Substitutionary Death

Romans 5 (New International Version)

³Not only so, but we^[c] also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

[5:1 – 4 – Justified by faith (lit., “because we have been justified by faith.”) it was God’s doing not mans. Peace with God: this is not a feeling but a standing. God and the believer are no longer at enmity but have been reconciled (cf. 5:10-11; 2 Cor. 5:18). This is a primary result of our justification. Access: we can come directly into the presents of God. Jesus Christ is not only our Redeemer, but he is also our advocate. By/through him we gain entrance and acceptance before the Father (1 John 2:1-2). Wherein we stand: this is the answer to the psalmist’s question: “if thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?” (Ps. 130:3) Rejoice: (we boast) in hope denotes the absolute certainty the believer has of God’s deliverance.]

[5:5 – Holy Ghost . . . given: The believer has the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. This is not a second blessing but is just as much a certitude as the believer’s justification (1 Cor. 12:13).]

[5:8 – Christ died for us: His death was vicarious. That is He did not die merely for our benefit but in our place. He was a Substitutionary sacrifice. ]

Substitutionary Death

Romans 5:8 – One of the historic fundamentals of the faith is the vicarious Atonement, in which Christ died as a substitute for sin. Illustration: In the Old Testament, this was taught typologically (the doctrine or study of types or prefigurative symbols, esp. in scriptural literature.) A person by the offering of an animal sacrificed for sin, looking forward to that ultimate sacrifice for sin, Christ Jesus. (Gen. 22:8). In the New Testament, Christ is described as having died in the place of the Christian (v. 8), of the church (Eph. 5:25), and of the world (Heb. 2:9). The concept of Substitutionary death is illustrated by the offering of a ram in the place of Isaac (Gen. 22:13). Though Abraham was willing to offer his son as requested, God was prepared to accept a substitute that He had provided, from the foundation of the earth. Application: Because Jesus died for everyone, Christians should take the message of the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). Christ died at the Cross for us – He went through / became every type of sin and disease known and unknown to man. Christ took it upon himself so we would not have to. So, some would say there is no meaning in a slain Christ – (Oprah and friends) – my friends there is every meaning in a slain Christ – eternal life.

 sub⋅sti⋅tute

 

1.	a person or thing acting or serving in place of another.

2.	(formerly) a person who, for payment, served in an army or navy in the place of a conscript.
3.	to put (a person or thing) in the place of another.

4.	to take the place of; replace.

ty⋅pol⋅o⋅gy

 

1.	The doctrine or study of types or prefigurative symbols, esp. in scriptural literature.

a⋅tone⋅ment

 

1.	Satisfaction or reparation for a wrong or injury; amends.

2.	(sometimes initial capital letter) Theology. the doctrine concerning the reconciliation of God and humankind, esp. as accomplished through the life, suffering, death and resurrection of Christ.

 Romans 6:15 – 18 – Forgiveness for sin - ¹⁵What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! ¹⁶Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? ¹⁷But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. ¹⁸You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

Conversion Roman 6:17 The term conversion refers to the human response to the gospel, while regeneration is God’s creation of a new nature in the one who believes and has repented. Conversion requires the commitment of the total personality, intellect, emotion, and will. This is how people respond to the message of the gospel, when they understand the nature of Christ’s atonement, feel the guilt of conviction, love God and surrender their wills to the offer of salvation. The result of conversion is the changed life. Illustration: Paul noted that the Romans had been servants of sin, but had “obeyed from the heart that form doctrine” that is, the gospel. Application: Just as conversion results in our obtaining salvation and ultimate liberty from sin, so a continuous yielding of our will to God as Christians is the key to spiritual victory (v. 13) (Heb 11:4, Luke 13:3)