Substitution and Satisfaction

Q: What does the Bible say about substitution in salvation?

The Bible teaches that Christ is our substitute, bearing the punishment for our sins so we can be set free. In the context of salvation, substitution is a core tenet of the gospel. Matthew 27 illustrates how Jesus, innocent of any wrongdoing, was treated as guilty, taking the place of Barabbas, a notorious sinner. This act symbolizes Christ's substitution for all believers. According to 1 Peter 3:18, 'For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God.' By bearing our sins, Christ provides a way for us to be declared righteous before God.

Q: How do we know Christ's substitution is true?

Scripture consistently affirms Christ’s role as a substitute for sinners through prophetic fulfillment and his sacrificial death. The truth of Christ's substitution is confirmed through numerous passages in scripture, revealing both prophecy and fulfillment. For instance, John the Baptist referred to Jesus as 'the Lamb of God' (John 1:29), indicating his role in God's redemptive plan. Additionally, Matthew points out that Jesus was treated as guilty even though he was innocent, further emphasizing his sacrificial role. Romans 5:8 also reinforces this by stating, 'But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.' This sacrificial act establishes the foundation of our faith in Christ's substitution.

Q: Why is the concept of justification important for Christians?

Justification assures believers that, through Christ, they are declared righteous before God based on faith. Justification is a critical concept for Christians because it signifies a believer's standing before God. When a person places their faith in Christ, they are justified; that is, they are declared righteous in God's sight due to Christ’s vicarious suffering and atonement. As Paul writes in Romans 3:24, 'Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.' This means that our justification is not based on our works but solely upon Christ's merit and His payment for our sins. Understanding justification encourages believers to live in the assurance of God’s grace rather than in fear of condemnation.

Q: What does the Bible teach about the significance of Christ's sacrifice?

Christ's sacrifice is significant because it fulfills God's justice while providing redemption and reconciliation for sinners. The Bible teaches that Christ's sacrifice is of utmost significance in redemptive history. It fulfills the demands of God's justice by paying the penalty for sin, as expressed in Hebrews 9:22: 'And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.' Through His death and resurrection, Christ brings redemption, as stated in Ephesians 1:7: 'In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.' Thus, it is through His sacrifice that sinners are reconciled to God, which is foundational for understanding the gospel.

Well, good morning everyone If you care to open your Bibles with me to first Peter chapter 3 I'd like to open our service reading a portion of first Peter chapter 3 Many of you probably already know this but Scott Thompson passed away this week The visitation will be Tuesday night from six to eight, and the funeral will be Wednesday afternoon at one, and that will be at the Steens Chapel on 13th Street. We want to remember that family in our prayers. 1 Peter chapter three, I'd like to begin reading in verse eight.

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, Be pitiful, be courteous, not rendering evil for evil or railing for railing, but contrary-wise, blessing, knowing that ye are there unto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

For he that will love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips that they speak no guile. Let him eschew evil and do good. Let him seek peace and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers. But the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But, and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye, and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you A reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear, having a good conscience that whereas they speak evil of you as evil doers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better if the will of God be so that you suffer for well doing than for evil doing.

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. By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison, which sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a-preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water. To like figure whereunto, even baptism, doth also now save us. Not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is on the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

All right, let's stand together, Shawn leads us in singing our call to worship. Sons, we are through God's election, who in Jesus Christ believe. By eternal destination, sovereign grace we here receive. Pause my soul, adore and wonder, ask, O why such love to me? Grace hath put me in the number of the Savior's family. Every fallen soul by sinning merits everlasting pain, but thy love without beginning has restored thy sons again. When my Savior comes in judgment, bright in majesty divine, I will stand with that great number in thy righteousness as mine. Okay, if you would turn in your hymnal to song number 16, and we'll sing the Lord is King. Song number 16. The Lord is king.

Lift up, lift up thy voice. Sing his praise. Sing his praise. All heaven and earth before him now rejoice. Sing his praise, sing his praise. From world to world the joy shall ring, for he alone is God and King. From sky to sky his banners fling. Sing his praise. Sing his praise. The Lord is king. Let all his worth declare.

Great is He, great is He. Bow to His will and trust His tender care. Great is He, great is He. nor murmur at his wise decrees, nor doubt his steadfast promises. In humble faith, fall on thy knees. Great is he, great is he. The Lord is king, and bow to him ye must.

