© F.O’Donoghue 2007
The doctrine of the substitutionary death of Christ is directed toward the specific penalty required, which is spiritual death. Christ, as the innocent Lamb of God, died and suffered the penalty of death in the place of the sinner; the actual guilty party. He took our place and bore the penalty of God’s judgment which we rightly deserve.
Jesus in His death was actually the substitute dying in the place of all men. Although the word ‘substitute’ is not specifically mentioned, the principle of Christasthe sinner’s substitute is constantly affirmed in Scripture. By His substitutionary death the righteous judgments of God against a sinner were borne by Christ.
Isaiah 53:4-11 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Scripturally speaking, the doctrine of substitution stems from two Greek prepositions which reveal the premise for the teaching; Anti & Huper;
The Greek word Anti meaning ‘in the place of/in the stead of’;
Matt 5:38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for [Anti ] a tooth:
Luke 11:11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for [Anti ] a fish give him a serpent?
The word Anti is clearly used in context with Christ’s substitutionary work on the cross;
Matt 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for [Anti ] many.
Mark 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for [Anti ] many.
The second preposition is huper meaning ‘for the sake of’ but may also be used like anti to mean ‘in place of;’
2 Cor 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for [huper]Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead [huper], be ye reconciled to God.
The word huper is clearly used in context with Christ’s substitutionary work on the cross;
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for [huper] us.
1 Cor 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for [huper] our sins according to the scriptures;
2 Cor 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for [huper] us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for [huper] every man.
By His death on the cross, Jesus Christ; the sinless Lamb of God paid the penalty for all humanity and became our substitute.
