Substitution 101

Jesus’ spiritual, physical and emotional punishment was Him bearing the curse — the curse of spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical punishment of sin. His resurrection was so we can obtain and share in the same eternal life that He obtained by the resurrection. That eternal life, zoe in Greek, is life as God has it, not just longevity. That’s God’s righteousness, love, and attributes. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and we get to share in His life.

“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:13–14).

Deuteronomy chapter twenty-eight describes the blessing and the curse.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new, Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:17, 18).

“Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed” (1 Peter 2:24).

“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

“He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.
By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,
For He shall bear their iniquities” (Isaiah 53:11).

“All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).

“But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

“Surely He has borne our griefs [sicknesses]
And carried our sorrows [pains]” (Isaiah 53:4)

“That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:
‘He Himself took our infirmities
And bore our sicknesses’” (Matthew 8:17).

Jesus did what the Bible says He did. He literally became sin and the curse of sin for us, that we might become right with God and be blessed by God.

We are who the Bible says we are: the righteousness of God in Christ, the blessed of the Lord. We didn’t do anything to deserve it, it’s a gift.

Jesus paid the price!

Stay strong and prepared!