Why is substitution important in the context of Jesus' sacrifice?

The concept of substitution lies at the heart of Jesus' sacrifice. As articulated in 2 Corinthians 5:21, though Jesus knew no sin, He became sin for us, meaning that He took upon Himself the guilt and punishment of our sins. This imputation of sin to Christ underlines the profound theological truth that Jesus acted as our substitute, enduring God's wrath on our behalf. His death satisfied the demands of God's justice, allowing believers to be declared righteous. Without substitution, there is no true understanding of the atonement or of how we are reconciled to God.