Audio for the Cruiciform Conference which features Dustin Benge, Justin Huffman, Kofi Abu-Boahen, and more
The Light of the World: 2019 London Conference from Ligonier is now available
ESV Outreach Bibles are on sale at WTS Books
Living The Christian Life by Albert Martin
Social Justice and Slander, Critical Theory and Conspiracy Theories by Samuel Sey
Jason Meyer- Don’t Lose Heart: Gospel Hope for the Discouraged Soul from Equipping You In Grace
Common Misconceptions about the Trinity (Fred Sanders) from Crossway
Behold, the Lamb of God: Theology Proper and the Inseparability of Penal-Substitutionary Atonement from Forensic Justification and Imputation by Stephen J. Wellum
Showing posts with label Penal Substitution. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Penal Substitution. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Around The Web-August 28, 2019
Westminster Bookstore is having their annual summer clearance
How Can You Tell the Difference Between a Faithful and an Unfaithful Pastor? from Core Christianity
When Pastors Water Down the Truth of God’s Word by Nick Batzig
By His Grace and For His Glory by Tom Nettles
The Result of True Worship by Josh Buice
John Frame: Biblical Worldview, Philosophy, and the Christian from Equipping You In Grace
What Did the Cross Achieve?: The Logic of Penal Substitution by J.I. Packer
Gray Hair and a Righteous Life by Tim Challies
How Can You Tell the Difference Between a Faithful and an Unfaithful Pastor? from Core Christianity
When Pastors Water Down the Truth of God’s Word by Nick Batzig
By His Grace and For His Glory by Tom Nettles
The Result of True Worship by Josh Buice
John Frame: Biblical Worldview, Philosophy, and the Christian from Equipping You In Grace
What Did the Cross Achieve?: The Logic of Penal Substitution by J.I. Packer
Gray Hair and a Righteous Life by Tim Challies
Thursday, February 8, 2018
Penal Substitution Is The Heart Of The Gospel
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit (1 Peter 3:18).
Here is one of the richest, clearest, and briefest New Testament summaries of the work of Christ. Theologians describe the heart of the gospel as penal substitutionary atonement. Jesus paid the penalty for sins (penal) as a substitute in our place (substitutionary) to undo the effects of our sin and restore us to God (atonement, literally “at-one-ment”). This is precisely what we find in this verse: Christ “suffered once for sins [penal], the righteous for the unrighteous [substitutionary], that he might bring us to God [atonement].”
As beautiful as are these gospel truths, the work of Christ accomplished even more. For example, the Devil and his demons are once and for all disarmed. The caring and righteous work of Christ is also an example for us to follow, as Peter himself asserts (2:21). But penal substitution is the fundamental heart of the gospel. The other benefits of Christ’s work all flow from this.
Because of the work of Christ proclaimed in the gospel of grace, we are restored to God. The wreckage we have introduced into our lives through sin and failure and error is canceled. All is forgiven, and one day we will be with Christ in the new earth, in perfect joy.
Adapted from the Gospel Transformation Bible
Here is one of the richest, clearest, and briefest New Testament summaries of the work of Christ. Theologians describe the heart of the gospel as penal substitutionary atonement. Jesus paid the penalty for sins (penal) as a substitute in our place (substitutionary) to undo the effects of our sin and restore us to God (atonement, literally “at-one-ment”). This is precisely what we find in this verse: Christ “suffered once for sins [penal], the righteous for the unrighteous [substitutionary], that he might bring us to God [atonement].”
As beautiful as are these gospel truths, the work of Christ accomplished even more. For example, the Devil and his demons are once and for all disarmed. The caring and righteous work of Christ is also an example for us to follow, as Peter himself asserts (2:21). But penal substitution is the fundamental heart of the gospel. The other benefits of Christ’s work all flow from this.
Because of the work of Christ proclaimed in the gospel of grace, we are restored to God. The wreckage we have introduced into our lives through sin and failure and error is canceled. All is forgiven, and one day we will be with Christ in the new earth, in perfect joy.
Adapted from the Gospel Transformation Bible
Thursday, January 11, 2018
Christ's Suffering Is Different From Our Suffering
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit (1 Peter 3:18).
After encouraging his readers to suffer for doing good, Peter returns to Christ's suffering" "Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God." When Jesus calls us to suffer, he understands because he also suffered, and Peter therefore implies that Christ is our example in suffering (he states explicitly in 1 Peter 2:21).
