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A Glorious Substitution, April 8
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
.
It is the province of the law to condemn, but there is in it no power
to pardon or to redeem.
Without Christ the law of itself was only condemnation and death
to the transgressor. It has no saving quality—no power to shield the
transgressor from its penalty....
The transgression of God’s law made the death of Christ essential
to save man and yet maintain the dignity and honor of the law. Christ
took upon Himself the condemnation of sin. He opened His bosom to
the woes of man. He who knew no sin became sin for us.
As man’s substitute and surety, the iniquity of men was laid upon
Christ; He was counted a transgressor that He might redeem them from
the curse of the law.... He, the Sin-Bearer, endures judicial punishment
for iniquity and becomes sin itself for man.
Sin, so hateful to His sight, was heaped upon Him till He groaned
beneath its weight. The despairing agony of the Son of God was so
much greater than His physical pain, that the latter was hardly felt by
Him.
God permits His Son to be delivered up for our offenses. He Him-
self assumes toward the Sin-Bearer the character of a judge, divesting
Himself of the endearing qualities of a father.
Herein His love commends itself in the most marvelous manner to
the rebellious race.
The sin of the whole world was laid upon Jesus, and divinity gave its
highest value to the suffering of humanity in Jesus, that the whole world
might be pardoned through faith in the Substitute. The most guilty need
have no fear that God will not pardon, for because of the efficacy of the
divine sacrifice the penalty of the law will be remitted. Through Christ
the sinner may return to allegiance to God.
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