S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

Substitution is one of the major themes of the Bible. God instituted the principle of substitution in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve sinned. By killing an animal to cover their nakedness (Gen...

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July 01 2013 • 6 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Mamdouh Tawadros Supporter

The substitution includes the “people of God.” It used to be the Israelites, but now all nations who believe in him and act according to his teachings, as well as the laws of Moses, are his people. The Israelites received his blessings and promises, yes, but that means nothing to them if they don’t come forward into our Lord’s flock.

July 04 2022 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate

In my opinion, Galatians 3:13 is one of the most important Bible verses about Jesus Christ dying for sinners, i.e. that He died in the place of sinners, as our Substitute. You can compare other verses, Mark 10:45; Romans 5:6, 8, etc. But this one, "Christ has redeemed us from the CURSE of the law, being made a CURSE for us, as it is written, 'CURSED is everyone who hangs on a tree," says it all.

In Planet In Rebellion, George Vandeman wrote:

"It was May 21, 1946. The place—Los Alamos. A young and daring scientist was carrying out a necessary experiment in preparation for the atomic test to be conducted in the waters of the South Pacific atoll at Bikini. He had successfully performed such an experiment many times before. In his effort to determine the amount of U-235 necessary for a chain reaction—scientists call it the critical mass—he would push two hemispheres of uranium together. Then, just as the mass became critical, he would push them apart with his screwdriver, thus instantly stopping the chain reaction.

"But that day, just as the material became critical, the screwdriver slipped! The hemispheres of uranium came too close together. Instantly the room was filled with a dazzling bluish haze. Young Louis Slotin, instead of ducking and thereby possibly saving himself, tore the two hemispheres apart with his hands and thus interrupted the chain reaction.

"By this instant, self-forgetful daring, he saved the lives of the seven other persons in the room... As he waited.. for the car that was to take him to the hospital, he said quietly to his companion, ‘You’ll come through all right. But I haven’t the faintest chance myself.’ It was only too true. Nine days later he died in agony.

“Nineteen centuries ago the Son of the living God walked directly into sin’s most concentrated radiation, allowed Himself to be touched by its curse, and let it take His life... But by that act He broke the chain reaction. He broke the power of sin."

Planet In Rebellion, George Vandeman

In the Ryrie Study Bible's "A Synopsis of Bible Doctrine," (one of my favorite books that I used when I was in the ministry) and under the Doctrine of Salvation and the section on the accomplishments of Christ's death, the point on substitution reads as follows in condensed paragraph form (with ESV wording for the verses).

Substitution. Christ died in the place of sinners. The Greek preposition anti clearly means "in the place of" (Matthew 20:28, "even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many"). The preposition huper sometimes means "for the benefit of" and sometimes "in the place of," as in the non-atonement passage Philemon 13 ("I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel") and in the atonement passage 2 Corinthians 5:21 ("For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God"). As a result, sins are removed by substitution and the righteousness of Christ is added.

This illustrates that Christ's death was a true substitution. He took our place under the penalty of sin so that we might receive His righteousness. Grok assist

September 04 2024 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report