But, more importantly, Christ's suffering is unique. First, his suffering is "once" for all time: no other sacrifices for sin are needed. Second, the most significant difference between Christians' suffering and Christ's is that is his is atoning: "Christ also suffered once for sins." Peter elaborated, "the righteous for the unrighteous." Jesus died for sinners, in this place. His death was substitutionary and is the basis upon which people become right with God. Third, because Christ's once-for-all suffering is redemptive, it brings "us to God."
Christ as Mediator of the new covenant, died in order to bridge the gulf between God and humanity. His was a redemptive death for us who were far away from God, bringing us to him.
Adapted from the ESV Systematic Theology Study Bible
After encouraging his readers to suffer for doing good, Peter returns to Christ's suffering" "Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God." When Jesus calls us to suffer, he understands because he also suffered, and Peter therefore implies that Christ is our example in suffering (he states explicitly in 1 Peter 2:21).
But, more importantly, Christ's suffering is unique. First, his suffering is "once" for all time: no other sacrifices for sin are needed. Second, the most significant difference between Christians' suffering and Christ's is that is his is atoning: "Christ also suffered once for sins." Peter elaborated, "the righteous for the unrighteous." Jesus died for sinners, in this place. His death was substitutionary and is the basis upon which people become right with God. Third, because Christ's once-for-all suffering is redemptive, it brings "us to God."
Christ as Mediator of the new covenant, died in order to bridge the gulf between God and humanity. His was a redemptive death for us who were far away from God, bringing us to him.
Adapted from the ESV Systematic Theology Study Bible
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
Jesus Is Our Substitute
The word vicarious is extremely important to our understanding of the atonement of Christ. The late Swiss theologian Karl Barth once said that, in his judgment, the single most important word in all of the Greek New Testament is the minuscule word huper. This little word is translated by the English phrase “in behalf of.” Barth was clearly engaging in a bit of hyperbole in making this statement, because many words in the New Testament are arguably as important or even more important than huper, but he was simply seeking to call attention to the importance of what is known in theology as the vicarious aspect of the ministry of Jesus.
He made satisfaction for our debt, our enmity with God, and our guilt. He satisfied the ransom demand for our release from captivity to sin. However, there is another significant word that is often used in descriptions of the atonement: substitution. When we look at the biblical depiction of sin as a crime, we see that Jesus acts as the Substitute, taking our place at the bar of God’s justice. For this reason, we sometimes speak of Jesus’ work on the cross as the substitutionary atonement of Christ, which means that when He offered an atonement, it was not to satisfy God’s justice for His own sins, but for the sins of others. He stepped into the role of the Substitute, representing His people. He didn’t lay down His life for Himself; He laid it down for His sheep. He is our ultimate Substitute.
The idea of being the Substitute in offering an atonement to satisfy the demands of God’s law for others was something Christ understood as His mission from the moment He entered this world and took upon Himself a human nature. He came from heaven as the gift of the Father for the express purpose of working out redemption as our Substitute, doing for us what we could not possibly do for ourselves. We see this at the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry, when He initiated His public work by coming to the Jordan River and meeting John the Baptist.
Imagine the scene at the Jordan that day. John was busy baptizing the people in preparation for the coming of the kingdom. Suddenly he looked up and saw Jesus approaching. He spoke the words that later became the lyrics for that great hymn of the church, the Agnus Dei: “‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’” (John 1:29b). He announced that Jesus was the One Who had come to bear the sin of His people. In His person, He would fulfill all of what was symbolized in the Old Testament sacrificial system, by which a lamb was slaughtered and burned on the altar as an offering before God to represent atonement for sin. The lamb was a substitute, so in calling Jesus “the Lamb of God,” John was asserting that He, too, would be a Substitute, but One Who would make real atonement.
Jesus came to John and, to John’s horror, asked to be baptized. Scripture gives us John’s reaction to this request. “John tried to prevent Him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?’” (Matt. 3:13). That simple statement must have masked a deep confusion on John’s part. He had just announced that Jesus was the Lamb of God, and in order to serve as the perfect sacrifice to atone for the sins of His people, the Lamb of God had to be without blemish. He had to be completely sinless. But the ritual of baptism that John was calling all of Israel to undergo in preparation for the coming of the Messiah was a rite that symbolized cleansing from sin. So John said, in essence, “It would be absurd for me to baptize You, because You are the sinless Lamb of God.” John then put forth an alternative idea: Jesus should baptize him. This was John’s way of acknowledging that he was a sinner who needed cleansing.
