At the cross I first saw the light and the burden of my heart rolled. away. It was there by Faith I received my sight, and now I am happy all the day.
At a bloody cross, Jesus died for my sins. He bare our sins in his own body on a tree. He had become sin, who knew no sin, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. God had laid on him the iniquity of us all. Surely he has borne our sorrow, and by his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53, 1Peter 2:24, 2Corinthians 5:21.
Let’s enumerate some benefits of the Cross.
First, Matthew teaches Christ became a substitute for us — A vicar, as in the word vicarious — a deputy who acts in the place of another.
“Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. ” Matthew 20:28
The verse teaches that Christ became a “redemption price” in the stead of many — a substitute.
In the case of an obligation between man and man, the law permits the debt to be discharged by a third party, provided no injustice to others is wrought. However the divine permission for a substitute to act for man in his relation to God is one of the most fundamental provisions of saving grace. As fallen man stands obligated to God as an offender, both in his federal head (Adam) and in himself, against his creator and against the divine government, he owes an obligation which he could never pay in time or eternity. Unless a vicar shall intervene there is no hope for any member of this fallen race. Lewis Sperry Chafer
It was a life for a life, the just for the unjust. It brought us to God. 1Peter 3:18
Secondly, by the death of Christ and for those who believe, the legal, meritorious system of works, comes to an end.
Galatians 3:25 “But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. ” see Romans 6:14 Romans 10:4 “Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness.”
Third, in redemption, reconciliation, and propitiation, the value of the death of Christ is recognized as reaching out to the unsaved. Other doctrines related to the value to men of Christ death , forgiveness, regeneration, justification, sanctification , are restricted in that they contemplate that death only in its relation to those who believe. Lewis Sperry Chafer.
Redemption is an act of God by which he himself pays as a ransom the price of human sin which the outraged holiness and government of God requires.
- Redemption undertakes the solution of the problem of sin
- Reconciliation undertakes the solution of the problem of the Sinner.
- Propitiation undertakes the problem of an offended God.
Divine redemption is by blood, the ransom price , and by power. Such was the release of Israel from Egyptian bondage — typifying bond slavery to sin.( the blood of the sacrificial lamb at Passover Exodus 12.) And by the almighty power was taken out of bondage into the freedom.
see:
Deuteronomy_3:24 Deu_4:34 Deu_5:15 Deu_6:21 deut_7:8 Deu_7:19 Deu_9:26 Deu_11:2 Deu_26:8 Deu_34:12
Reconciliation means that one would make oneself pleasing to another. Can refer to making of an offering. Or giving of a gift.
The word means, “to change completely. ” See Romans 5:10, 2 Corinthians 5:18, Colossians 1:20-21, Ephesians 2:16
Christ is the propitiation , mercy seat, throne of grace , because he is the meeting place and place of communion between a holy God and sinful but believing human being.
Meeting God in Christ , the believer may boldly say, “who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect” ,it is God that justifies. Romans 8, 33. And Christ is the mercy seat ,because he is the propitiator ,who put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. Scofield
Far from comprehensive, the above thoughts begin to Orient us to the meaning of the cross. It all spelled love. It was God commending his love. It was God so loving the world. The opening of a heart to God’s love is the salvation of mankind. Love covers the multitude of sins. And it never fails. Love you
