The Shocking Truth of Penal Substitutionary Atonement
At the heart of the gospel lies a truth that is both disturbing and liberating. It is the reality of Christ’s vicarious, substitutionary death on our behalf, as revealed in Isaiah 53. This doctrine, known as penal substitutionary atonement, is unequivocally affirmed in Scripture, yet it remains a stumbling block for many.
God’s Justice Satisfied
It is essential to understand that sin did not kill Jesus; God did. The suffering servant’s death was a punishment administered by God for sins others had committed. This concept may seem shocking and disturbing, but it is meant to be. Unless we recoil from the thought, we probably haven’t grasped it yet. As Hebrews 12:29 reminds us, “Our God is a consuming fire.”
The Power and Wisdom of God
Despite the unsettling overtones of this message, it is good news. In fact, there is no more glorious good news. It explains why God “does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities” (Psalm 103:10). He has not compromised his own righteousness. Instead, he fully satisfied justice and put away our sin forever through the death of his Son.
The Righteousness of God Available Now
This truth has far-reaching implications. It means that God can be both “just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:26). Israel’s national salvation is still in the future, but no one need wait for some future event to turn from sin and trust Christ. You can be saved “today, if you hear his voice” (Hebrews 3:7). The righteousness of God is available even now “through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe” (Romans 3:22).
A Call to Salvation
As 2 Corinthians 6:2 reminds us, “Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Don’t wait any longer to turn from sin and trust Christ. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13). The gospel is a message of hope and liberation, and it is available to all who will receive it.
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