Jesus overrode John’s protest. “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness’” (Matt. 3:15a). Jesus’ choice of words in this statement is interesting. First He said, “Permit it to be so now.” The fact that Jesus gave His command to John in these particular words shows that He understood there was some theological difficulty involved. It was as if Jesus was saying, “John, I know you don’t understand what’s happening here, but you can trust Me. Go ahead and baptize Me.”
However, Jesus went on to give an explanation as to why John should baptize Him. He said, “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” The word fitting here can also be translated as “necessary.” In other words, Jesus said it was necessary for Him to be baptized. How was it necessary? John the Baptist had come as a prophet from God. Jesus would say later, “Among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist” (Luke 7:28a). Through this prophet, God had given His covenant people a new command: they were to be baptized. We should never think that God stopped expressing His will to His people after He spoke the Tenth Commandment. A multitude of laws was added to the basic Ten Commandments after they were given. The command that His people undergo this cleansing rite to prepare for the breakthrough of the divine kingdom was merely the latest edict from God.
Before He could go to the cross, before He could fulfill the role of the Lamb of God, before He could make Himself an oblation to satisfy the demands of God’s justice, Jesus had to submit Himself to every detail of every law God had given to the nation. He had to represent His people before the bar of God’s justice in every detail. Since the law now required that all of the people be baptized, Jesus, too, had to be baptized. He had to fulfill every single commandment of God if He was to be sinless. He wasn’t asking John to baptize Him because He needed to be cleansed; He wanted to be baptized so that He could be obedient to His Father in every detail.
That’s the point Jesus was making here to John, because Jesus’ mission was to be the Substitute, the vicarious sacrifice offered to God. Jesus understood this and embraced it. From the start of His ministry, He knew He had come to act as a Substitute on behalf of His sheep. At the center of His teaching was the assertion that He was doing this not for Himself but for us—to redeem us, to ransom us, to save us.
Adapted from the post Jesus, Our Substitute by R.C.Sproul, which was based on his book, The Truth of the Cross.
He made satisfaction for our debt, our enmity with God, and our guilt. He satisfied the ransom demand for our release from captivity to sin. However, there is another significant word that is often used in descriptions of the atonement: substitution. When we look at the biblical depiction of sin as a crime, we see that Jesus acts as the Substitute, taking our place at the bar of God’s justice. For this reason, we sometimes speak of Jesus’ work on the cross as the substitutionary atonement of Christ, which means that when He offered an atonement, it was not to satisfy God’s justice for His own sins, but for the sins of others. He stepped into the role of the Substitute, representing His people. He didn’t lay down His life for Himself; He laid it down for His sheep. He is our ultimate Substitute.
The idea of being the Substitute in offering an atonement to satisfy the demands of God’s law for others was something Christ understood as His mission from the moment He entered this world and took upon Himself a human nature. He came from heaven as the gift of the Father for the express purpose of working out redemption as our Substitute, doing for us what we could not possibly do for ourselves. We see this at the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry, when He initiated His public work by coming to the Jordan River and meeting John the Baptist.
Imagine the scene at the Jordan that day. John was busy baptizing the people in preparation for the coming of the kingdom. Suddenly he looked up and saw Jesus approaching. He spoke the words that later became the lyrics for that great hymn of the church, the Agnus Dei: “‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’” (John 1:29b). He announced that Jesus was the One Who had come to bear the sin of His people. In His person, He would fulfill all of what was symbolized in the Old Testament sacrificial system, by which a lamb was slaughtered and burned on the altar as an offering before God to represent atonement for sin. The lamb was a substitute, so in calling Jesus “the Lamb of God,” John was asserting that He, too, would be a Substitute, but One Who would make real atonement.
Jesus came to John and, to John’s horror, asked to be baptized. Scripture gives us John’s reaction to this request. “John tried to prevent Him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?’” (Matt. 3:13). That simple statement must have masked a deep confusion on John’s part. He had just announced that Jesus was the Lamb of God, and in order to serve as the perfect sacrifice to atone for the sins of His people, the Lamb of God had to be without blemish. He had to be completely sinless. But the ritual of baptism that John was calling all of Israel to undergo in preparation for the coming of the Messiah was a rite that symbolized cleansing from sin. So John said, in essence, “It would be absurd for me to baptize You, because You are the sinless Lamb of God.” John then put forth an alternative idea: Jesus should baptize him. This was John’s way of acknowledging that he was a sinner who needed cleansing.