God is great. God is good. The judge of all, to all is ever just. God is great. God is good. Holy and true are all his ways. Let every creature shout his praise. The Lord of hosts, ancient of days. God is great. God is good. The Lord is King throughout His vast domain. He is all, all in all. The Lord Jehovah evermore shall reign. He is all, all in all. Through earth and heaven, one song shall ring. From grateful hearts, this anthem spring. Arise, ye saints. Salute thy King. All thy days sing his praise. Pastor has asked that we read from Matthew 27 this morning. Matthew 27, beginning in verse 11.

And Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the king of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him, and he answered him to never a word, insomuch that the governor marveled greatly.

Now at that feast, the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would, and they had been a notable prisoner called Barabbas. Therefore, when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, whom will ye that I release unto you? for Barabbas or Jesus, which is called Christ.

For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him saying, have thou nothing to do with that just man? For I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas and destroy Jesus.

The governor answered and said unto them, whether of the twain, will ye that I shall release unto you? They said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, what shall I do then? With Jesus, which is called Christ. They all say unto him, let him be crucified. And the governor said, why? What evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.

When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather tumult was made, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person, see ye to it. Then answered all the people and said, his blood be on us and on our children. Then released he Barabbas unto them, and when he had scurred Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

May the Lord bless his word. Let's pray. Our Heavenly Father, we're so thankful that you've brought us here this morning. We pray that you would bless this service here this morning, that you would give our pastor Word from the. That you would. Speak to the hearts of your children. Lord, that you would feed your sheep. We. Are so very thankful. That through our Lord Jesus Christ. We've been set free. That we can come before your. Throne of justice, your throne of mercy, your throne of grace. and call thee father. What a blessing to be made children of God.

Pray Lord that we would never lose sight of all that you've done for us in our Lord Jesus Christ and our eternal need for him. Father, we pray that you would Bless this congregation, Lord, for those going through deep trials and pray that you would accomplish your will right quick. Pray for those who are mourning the passing of our brother Scott Thompson.

Lord, we know that all comfort comes from thee and pray that you would comfort all those that loved him. I pray for Novi as she has begun her treatments for lymphoma. Lord, give wisdom and skill to this doctor's hands. But most of all, give peace and comfort and healing to Novi and to all her family. Lord, we ache when one of us hurts, and we pray, Lord, that you would restore them to us. Father, we are so thankful for all that you've given us. We're thankful to be able to celebrate Lila's graduation this day, that milestone in her life, Lord.

I pray that you would continue to guide her, that you would hedge her about as she goes out into the world. And pray for her and for all of our young adults, young children that, Lord, have mercy on their souls. Reveal yourself to them in a saving manner.

Cause them to seek Christ and come unto him. We pray that wherever this word goes forth that it would call sinners under our Lord Jesus Christ. We ask all these things in his name that is above every name. Our Lord Jesus Christ for our good and for his sake. Keep your Bibles open there. Matthew 27 will serve as our text this morning. I titled the message, Substitution and Satisfaction.

I'll take a minute to tell you how I came to this subject and this text this morning. I've been thinking a lot about Lila this week. Sandy and Sean do, we celebrate your zero birthdays. whenever our young people graduate high school, they're always especially on my mind and on my heart and my prayers. And I thought about the very first day that Lila ever came to Bible school. Must have been about 14 years ago. And I taught a lesson to all the children that day on substitution.

And I used the story, you may have heard it before, Big John and Little Timmy. Big John and Little Timmy lived in a frontier town in the Old West, you know, people were starting to settle that area of the country. You know, people were just fighting for survival. They're, you know, trying to farm and all these things, you know, and they finally built them a little school. They thought we've got to have an education for our children. They built them a little schoolhouse. But all the children in that town, they were wild enough to shoot at. I mean, And every time some schoolmarm would come to town, these wild children would just run her off. Nobody could handle these kids. Finally, a man came to town. He came to town, told him he was looking for work.

And they said, what do you do? And he said, well, I'm a schoolteacher by trade. And they said, well, we've got a schoolhouse. And we've got some children. But they've run every other teacher off. And he said, I'll take the job. And first day of school, the kids are there in the one-room schoolhouse out of the hat. And this man walks in carrying a bullwhip. And he sets that bullwhip down on the desk. And he said, now we're going to have some rules here. We're going to follow them in this schoolhouse.

