A Glorious Substitution

A Glorious Substitution

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 hangs on a tree, Galatians 3:13

It is the province of the law to condemn, but there is in it no power to pardon or to redeem.

Without Christ the law of itself was only condemnation and death to the transgressor. It has no saving quality – no power to shield the transgressor from its penalty.

The transgression of God’s law made the death of Christ essential to save man and yet maintain the dignity and honor of the law.  Christ took upon Himself the condemnation of sin. He opened His bosom to the woes of mean.  He who knew no sin became sin for us.

As man’s substitute and surety, the iniquity of men was laid upon Christ; He was counted a transgressor that He might redeem them from the curse of the law.  He the Sin-Bearer, endures judicial punishment for iniquity and becomes in itself for man.

Sin, so hateful to His sight, was heaped upon Him till he groaned beneath its weight.  The departing agony of the son of God was so much greater than His physical pain, that the latter was hardly felt by Him.

God permits His Son to be delivered up for our offenses. He himself assumes toward the Sin-Bearer the character of a judge, divesting Himself of the endearing qualities of a father.

Herein His love commends itself in the most marvelous manner to the rebellious race.

The sin of the whole world was laid upon Jesus, and divinity gave its highest value to the suffering of humanity in Jesus, that the whole world might be pardoned through faith in the substitute. The most guilty need have no fear that God will not pardon, for because of the efficacy of he divine sacrifice the penalty of the law will be remitted. Through Christ the sinner may return to allegiance to God.