Jesus overrode John’s protest. “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness’” (Matt. 3:15a). Jesus’ choice of words in this statement is interesting. First He said, “Permit it to be so now.” The fact that Jesus gave His command to John in these particular words shows that He understood there was some theological difficulty involved. It was as if Jesus was saying, “John, I know you don’t understand what’s happening here, but you can trust Me. Go ahead and baptize Me.”
However, Jesus went on to give an explanation as to why John should baptize Him. He said, “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” The word fitting here can also be translated as “necessary.” In other words, Jesus said it was necessary for Him to be baptized. How was it necessary? John the Baptist had come as a prophet from God. Jesus would say later, “Among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist” (Luke 7:28a). Through this prophet, God had given His covenant people a new command: they were to be baptized. We should never think that God stopped expressing His will to His people after He spoke the Tenth Commandment. A multitude of laws was added to the basic Ten Commandments after they were given. The command that His people undergo this cleansing rite to prepare for the breakthrough of the divine kingdom was merely the latest edict from God.
Before He could go to the cross, before He could fulfill the role of the Lamb of God, before He could make Himself an oblation to satisfy the demands of God’s justice, Jesus had to submit Himself to every detail of every law God had given to the nation. He had to represent His people before the bar of God’s justice in every detail. Since the law now required that all of the people be baptized, Jesus, too, had to be baptized. He had to fulfill every single commandment of God if He was to be sinless. He wasn’t asking John to baptize Him because He needed to be cleansed; He wanted to be baptized so that He could be obedient to His Father in every detail.
That’s the point Jesus was making here to John, because Jesus’ mission was to be the Substitute, the vicarious sacrifice offered to God. Jesus understood this and embraced it. From the start of His ministry, He knew He had come to act as a Substitute on behalf of His sheep. At the center of His teaching was the assertion that He was doing this not for Himself but for us—to redeem us, to ransom us, to save us.
Adapted from the post Jesus, Our Substitute by R.C.Sproul, which was based on his book, The Truth of the Cross.
Friday, August 25, 2017
Around The Web-August 25, 2017
Popcorn Theology on The Founder
Interview With Mark Hogan – From Paedo to Credo
10 Common but Illegitimate Reasons to Divorce by Tim Challies
I Was a Pastor Hooked on Porn by Garrett Kell
Jared C. Wilson– The Imperfect Disciple: Grace for People Who Can’t Get Their Act Together from Equipping You In Grace
Debunking Postmodern Liberal Claims That Penal Substitutionary Atonement Didn't Exist Until 1,000 Years After Christ by Chris Rosenberg
What Should Christians Do with Unanswered Questions? by J.D. Greear
Earlier this week, our city officials announced that Uber is available for people to use. Comedian Jon Crist came out with a video that I felt should be shared to celebrate this occasion.
Joe Thorn and Jimmy Fowler, the guys behind Doctrine and Devotion, did a little video as they were riding in the car and smoking cigars.
Interview With Mark Hogan – From Paedo to Credo
10 Common but Illegitimate Reasons to Divorce by Tim Challies
I Was a Pastor Hooked on Porn by Garrett Kell
Jared C. Wilson– The Imperfect Disciple: Grace for People Who Can’t Get Their Act Together from Equipping You In Grace
Debunking Postmodern Liberal Claims That Penal Substitutionary Atonement Didn't Exist Until 1,000 Years After Christ by Chris Rosenberg
What Should Christians Do with Unanswered Questions? by J.D. Greear
Earlier this week, our city officials announced that Uber is available for people to use. Comedian Jon Crist came out with a video that I felt should be shared to celebrate this occasion.
Joe Thorn and Jimmy Fowler, the guys behind Doctrine and Devotion, did a little video as they were riding in the car and smoking cigars.
Friday, April 14, 2017
Remembering Jesus As Our Substitute
The following is adapted from Tony Merida's Exalting Jesus In Exodus (Christ-Centered Exposition):
In the United States, significant events can result in scheduled holidays. We take time each year to celebrate Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, and many more. These days are a time to remember what has happened in the past. They tell of where we have been and where we are going. In Exodus 12, we find God doing something on a much grander scale. God changed the calendar of the Israelites so that they would celebrate the Passover. He told Moses and Aaron that there would be a new calendar and it would be a sign of a new beginning. This tells us of the importance of the event.
