RPG Adults
THE SERVANT SUFFERED IN OUR STEAD
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26
Isaiah 53:4-6
Psalm 27:8-14
"…Thy face, LORD,
will I seek."
THE SERVANT SUFFERED IN OUR STEAD
Modernist and liberal theologians teach that when Christ suffered, He was merely setting us an example. While it is true we should follow Him in His sufferings, it must be emphasized that His sufferings were in our stead, "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit" (1 Pet 3:18). His sufferings were substitutionary and vicarious, i.e. in our stead. But do we understand this? Surely He suffered not for His own sake, but for our sakes. "Christ died for our sins" (1 Cor 15:3), not for any sin on His part. Yes, it is by His substitutionary sufferings that we are exempted from suffering the penalty of our sins. By the pains He bore on the cruel tree, we are spared the punishment of hell justly due to us. The "… chastisement of our peace…" (Isa 53:5) is a re-statement of His substitutionary sufferings. "…with his stripes we are healed" (Isa 53:5) does not teach an automatic healing power through His sufferings though. If it pleases God, we are healed in Jesus’ Name.
Christ suffers our punishment not only for our wilful sins, but also for many careless transgressions we commit, like sheep going astray. He saves us to the uttermost. There is no merit that we can claim. The merit is all His, by His saving act through suffering in our stead. And "…all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…" (Isa 64:6).
In these verses we have a perspicuous picture of the doctrine of substitutionary atonement. The substitutionary atonement, which is attacked by modernist and liberal theologians as a "denominational" doctrine, is being refuted. It is a universal doctrine, a cardinal doctrine, of the whole Church. Any denomination denying the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ is cut off from His saving grace!
THOUGHT: "For me, for me, He shed His blood for me; He bore my sins at Calvary. ‘Twas for me Jesus died — For me, for me."
PRAYER: I thank Thee, Lord, for Thy great sacrifice for me.
Posted in Adult RPG
Isaiah 53:4-6
Psalm 27:8-14
"…Thy face, LORD,
will I seek."
THE SERVANT SUFFERED IN OUR STEAD
Modernist and liberal theologians teach that when Christ suffered, He was merely setting us an example. While it is true we should follow Him in His sufferings, it must be emphasized that His sufferings were in our stead, "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit" (1 Pet 3:18). His sufferings were substitutionary and vicarious, i.e. in our stead. But do we understand this? Surely He suffered not for His own sake, but for our sakes. "Christ died for our sins" (1 Cor 15:3), not for any sin on His part. Yes, it is by His substitutionary sufferings that we are exempted from suffering the penalty of our sins. By the pains He bore on the cruel tree, we are spared the punishment of hell justly due to us. The "… chastisement of our peace…" (Isa 53:5) is a re-statement of His substitutionary sufferings. "…with his stripes we are healed" (Isa 53:5) does not teach an automatic healing power through His sufferings though. If it pleases God, we are healed in Jesus’ Name.
Christ suffers our punishment not only for our wilful sins, but also for many careless transgressions we commit, like sheep going astray. He saves us to the uttermost. There is no merit that we can claim. The merit is all His, by His saving act through suffering in our stead. And "…all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…" (Isa 64:6).
In these verses we have a perspicuous picture of the doctrine of substitutionary atonement. The substitutionary atonement, which is attacked by modernist and liberal theologians as a "denominational" doctrine, is being refuted. It is a universal doctrine, a cardinal doctrine, of the whole Church. Any denomination denying the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ is cut off from His saving grace!
THOUGHT: "For me, for me, He shed His blood for me; He bore my sins at Calvary. ‘Twas for me Jesus died — For me, for me."
PRAYER: I thank Thee, Lord, for Thy great sacrifice for me.
Posted in Adult RPG