And he said, you're going to make the rules. And you're going to decide the punishment. And one little girl raised her hand. And she said, no pulling a girl's pigtails. And he said, all right. And he wrote that down. He said, what's the punishment? She said, one lash with a bullwhip. Another little girl said, no dipping a girl's pigtails in inkwell. I hate that. And he said, all right. And he wrote it down. He said, what's the punishment? Two lashes with a bullwhip. And that went on.

They had three or four rules. And finally, the biggest boy in school, Big John, big deep voice, he said, no stealing lunches. He said, I hate it when somebody steals my lunch. Teacher said, OK. He wrote it down. He said, what's the punishment? He said, 10 lashes with a bullwhip. Teacher said, John, that's pretty strict. He said, that's the punishment. I hate it when somebody steals my lunch. OK. He wrote it down. Those are the rules. They stayed up on that board all the time. Everybody knew the rules.

And everything was going great until one day, Big John yelled out, somebody stole my lunch. The teacher went investigating who stole Big John's lunch. And it was the littlest boy in school, poor, weak, skinny little boy, little Timmy. And little Timmy admitted, I stole Big John's lunch. And Big John saw that.

He said, teacher, it's OK. He didn't mean it. He's hungry, and he don't have no food. The teacher said, John, I've got a whipping. If I don't, I can't enforce any rules. If I don't, I can't be the teacher here anymore. And they took little Timmy out. They had a whipping post outside the school. And little Timmy took off his jacket. He didn't have a shirt. Too poor to have a shirt. Just took off his threadbare jacket. You could see his ribs and his spine. He's so skinny and so hungry.

And the teacher got ready to whip little Timmy. And big John yelled out, teacher, don't you whip that boy. And the teacher said, John, we've talked about this. Got to do it. If I don't, I can't enforce any other rule. And John said, teacher, the law says steal lunch, 10 lashes with a bullwhip. Teacher said, that's right. John said, doesn't say who has to get the lashes. He said, I'll take those 10 lashes. It'll kill little Timmy. I'll take those 10 lashes for him. And the teacher said, all right, John. He said, but now I'm not going light on you. because you didn't actually steal the lunch. And he said, that's all right. And that teacher gave Big John all 10 lashes with his bullwhip on his bare back.

And when he was done whipping him, Big John took, he had a nice white, fine white shirt. His family was wealthy. And he gave that shirt to Little Timmy. And he gave his fine coat to Little Timmy. He said, you take this. And don't you know? for the rest of his life. Little Timmy loved Big John. Don't you know he did? I told that story first day of Bible school. That was Lila's first day. And the next day, she came in and she said, can you tell us that story again? Well, Lila waited 14 years. I told it again. Now, that's a heartwarming story, isn't it? Isn't that a heartwarming story? Doesn't that grip your heart?

But you know the gospel of substitution and satisfaction is so much better. The gospel does not say the innocent die and the guilty go free. The gospel says the innocent was made guilty. He was made guilty for his people, and he died as a substitute for his people, bearing all the punishment that they deserve, and by his death, his burial, and his resurrection, he made his people innocent. righteous and justified by his sacrifice for the end. The gospel of substitution and satisfaction, it's the best story that can ever be told. And we have a picture of it in our text this morning. And the first thing we see is a picture of us, the criminal who deserves to die. Verse 15, Matthew chapter 27.

Now at the feast, the governor was wont to release into the people a prisoner whom they would. And they had then a notable prisoner called Barabbas. Therefore, when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, who will ye that I release unto you, Barabbas or Jesus, which is called Christ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered them. Now Matthew tells us Barabbas was a notable prisoner.

The word means infamous. Everybody knew about Barabbas, the many crimes and the violent crimes he committed. Everybody knew about him. Luke tells us Barabbas was guilty of insurrection against the Roman government, and that while he was committing that insurrection, he was guilty of murder. John tells us Barabbas was a robber.

Now, Barabbas is a picture of everyone that God saves. Everyone God saves is a notable sinner, an infamous sinner. They all claim to be the chief of sinners. There must have been some gang, you know, and Brabus was the head of them. He's the chief. Every believer says, I'm the chief of sinners.