God established their calendar based on theology. At the beginning of each year, they would remember God’s great salvation. God came first in their lives and was central to all that they did. This change in their calendar to focus on theology points us to transformation. God calls us to keep Him at the center of our lives. Because of this, we are continually going through a transformation process for God’s glory and our sanctification.
The instructions for the Passover were given twice in chapter 12 (vv. 1-13, 21-23), separated by instructions regarding the Festival of Unleavened Bread (vv. 14-20). Verses 1-13 include the Lord’s instructions to Moses. Then in verses 21-23 Moses relayed the instructions to the elders.
They were to take a lamb on the tenth day of this month for each household or for the number of people who could eat a lamb (v. 4). The lamb served as a substitute. However, the lamb was only acceptable if it was a one-year old male without blemish (v. 5). It was selected on the tenth day and kept until the fourteenth day. These qualifications were very important. In Deuteronomy 17:1 God said that a blemished animal used for a sacrifice was an abomination. Israel needed a perfect substitute, a perfect sacrifice.
This need for a perfect sacrifice reminds us of our own state. We, being corrupted by our sin, cannot save ourselves. Our good works are like the blemished lamb—unworthy before a holy God. We need One who serves as a substitute on our behalf. Jesus is the lamb for the household of God. Only through faith in Him are our sins covered. He alone is our hope.
In verses 6-7 we see what was to happen to this unblemished lamb. It was killed at twilight. The slain lamb vividly reminded everyone that all deserve judgment (cf. Rom 3:23). Consequently, a blameless life had to be sacrificed in the place of the guilty who needed salvation. The blood of the lamb was applied to the doorposts (v. 7). The obedience of placing the blood on the doorposts showed that a person believed God would keep His word and pass over him, sparing him from judgment. So Israel escaped judgment through this sacrifice, and salvation was accomplished by faith in the substitute.
In verses 8-11 God also provided instructions on how to serve and eat the lamb. It would be eaten with unleavened bread. The use of unleavened bread and the instruction to wear their clothes in a certain manner revealed that they needed to be prepared at any moment to depart. It was a reminder that they must be ready to follow God at a moment’s notice. In addition, they ate bitter herbs as a reminder of the bitterness they experienced in Egypt. The Passover would serve as a reminder of their time and escape from Egypt.
We likewise should remember the bitterness from which God has saved us. We were in a bitter bondage to our own sins, yet through Christ, our perfect Passover Lamb, we were delivered from the wrath of God and given new life (see 1 Cor 5:7; Heb 9:14). Many do not praise the God of grace with passion because they have a low view of sin. Thomas Watson said, “Till sin be bitter, Christ will not be sweet.” Remember what God has done for you in delivering you from bondage and giving you life.
Next we see a transition to the Lord’s response to the blood that is placed on the doorposts (vv. 12-13). God would now act decisively against the powerless gods of the Egyptians. While some had already been judged, all would now be judged. In His mighty judgment, God signaled that the real King is present. Yahweh was to be feared, not Pharaoh! Only the Lord is the true, righteous judge, and He would make Himself known. The events of Passover are an awesome demonstration of God’s holy judgment on Egypt and their false gods.
It is also important to recognize the sign imagery of verse 13. The blood on their doors served as a sign that judgment had already fallen at that house. Just as the plagues were a sign to Egypt of God’s justice and judgment, now the Passover was a sign of God’s mercy to Israel! God continued to keep the promise of Genesis 3:15 and the Abrahamic covenant. In the midst of looming judgment, God provided for the seed of woman. He protected Israel from slavery and death for future salvation. In accomplishing this, He said, “when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will be among you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.” God accepted the blood of the sacrifice and passed over their sin. Similarly, those who have been born again have Christ’s blood covering them. God sees Christ’s blood on us and passes over our sin. He forgives our trespasses and sees Christ’s righteousness as our own. What a merciful God!
In the United States, significant events can result in scheduled holidays. We take time each year to celebrate Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, and many more. These days are a time to remember what has happened in the past. They tell of where we have been and where we are going. In Exodus 12, we find God doing something on a much grander scale. God changed the calendar of the Israelites so that they would celebrate the Passover. He told Moses and Aaron that there would be a new calendar and it would be a sign of a new beginning. This tells us of the importance of the event.
