The Death of Christ: Part 2 - Substitution

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Death Of Christ: Part 2 - Substitution

Christ death was substitutionary — on behalf of sinners.  Another term for substitution is vicarious.  Vicarious means in the place of another.  Christ vicariously took humanity’s place as the ransom for sin.

• 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. - Isaiah 53:5
• And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, - 1 Peter 2:24  

The ransom paid by Jesus to recover lost sinners is substitutionary.

• Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom (lutron) for (antí) many. - Matthew 20:28
• For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom  (lutron) for (antí) many. - Mark 10:45   

The term for (antí) in Matthew 20:28 and Mark 10:45 means in the place of and highlights the substitutionary aspect of Jesus’ sacrifice.  The term antí appears 318 times in the Septuagint.  In each case it means ‘in place of’ translating the Hebrew term tachath the term used for substitution.  Antí always carries the idea of substitution.  This ransom was not paid to Satan, but God.  Sinners cannot be recovered or redeemed until God’s wrath is assuaged.  While His substitutionary ransom is only efficacious to those who repent and believe (i.e., the many),  Jesus died for (huper) the sins of the whole world.  

• Who gave Himself as a ransom (antilytron) for (huper) all, - 1 Timothy 2:6a  

The preposition for (huper) also conveys the idea of in place of another.  Christ stood in humanity’s place and took the Law’s curse upon Himself.