I'm guilty. I'm guilty of insurrection against God's authority over us. I'm just like my father Adam. I want to get rid of God, take God off the throne so I can be God, so I can make the rules. I'm guilty of insurrection against God's government, just like what Dan was telling us in his lesson this morning.

And everyone that God saves, they all freely admit, I'm guilty of murder. Not only am I guilty of murder because I thought, you know, wished I could kill somebody or wished evil on somebody. I'll tell you what's worse. I'm guilty. of murdering the Son of God.

I know physically I wasn't there, but yet I was there in that crowd saying, crucify Him. Destroy Jesus and give me Barabbas. Let me have my way and my will. And if the only way I can have my way and my will is to kill God Almighty or to kill His Son, that's what I'll do. I'm guilty, guilty of murder.

And everyone God saves, They're guilty of robbery. We're guilty of trying to rob God of his glory. Every time we try to establish our own righteousness, instead of submitting ourselves to the righteousness of God, we're trying to rob God of his glory. Every time I think, oh, I'll do this, this, and this, and this will make me better than some of my brothers and sisters, that's being guilty of robbery, robbing God of his glory. And we can't stop doing it. We can't stop. Look over at Mark chapter 15. Here's Mark's account of this same story. Mark 15, verse seven.

And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him who had committed murder. in the insurrection. Brabus lay there bound. He laid on the floor of that dungeon or cell or whatever it was. He was bound. There's no way of escape. He can't get up and escape. He's helpless to do anything but just sit there, just lay there bound and wait for the executioner to come and take him away. That's you and me. That's you and me.

Just like Dan said in his lesson this morning, yes we have a will, but our will is bound by sin. It's bound by a sin nature, so we can't quit sinning. And we cannot escape the effect of sin, death. Bodily, physical death, and spiritual death. And Brabus is a good picture of you and me now. You think how wicked and vile that this man was. He's so sinful that other sinful men said, we've got to put him to death, or he's going to turn our civilization into hell. We've got to get rid of this guy. That's you and me. That's us by nature. We deserve to die.

Our sin is our fault. And we're so sinful, the only thing God can do with us is cast us into hell, put us out of his sight. Because God doesn't turn us. If he doesn't kill us, if he doesn't damn us, if he doesn't send us to hell, we're going to turn everywhere we go into hell with our sin. We're so guilty and vile.

I wish I could paint the picture black enough, disgusting enough, filthy enough. We deserve God's wrath. There's not one plea that we can make against it. That's exactly what we deserve. That's the sinner. Well, second, there's the substitute. Look at verse 11, Matthew 27.

And Jesus stood before the governor and the governor asked him saying, are thou the king of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest, that this is the only charge made against our Lord that he answered. They said, are you king? And he said, you betcha. You got it. I'm the king.

In verse 12, and when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, here's thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word, insomuch that the governor marveled greatly.

Now our Lord Jesus has lived a life of absolute perfection. He obeyed God's law perfectly, not just outwardly indeed, in word, in thought, in motive, in desire. This is a man of perfect holiness and everybody knew it. Peter said, this is the lamb without blemish and without spot. He's sinless. John said, in him is no sin. Our Lord Jesus wasn't even acquainted with any sin. He was innocent of every charge anybody ever brought against him. And the judge knew it. What did Pilate say? I find no fault in him. I cannot find a fault or sin in this man. Everybody knew it.

The angels in heaven knew it. The angel came and told Mary that she was pregnant, that she would become pregnant of the Holy Ghost, called the child that would be in her, that holy thing. He didn't even know what to call it, just the holy thing, he's sinless. Judas knew it. Earlier in this same chapter, Judas came, brought back that money that they gave him, and said, I betrayed innocent blood. He's innocent.

The dying thief knew it. Earlier, both thieves on crucified either side of our Lord were throwing the same thing in his teeth as the Pharisees were. And what they were doing is, you know, come down from the cross and take us down with you. It's embarrassing this, and we'll believe you're the Christ. But the Holy Spirit revealed something to one of those thieves. And he told the other one, you ought to be quiet. We're getting what we deserve. But this man hath done nothing amiss. He's sinless.