God established their calendar based on theology. At the beginning of each year, they would remember God’s great salvation. God came first in their lives and was central to all that they did. This change in their calendar to focus on theology points us to transformation. God calls us to keep Him at the center of our lives. Because of this, we are continually going through a transformation process for God’s glory and our sanctification.
The instructions for the Passover were given twice in chapter 12 (vv. 1-13, 21-23), separated by instructions regarding the Festival of Unleavened Bread (vv. 14-20). Verses 1-13 include the Lord’s instructions to Moses. Then in verses 21-23 Moses relayed the instructions to the elders.
They were to take a lamb on the tenth day of this month for each household or for the number of people who could eat a lamb (v. 4). The lamb served as a substitute. However, the lamb was only acceptable if it was a one-year old male without blemish (v. 5). It was selected on the tenth day and kept until the fourteenth day. These qualifications were very important. In Deuteronomy 17:1 God said that a blemished animal used for a sacrifice was an abomination. Israel needed a perfect substitute, a perfect sacrifice.
This need for a perfect sacrifice reminds us of our own state. We, being corrupted by our sin, cannot save ourselves. Our good works are like the blemished lamb—unworthy before a holy God. We need One who serves as a substitute on our behalf. Jesus is the lamb for the household of God. Only through faith in Him are our sins covered. He alone is our hope.
In verses 6-7 we see what was to happen to this unblemished lamb. It was killed at twilight. The slain lamb vividly reminded everyone that all deserve judgment (cf. Rom 3:23). Consequently, a blameless life had to be sacrificed in the place of the guilty who needed salvation. The blood of the lamb was applied to the doorposts (v. 7). The obedience of placing the blood on the doorposts showed that a person believed God would keep His word and pass over him, sparing him from judgment. So Israel escaped judgment through this sacrifice, and salvation was accomplished by faith in the substitute.
In verses 8-11 God also provided instructions on how to serve and eat the lamb. It would be eaten with unleavened bread. The use of unleavened bread and the instruction to wear their clothes in a certain manner revealed that they needed to be prepared at any moment to depart. It was a reminder that they must be ready to follow God at a moment’s notice. In addition, they ate bitter herbs as a reminder of the bitterness they experienced in Egypt. The Passover would serve as a reminder of their time and escape from Egypt.
We likewise should remember the bitterness from which God has saved us. We were in a bitter bondage to our own sins, yet through Christ, our perfect Passover Lamb, we were delivered from the wrath of God and given new life (see 1 Cor 5:7; Heb 9:14). Many do not praise the God of grace with passion because they have a low view of sin. Thomas Watson said, “Till sin be bitter, Christ will not be sweet.” Remember what God has done for you in delivering you from bondage and giving you life.
Next we see a transition to the Lord’s response to the blood that is placed on the doorposts (vv. 12-13). God would now act decisively against the powerless gods of the Egyptians. While some had already been judged, all would now be judged. In His mighty judgment, God signaled that the real King is present. Yahweh was to be feared, not Pharaoh! Only the Lord is the true, righteous judge, and He would make Himself known. The events of Passover are an awesome demonstration of God’s holy judgment on Egypt and their false gods.
It is also important to recognize the sign imagery of verse 13. The blood on their doors served as a sign that judgment had already fallen at that house. Just as the plagues were a sign to Egypt of God’s justice and judgment, now the Passover was a sign of God’s mercy to Israel! God continued to keep the promise of Genesis 3:15 and the Abrahamic covenant. In the midst of looming judgment, God provided for the seed of woman. He protected Israel from slavery and death for future salvation. In accomplishing this, He said, “when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will be among you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.” God accepted the blood of the sacrifice and passed over their sin. Similarly, those who have been born again have Christ’s blood covering them. God sees Christ’s blood on us and passes over our sin. He forgives our trespasses and sees Christ’s righteousness as our own. What a merciful God!
