How did Jesus become our substitute?
The punishment or wages for sin is death (Romans 6:23) and we have all sinned (Romans 3:23). But Jesus was exceptional, because He is the only exception to the rule; He never sinned (Hebrews 4:15).
He was perfect and deserved no punishment. We were imperfect and deserved punishment.
However, Jesus substituted Himself for us when He died on the Cross.
Jesus bore our sins when He hung on the tree.
“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” (1 Peter 2:24).
Why did Jesus have to die?
Jesus did not die for His own sins (he never sinned); His death was a perfect, unique, never-to-be-repeated, fully-sufficient sacrifice for our sins.
When Jesus died on the Cross, He took upon Himself the full weight of the punishment due for the sins of the world.
Was Jesus forced to die?
Some people think God was 'cruel' to send Jesus to his death. However, God the Father did not force Jesus to die.
Jesus, the Son of God chose to substitute His life for yours because of his love for His Father and for you.
Why is this good news for me?
Because of Jesus’ substitutionary death on the Cross, we can be forgiven and accepted by God as righteous (right with God).
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Is there any other way to be right with God?
If there was any other way, then Jesus wouldn't have had to die. But he did, and it is through his death that we can find forgiveness and new life.
So you can either stay stuck with your own sins and the punishment they deserve, or let Jesus be your substitute, and ask him to take away your sins and punishment.
I know which option I’m going for. Do you?
To find out more about how Jesus saves, click here.