 1900
18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
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