The centurion who presided over our Lord's execution, he knew it. After the Lord died, he said, certainly this was a righteous man. And the Pharisees who accused him, they knew it too. You know how I know they knew it? They sought witnesses who were willing to lie. They couldn't get anybody to tell the truth and point out a sin in this man. They sought witnesses who would lie. They knew he was innocent. They knew he was sinless. Now everybody knew it with all those witnesses that could tell us our Lord was holy and righteous.

He never committed a sin. He never even thought about a sin. Why on earth would the Lord be silent when all these charges were brought against him? I mean, If somebody brings a false accusation against you, they slander your character, I mean, does anything make you more mad than that? I mean, does nothing make you want to jump up on the table and scream and shout, no, I did not do that. I'm innocent. You can accuse me a lot of things, but not that one. Why didn't our Lord do that? Why didn't he proclaim his innocence?

Because by this time, he had been made sin for his people. He never committed a sin, but he'd been made guilty of all of the sin of all of his people. So every charge brought against him was true. It was true because you and I have committed every one of those sins. God's elect have committed every one of those sins, and those sins were made to be Christ's. Since we committed those sins, Christ was made sin for us, Now he's guilty of them, and he must suffer. He must die. He must shed his precious, perfect, sinless blood to pay for all of that sin. He cannot defend himself because he must pay the price. See, he's the substitute.

Right at the very beginning of his public ministry, how did John the Baptist identify him? Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. Now, what did they use lambs for? Sacrifices. He must be sacrificed. He must suffer and die as a substitute for his people so his people can go free. Christ must die. The just for the unjust. That's us. That he might bring us to God. Now, what a substitute.

What a substitute, a substitute who has sinless, precious blood to pay the sin debt of his people. A substitute who's willing to suffer and die for all of the vile sin of his people. He's willing to take that sin into his own body on the tree. He willingly did it that he might put that sin away by the sacrifice of himself. He died as a substitute for a vile, unjust people that we might go free and be brought to God in righteousness. What a substitute. Well, there's a sinner. There's a substitute. Now here's the results of Christ's sacrifice.

Verse 26, then released Heber Abbas unto them. And when he had scourged Jesus, He delivered him to be crucified. The Lord Jesus took the place of Barabbas and he died the death that Barabbas deserved. He died the death that all of his people deserve and because Christ died in his place as his substitute, Barabbas went free. Now you reckon somebody sees Barabbas on the streets of Jerusalem or on the streets of some town at that time Don't you think they'd be shocked?

I mean, this guy's guilty of murder. He's guilty. I mean, the Roman government is mighty serious about their authority. I mean, I think probably at that time the fastest way for you to get put to death was insurrection against the Roman government. I mean, they're mighty serious about this. And here's this man who committed insurrection against the Roman government. Walking free? What's going on?

How come the sheriff don't arrest him? How come the band of centurions don't come out and arrest him and take him to prison and crucify him? This man is guilty of every sin imaginable. The law couldn't touch him because Christ died in his place. Christ took his place and he suffered everything that Brabus deserved. Before Pilate released Jesus to be crucified, what did he do? He scourged him with a cat of nine tails. They raked that, strips of leather with broken pieces of pottery and rock or something in it, and just scraping the flesh and the skin off of his back, just revealing his ribs and his spinal column. Brabus deserved that.

Christ suffered it for him. Christ suffered the humiliation of being stripped naked. Stripped naked before God and man. Christ suffered the fire of God's wrath that came into his very soul and he made a soul an offering for sin. He suffered everything that Barabbas deserved. So Barabbas went free because Christ satisfied justice for him. And that is the result of Christ's sacrifice for all of God's elect. Christ suffered and paid for every sin of every one of his people. His death, his blood paid for all of that sin. His blood cleansed away the filth of all of that sin. And he died to satisfy the law's demand, there's got to be death for sin. He died the death his people deserve. He suffered everything that his people deserve. So now, because of his death, he satisfied justice.

God's elect must go free. They must. There's not a chance that they can stay imprisoned. There's not a chance that they can still be under the wrath of God. There's not a chance that they'll live through their life without ever hearing the gospel and believing on and trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ. God didn't leave it up to chance.

He's gonna send His Spirit to them. He's gonna make them hear. He's gonna give them a heart to believe because they must go free. They must, because justice is satisfied. See, God saves sinners by substitution, by Christ dying in their place and satisfaction. Christ paid the debt that all of his people deserve. So they must go free.