Friday, May 6, 2016
Around The Web-May 6, 2016
Reformed Theology & John 3:16 by Burk Parsons
10 Things You should Know about Penal Substitution by Sam Storms
Four Steps to Kill Nagging Sins by Gavin Ortlund
WTS Books has a sale going for John Piper's latest book as well as other titles
You have until Monday to enter for a chance to win in the second Pastor's Library Giveaway
Brian Cosby on the Doctrine of Predestination
4 Megachurch Pastors to Host Talk Show Coming to Fox This Summer
Why the Ascension of Jesus Matters to You by Russell Moore
5 Ways the Ascension Benefits You by Steve Mathewson
Crisis in American Democracy by Albert Mohler
R.C. Sproul speaks on Martin Luther as he came the doctrine of Justification by Faith from reading Romans 1:17:
10 Things You should Know about Penal Substitution by Sam Storms
Four Steps to Kill Nagging Sins by Gavin Ortlund
WTS Books has a sale going for John Piper's latest book as well as other titles
You have until Monday to enter for a chance to win in the second Pastor's Library Giveaway
Brian Cosby on the Doctrine of Predestination
4 Megachurch Pastors to Host Talk Show Coming to Fox This Summer
Why the Ascension of Jesus Matters to You by Russell Moore
5 Ways the Ascension Benefits You by Steve Mathewson
Crisis in American Democracy by Albert Mohler
R.C. Sproul speaks on Martin Luther as he came the doctrine of Justification by Faith from reading Romans 1:17:
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
Getting Penal Substitution Right
A Christian evangelist told the story how he also got in trouble at school to help illustrate Penal Substitution. He and his three friends decided to play a prank that went too far. The principal called all four of them and was going to punish the one who thought of the prank. The evangelist was about to confess when his three friends stood up and took the heat for him. He and his three friends got off the hook with onw punishment.
To my amazement, he told the people listening to him that is how Jesus became our substitute. Really? Is that what the Bible says about the finished work of Christ? The Bible says, For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21) and But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed (Isaiah 53:5)The Bible tells me that Jesus was my substitute by taking upon my sin and the punishment that comes with. He did not just get a pat on the back by living a perfect life, he got beaten, betrayed, crucified, and suffered the wrath of God on the cross. The evangelist's friends were substitutes for him, suffered no punishment on his behalf.
William P Farley in his book, Gospel-Powered Humility addresses Penal Substitution:
Substitution refers to our union with Christ. Jesus came to earth as a substitute for all who believe the gospel. He lived a perfect life for us. When we believe, God unites us with him and imputes his perfection to us.
Penal refers to the idea that because of this union, Jesus was able to take the penalty that we deserve. Not only is Christ's righteousness imputed to us, but our sins are imputed to Christ...the penalty that our sin deserves is the wrath of God. So Jesus suffered the wrath of God in our place...On the cross, God's Son bore the demands of God's justice in our place
If the evangelist said his three friends were punished in his place for the prank, that would be a great illustration of Penal Substitution because Jesus took the punishment for our sins as our substitute. Since it did not, it gave people the wrong idea of what Penal Substitution truly is. As Pastors and teachers, we need to communicate the truths of the gospel without watering it down because people may not get it.
Recommend Reading:
The Great Exchange by Jerry Bridges and Bob Bevington
In My Place He Stood Condemned by J.I. Packer and Mark Dever
To my amazement, he told the people listening to him that is how Jesus became our substitute. Really? Is that what the Bible says about the finished work of Christ? The Bible says, For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21) and But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed (Isaiah 53:5)The Bible tells me that Jesus was my substitute by taking upon my sin and the punishment that comes with. He did not just get a pat on the back by living a perfect life, he got beaten, betrayed, crucified, and suffered the wrath of God on the cross. The evangelist's friends were substitutes for him, suffered no punishment on his behalf.
William P Farley in his book, Gospel-Powered Humility addresses Penal Substitution:
Substitution refers to our union with Christ. Jesus came to earth as a substitute for all who believe the gospel. He lived a perfect life for us. When we believe, God unites us with him and imputes his perfection to us.
Penal refers to the idea that because of this union, Jesus was able to take the penalty that we deserve. Not only is Christ's righteousness imputed to us, but our sins are imputed to Christ...the penalty that our sin deserves is the wrath of God. So Jesus suffered the wrath of God in our place...On the cross, God's Son bore the demands of God's justice in our place
If the evangelist said his three friends were punished in his place for the prank, that would be a great illustration of Penal Substitution because Jesus took the punishment for our sins as our substitute. Since it did not, it gave people the wrong idea of what Penal Substitution truly is. As Pastors and teachers, we need to communicate the truths of the gospel without watering it down because people may not get it.
Recommend Reading:
The Great Exchange by Jerry Bridges and Bob Bevington
In My Place He Stood Condemned by J.I. Packer and Mark Dever
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)