What is the substitutionary atonement?

Answer

The concept of substitutionary atonement refers to Jesus Christ dying as a substitute for sinners. The Scriptures teach that all individuals are sinners (Romans 3:9-18, 23). The consequence of our sinfulness is death. Romans 6:23 states, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

This verse conveys several key points. Without Christ, we face death and an eternity in hell as the consequence of our sins. Death, as described in the Scriptures, signifies a “separation.” While everyone will experience physical death, some will reside in heaven with the Lord eternally, while others will endure an existence in hell for eternity. The death mentioned here pertains to the eternal separation from God. Additionally, the verse highlights that eternal life is attainable through Jesus Christ, illustrating His substitutionary atonement.

When Jesus Christ was crucified, He died in our place. We were the ones deserving to be crucified due to our sinful lifestyles. However, Christ willingly bore the punishment on our behalf—He acted as our substitute and bore the consequences we rightfully deserved. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” «For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.», (2 Corinthians 5:21).

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed” «who his own self bore our sins in his own body onThe tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” (1 Peter 2:24). Here again we see that Christ took the sins we committed onto Himself to pay the price for us. A few verses later we read, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit” “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.” (1 Peter 3:18). Not only do these verses teach us about the substitute that Christ was for us, but they also teach that He was the atonement, meaning He satisfied the payment due for the sinfulness of man.

One more passage that talks about the substitutionary atonement is Isaiah 53:5. This verse talks about the coming Christ who was to die on the cross for our sins. The prophecy is very detailed, and the crucifixion happened just as it was foretold. “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” Notice the substitution. Here again we see that Christ paid the price for us!

We can only pay the price of sin on our own by being punished and placed in hell for all eternity. But God’s Son, Jesus Christ, came to earth to pay the price of our sins. Because He did this for us, we now have the opportunity to not only have our sins forgiven, but to spend eternity with Him. In order to do this, we must place our faith in what Christ did on the cross. We cannot save ourselves; we need a substitute to take our place. The death of Jesus Christ is the substitutionary atonement.