And this story is rich with pictures of substitution and satisfaction. This is taking place at the time of the Passover. Now here's another picture of substitution, right? On that very first Passover night, what happened? The lamb was slain. His body was roast with fire. The blood was put on the doorpost. The father shut the door and they went in and ate the Passover. And God, when he passed through in judgment, he saw the blood. He passed over that house. The firstborn lived in that house. because the lamb died in his place. This is the very last Passover, the last one. And the same thing happens at the last Passover that happened at the first one.

Christ, our Passover, is sacrificed as a substitute for his people. God's elect live because Christ died the death that we deserve. Christ is a substitute for sinners. For sinners, I mean real life guilty sinners. If you're a sinner, I can tell you this, if you know that you're a sinner, you know you're guilty, you know you have no plea before God, Christ died for you. Christ died for sinners to put away their sin so that they could go free.

And that's what Barabbas is a picture of here. Now it says here that they had a custom. that at the time of the Passover, the governor would release a prisoner to them. Nobody knows, I read about this, nobody knows where this custom began, how it all started. But I do know this, it started, God saw to it that it started for this Passover, for this Passover. So we would have a picture of salvation in Christ, the sinner substitute.

I can just imagine. How Barabbas started his day, can't you? He's bound. He's laying on a stone floor or dirt floor, you know, of some kind. He can't move. I get sore, you know, sleeping at night if I lay in one position too long. Can you imagine how sore? I mean, he can't move. He's bound. He's sore. He's cold and dark and damp. And the man can't sleep. I mean, there's no way he can sleep knowing what's going to happen to him in the morning.

When a person would be crucified, many times they'd suffer for days and days and days until they died. And he just knew what was coming to them, a long, slow, painful death, and he couldn't sleep. The sun comes up, the crowd is gathering out there, and they're bloodthirsty. He knows they're bloodthirsty because he can hear their cries.

Now he can't hear Pilate's questions to the crowd. But he can hear that loud crowd answer. And all he hears is, give us Barabbas. Give us Barabbas. Crucify him. Destroy him. Barabbas thought they were talking about him. He thought he was going to get what he had coming. And then in a little bit, he hears those guards walking down the hallway. Maybe some of them had a big old spear, you know, that's hitting the floor with every step. They're body armor clanging, you know. I mean, these are hard-bitten, battle-tested men.

He heard the keys in the warden's key ring come out and turn that big heavy lock and open that door. And the guard walked into him. He picked him up off the floor, and to Brabus's shock, he untied him. He untied him, and he said, go on. I bet that soldier was not happy. He wouldn't get to crucify Brabus.

He said, go on. Get out of here. You're free. Go. And Brabus said, what? What are you talking about? He said, you heard me. You're free. Get out of here. Why? You're being released at the time of this Passover, and Jesus, Jesus of Nazareth, is being taken to be crucified. He's being crucified in your place so you can go free. Brabus could have written a song. I used to love to hear Desi Maynard sing this song. I was guilty with nothing to say, and they were coming to take me away. But then a voice from heaven was heard that said, let him go.

Take me instead. I should have been crucified. I should have suffered and died. I should have hung on the cross in disgrace. But Jesus, God's son, took my place. Those rusty nails, they were meant for me. But Christ took them and he let me go free. He took my place so that I could go free. So how does God save sinners? Well, it's by substitution. By Christ taking the place of his people, suffering the punishment that they deserve. The innocent takes the place of the guilty. The innocent dies and the guilty go free. Not exactly. Matter of fact, not at all.

Because God's salvation is just. It would be wicked for a judge to let the unjust go free. If a judge knew this man's guilty and he let him go free, that would be unjust, wouldn't it? If the judge knew a man was innocent and condemned him to death anyway, that would be unjust.

Well, our God's just. He's holy in everything that he does. God is a righteous judge. God said, I will by no means clear the guilty, by no means. Well, if God will by no means clear the guilty, can you tell me how a guilty man like me can go free? When God forgives sin, he makes it just to do it. He's righteous and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. God saves sinners in both mercy and justice, in both grace and truth, because God is a just God and he's a savior.

And that's done through the death of the substitute. The father made his son sin for his people. He never committed a sin now, but he made him guilty of all of that sin. And the father poured out his wrath upon his son because his son had been made guilty.

