Doctrine: Substitution

Matthew 26:47-27:31

In the OT, God required Israel to sacrifice animals as a temporary payment for sin.

God made it clear from the beginning that sin can only be forgiven through the shedding of blood. This was a foreshadowing of the sacrifice that Jesus would later become on the cross.

Animal sacrifices feels very foreign to us today and is not something commonly practiced, especially in this part of the world.

However, In the ancient world animal sacrifices were very common among Pagan religions- in many cases people would make a sacrifice to false gods to appease a volatile and angry deity.

People thought if they made the sacrifice, then the gods wouldn’t be angry with them, but happy…and then maybe they wouldn’t kill them or send a plague on their family.

However..when God requires a sacrifice…it is NOT because he is angry at you and really wants to kill you, but in his mercy he offers another option.

That is NOT what is happening…in fact, its quite opposite.

God actually takes this common ritual of animal sacrifices and completely transforms the meaning. What makes our God different- he isn’t a volatile and angry deity that needs appeased by a sacrifice.

A sacrifice was needed, blood needed shed because blood represents life. Sin results in death…and our loving and gracious God wanted to save us from death

Soo....out of his love he PROVIDED a substitute for us, he provided life for us....NO other god did that.

And not only did he provide a substitute- but he sent his one and only son- to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins- once and for all.

God didn’t sit back and demand that we figure it out- he graciously gave us his own son Jesus, to die in our place.

Our doctrine this week is substitution and in our scripture this week we see Jesus- God’s son, standing in our place.

Jesus came with the purpose of dying. He came because God sent him for us- as our substitute.

In our scripture this week we see Jesus literally take the place of Barabbas - and while he took the Barabbas’ place physically- he took ours spiritually.

If Jesus had not taken Barrabas’ place- he could have never taken ours.

And when the Sanhedrin and Pilate found him worthy of death-they did not realize that in his death he would bring life. Sin causes death. But Jesus’ Blood brings life.

And our gracious and loving God- gave us His one and only son Jesus…who without saying a word…stepped in and took your place…he willingly went to the cross so that you wouldn’t have to.

When Jesus took our place he covered our sin so that we are now seen as righteous.

Because of Jesus’ we don’t have to strive to earn our salvation…because His’ substitution allows all believers to be credited with God’s perfect righteousness.

This frees us to serve in BSF, in our homes, churches, and communities without fear of failing- of not being enough. And we can bring that gracious freedom to others knowing that we have been set free by the life giving blood of Jesus.

What a gracious and loving God to send us his son- to provide a substitute that we never could. One song refers to this substitute as a divine exchange…and I love the words to this song as it says:

Jesus, He took my place in divine exchange Hallelujah! Grace is mine Now I will live by faith for the One who saves He gave all to give me life

So go, live by faith- remembering that he died so you could have life.

lllllll