*SUBSTITUTION 1*

SUBSTITUTION (The Core Truth of The Gospel)

The great fact on which Saving Faith rests complete is this: that "the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us" (John 1:14), and JESUS took upon Himself the form of a servant, and being made in the likeness of man, He became obedient unto death, even the death of THE CROSS, for you (Philippians 2:7–8). The divine Fact upon which your Faith must rest is this: that "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them" (2 Corinthians 5:19). The great Truth which makes the Gospel so Glorious is that, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (1 Timothy 1:15); that Christ also hath suffered for Sins, "the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God" (1 Peter 3:18); "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on THE TREE" (1 Peter 2:24); "For the chastisement of our peace was upon HIM; and with HIS stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5).

In one word, the great fact on which all your Hope must rest is SUBSTITUTION! The sinless Sacrifice of Christ Himself for the sinner—Christ suffering for the ungodly rebel, Christ's being made Sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in HIM (2 Corinthians 5:21), Christ offering up the true and perfect substitutionary Sacrifice of Himself in your place—This is the core fact and truth of the Gospel of God!

How Substitution Solves your Sin Problem 

Consider how Substitution was accomplished: you have sinned and you are condemned before God. How could God be Gracious and yet be Just? How could He keep His Law, and yet at the same time show His Mercy towards you? That eternal problem was solved by the Suretyship of Christ. JESUS became a Jewish man, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life pleasing the Father, JESUS offered Himself without spot to God, that He might make Recompense to the broken Law.  

It became necessary, that Christ was to be our Surety, that He should take upon Himself human flesh. The Son of God came down to earth to be born of a virgin! JESUS left the courts of Paradise and went down to Bethlehem. "Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host" (Luke 2:13) who now came in to sing this grand song: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:14). The Eternal Word was made flesh in order to be capable of carrying out His ATONEMENT for sinners, and really become the Substitute for sinners who had offended His Law. JESUS stooped from heaven and became a friend of sinners. He stooped to die for the sins of the whole world. Behold JESUS' griefs and torments, the dying Son of God, the Lamb of God's Passover, hear Him say, "It is Finished!" (John 19:30), JESUS was made a Curse for us, so that we could be made Righteous in Him.

Christ Our Passover Sacrifice 

Christ is "Our Passover" (1 Corinthians 5:7) by which God's wrath passes over from us who deserve its full Vengeance. The wrath of God passed upon the Lamb of God, and therefore it passes over us! Christ is sacrificed and slain; His sinless life was laid down, for He gave Himself for us. His life and blood, His very self, He yielded up for us. The words "for us" imply Substitution: Christ is sacrificed for, or instead of us. He is the Lamb of our Passover, sacrificed in our behalf, that we might not be punished, and burned in the fire of suffering, so that we might go Free (Redeemed by the Ransom of JESUS).

It is by the process of substitution that, according to abundant Scriptures, believing sinners are passed over in the Judgment and escape eternal condemnation:

"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God" (1 Peter 3:18).

"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" (2 Corinthians 5:21).

"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" (Galatians 3:13).

"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous" (Romans 5:19)

Surely, you must understand the Gospel's simple plan of substitution. Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, stood in the place of guilty men—in your place—He suffered for you. Surely you can understand how God is Just in taking this voluntarily-offered Sacrifice instead of your sacrifice, punishing Christ instead of you, and then God saying to you: "I have vindicated the honor of My LAW; I have magnified My Law and shown that it must not be trifled with, and now I forgive you—freely I pardon you, for Jesus lived a sinless life for you, and bore your sins in His own body, and then died in your place!"

The Call to Believe and Be SavedI 

You must receive the Christ with your heart that you have accepted with your understanding! Kick not against the simple Gospel. The Gospel is so Just to God, and so Safe to you. Yield to the Gospel, yield to the Son of God now, and remember: if you believe in God's appointed Savior (JESUS CHRIST), your Soul are saved on the spot, and spared forever and ever! If you will simply trust your Soul and Sins now with Jesus Christ, He will not fail you; He will cover your Soul with His righteousness, cleanse you with His Precious Blood, and redeem you, world without end!

Come to God Who gave His Son to bleed in the sinner's place, and cast yourself on what Christ has FINISHED. As soon as a guilty sinner believes in Jesus all of his sins and crimes against God are pardoned immediately and freely. The Righteousness of Christ becomes his righteousness, and he is accepted in the Beloved eternally! Now, this is Glad Tidings indeed; here is something for your Soul to truly feed upon! To think that you,  a deeply guilty sinner is acquitted by God, and set free from the bondage and condemnation of the Law! To think that a child of wrath is now accepted before God as Christ is accepted, because the divine Righteousness of Christ belongs to you, and you stand complete in Him, The Beloved of God, and accepted in Him too. You are reconciled to God and brought nigh by the Blood and the Righteousness of Jesus Christ. This is divine mercy; this is the Glorious Gospel of God indeed!

Think over the great truth of Substitution. Consider in your mind the sufferings of the Savior. Dwell in His sight, sit at the foot of Calvary, abide in the presence of His Cross, and never turn away from the great display of Mercy and Misery! Come to THE CROSS; be not afraid. If you have never trusted Jesus, look to HIM now and Live Eternally! May you come to JESUS now! Come, guilty Soul, flee to THE LAMB OF GOD; hide from the wrath of God in Jesus' wounds! Do not run away from the wounds which you have made, but find eternal Shelter in them; forget not the sufferings of Christ, but rest calmly and safely in them! Your only Hope lies in trusting in Jesus, resting wholly upon Him.

DISCIPLESHIP (The Walk of Absolute Surrender)

Consider JESUS' wounds, His bruises, His stripes, and His smarts! Jesus dying justifies us; Jesus being smitten sanctifies us! His cruel stripes are our healing; His wounds are blows at our sins; His bruises mortify our lusts. GOD'S BLOOD is the Medicine that heals us: The Substitutionary Sacrifice of Christ Himself!

You have been redeemed by so great a Price, abide continually at the foot of THE CROSS. Constantly rely upon the finished Atonement of Emmanuel and the crucifying Grace of God to  mortify the deeds of the body; yield to the the Spirit and the power of JESUS' Blood. Being now justified by His Blood, we are now being conformed to His image, by daily yielding our lives in complete obedience to the Savior Who bore our sins in His own body on the tree!