How are believers saved through substitution?

The principle of substitution is central to the Gospel and is vividly illustrated in the Passover narrative. In Exodus 12, the Israelites were required to sacrifice a lamb and apply its blood to their doorposts, signifying that a life was taken in place of their own. This concept is echoed in the New Testament, where Christ is presented as the ultimate substitute, the Lamb of God who bore the sins of His people. The doctrine of substitution emphasizes that salvation is not earned by works but is a gracious gift provided by God through Christ's sacrificial death. This underscores the Reformed emphasis on God's initiative in saving sinners solely through the merits of Christ.