Can I explain that? Absolutely not. How can the holy son of God be made sin and still be the sinless sacrifice? I cannot explain that. And actually, I feel no compulsion to explain that. By God's grace, I believe that with all of my heart. That is the only way a sinner can be saved in justice. The substitute was made guilty of the sin of his people. And his blood put away all of that sin. His sacrifice justified his people. So now, not only does the grace of God demand his people go free, the justice of God demands it too. That's the only salvation a sinner can really trust in.

If salvation, if it were up to my decision, well, I can't really trust it, can I? I've changed my mind lots in my life. Maybe I'll change my mind about that. If it's up to my faithfulness, it'll surely fail because no one honestly can say I'm as faithful as I ought to be.

But a salvation that's just, that satisfies both God's mercy and His justice, is a salvation that's sure and certain. It's certain because of who died, because of the substitute that died. Our Lord Jesus Christ, His person is so precious that He has one sacrifice for sin put away the sin of his people forever. Satisfied God's justice. So now, God's justice is not looking to chase down anyone for whom Christ died.

I know we hate our sin. We're ashamed of it. We become fearful of our sin when our old man keeps whispering in the back of our ears, oh, you're guilty. You better do something to make up for that now. You're guilty. God's going to get you. But you let this bring peace to your soul.

The justice of God is not looking for you if Christ made satisfaction for you by his death and his sacrifice. And if that doesn't make us run to Christ, begging for mercy, the only reason I can think of is this. God hadn't showed us we're guilty yet. He hadn't showed us we're a sinner yet. But if God shows us a sinner, If anybody here is a sinner, I've got such good news for you.

You run to Christ. In him is forgiveness of sin. In him is satisfaction for all of your sin. Now run to him. Run to him. All right. I hope God will bless that to you. Let's bow together. Our Father, I pray you bless your word as it's been preached this morning. Father, bless it so that in the hearing of your gospel, the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, we see Christ in his glory. We see him exalted and high and lifted up. And Father, that you would enable us to see ourselves as we are, sinful, guilty, wretched, vile, having no hope or no plea except the Lord Jesus Christ. Father, draw us, draw us to Christ, cause us to run to Christ and find in him everything that you require of us.

And Father, we thank you for this day, a day that we celebrate Sandy and Sean's zero birthdays and Lila's graduation. Father, I thank you for them. I thank you for what they mean to this congregation and Father, I pray your richest blessings of mercy and grace be upon them. As Lila prepares to step out to college and step out more into the world, Father, I pray you'd go with her, that you'd lead her in every step that she takes and shower her, cover her with your mercy and grace. Father, we thank you for the food we're about to partake and ask you bless it to our bodies as you bless the time of fellowship we have together. Cause us to be a encouragement and help one to another. Father, it's in Christ's name, for his sake we pray, amen. Okay, Shawn. Okay, if you would turn in your hymnal to song number 298, and we'll sing God Leads Us Along, 298. In shady green pastures so rich and so sweet, God leads his dear children along. Where the water's cool flow bays the weary one's feet, God leads his dear children along.

Some through the waters, some through the flood. Some through the fire, but all through his blood. Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song in the night season and all the day long. Sometimes on the mount where the sun shines so bright, God leads his dear children along. Sometimes in the valley, in darkest of night, God leads his dear children along. Some through the waters, some through the flood, Some through the fire, but all through his blood.

Some through great sorrow, but God gives us all. in the night season and all the day long. Though sorrows befall us and Satan oppose, God leads his dear children along. Through grace we can conquer, defeat all our foes. God leads his dear children along.

Some through the waters, some through the flood. Some through the fire, but all through his blood. Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song. in the night season and all the day long. Away from the mire, away from the clay, God leads his dear children along. A way up in glory, eternity's day. God leads his dear children along. Some through the waters, some through the flood. Some through the fire, but all through his blood. Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song. In the night season and all the day long.

Substitution and Satisfaction

What does the Bible say about substitution in salvation?

How do we know Christ's substitution is true?

Why is the concept of justification important for Christians?

What does the Bible teach about the significance of Christ's sacrifice?

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Substitution and Satisfaction

What does the Bible say about substitution in salvation?

How do we know Christ's substitution is true?

Why is the concept of justification important for Christians?

What does the Bible teach about the significance of Christ's sacrifice?

Sermon Transcript

About Frank Tate

Comments

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