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Justification
Part 9 - Mark 15 Substitutionary Atonement[1]
Is God absolutely just and always just?
Can God just sweep sin under the rug?
So how can a just God be around unjust sinners?
The answer is this thing, JUSTIFICATION = how you, a sinner, can stand before God and God say to you, “You are righteous. You are perfect. And you deserve to live forever in heaven with me.”
Here’s where we are: Jesus was arrested and put through some illegal trials and then convicted by the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, and today we’re going to talk about his death on the cross and what it means.
Let’s read about Jesus’ cross from Mark 15.
Do y’all know what a ‘substitute’ is? What’s a substitute teacher?
A substitute is a person who takes the place of another.
So what does it mean that Jesus was our substitute on the cross? Who did Jesus die for on the cross, for himself or for you?
Jesus took your place, he took the place of sinners on the cross.
Are you good enough to earn salvation? Are you good enough to make up for your sins?
What does every sin deserve?
The wrath and curse of God.
So what did Jesus take in our place on the cross?
Jesus took our punishment - Jesus took God’s wrath for our sins on the cross.
Can God punish you now for your sins?
No!
Why not?
Because Jesus already paid for all my sins -my past, present, and future sins.
If God punished me for my sins what would that mean about Jesus dying for our sins on the cross?
If God still punishes you for sin that means Jesus didn’t do enough for you on the cross.
After God completely poured out his wrath on Jesus, Jesus on the cross said, “It is finished” then he bowed his head and died because he paid the penalty for ALL your sins and for ALL the sins of ALL his people.
How were people in the Old Testament saved before Jesus came?
They believed God would send a Savior for them. They believed in God’s promise right after the Fall that a serpent trampling Savior would come who would save us. The Old Testament tells us that our Savior was going to come and die for us before the Son of God came to earth. That’s what the Old Testament sacrifices were all about - that you need a substitute to die in your place. The animal sacrifices didn’t forgive people their sins but they pointed to the ultimate sacrifice - that our Savior would be our substitute.
Is God the Father unloving for sacrificing his son in our place?
No! The Son willingly came to live and die for us! This is why the cross is God’s greatest display of his love for unworthy sinners.
What must you do to be saved?
You must believe in Jesus as your Savior!
So what does atonement mean?
Break it apart – at one ment. Since our sins separate us from God, atonement means our holy and just God brings unjust unholy sinners back into his presence.
And how is atonement possible? How can an unholy people live with a holy God?
Through the life and death of our substitute Jesus. That’s substitutionary atonement.
What is something we just learned that we can: 1) praise God for and 2) ask God for?
[1] Kevin DeYoung, The Biggest Story Bible Storybook, Chapter 82, The Snake Crusher is Crushed, Mark 15 418-420.