Why Is Substitutionary Atonement Important to Christianity?

The Gospel message—that God sent His only son, Jesus, to die for our sins and to reconcile us to Himself—stands firmly on Jesus’ sacrificial act of justice, love, and mercy (John 3:16). Theologians call this act substitutionary atonement.

Without the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Christianity would be without strength or power—and we would be condemned to an eternity under God’s wrath. But when we accept God’s offer of salvation through the atoning work of Christ, we have hope and guidance in our daily lives and the anticipation of a joy-filled future in His presence.

What Is the Concept of Substitutionary Atonement?

To substitute is to replace one person or thing with another. Atonement involves making amends or reparations for an offense.

Substitutionary atonement, Christ giving His life for sinful man, is the purest expression of justice and the most glorious act of mercy.

To explore this concept, we must first recognize God’s holiness. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines holiness as exalted or worthy of complete devotion, “as one perfect in goodness and righteousness.”

Scripture resounds with the holiness, goodness, and righteousness of our God. Examples include:

• “Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?” (Exodus 15:11).
• “Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!” (Psalm 96:9).
• “There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God” (1 Samuel 2:2).

We must also recognize our complete unworthiness before a Holy God. Romans 3:23 is clear: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” We fall short. We cannot save ourselves—not with goodness or good deeds. Not by following every law and precept given.

Yet reparations had to be made for our attack on God's glory. In the purest showing of justice—satisfying the debt of all sin—God Himself came to earth as a baby. Immanuel—God with us.

In Old Testament times, the High Priest would enter the Most Holy Place of the Temple to offer sacrifices for the people’s sins (through the animal’s blood). This had to be done repeatedly for the temporary “covering” of sins. This foreshadowed the perfect blood sacrifice accomplished in the coming of Christ Jesus. In the New Testament covenant, the Old Testament temporary solution to sin was answered and fulfilled in the perfect blood offering—Jesus Christ (Isaiah 53:5-6). His sacrifice was complete—once and for all (Hebrews 10:1-8).

Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, justice was satisfied, and mercy flowed freely. Substitutionary atonement in Christ’s work on the Cross is the ultimate expression of unconditional love. We have been redeemed! (Romans 5:6-8).

What Bible Verses Talk about Substitutionary Atonement?

The sacred thread of substitutionary atonement is woven throughout scripture. From the moment Adam fell in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3) to the empty tomb of Jesus Christ (John 20), God’s plan of redemption was joyfully anticipated throughout generations of His people. Prophets foretold, and psalmists sang—filled with the hope and promise of a coming messiah and reconciliation with the one true God.

Christ redeemed us from the law’s curse by becoming a curse for us (Galatians 3:13).

He was broken for our transgressions, carrying the punishment, and healing us by his wounds (Isaiah 53:5).

He bore our sins in his body on the tree (1 Peter 2:24).

He has canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us, and taken it away, nailing it to the cross (Colossians 2:14).

God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness because, in his forbearance, he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished (Romans 3:25).

Christ loved us enough that he gave himself as a fragrant offering and sacrifice (Ephesians 5:2).

So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many. He will appear again, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those waiting for him (Hebrews 9:28).

Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good (Titus 2:14).

Additional verses for personal study include 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 3:10-14, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 1 Corinthians 5:7, and Romans 8:31-34.

Is Penal Substitution Different from Substitutionary Atonement?

A richer understanding of biblical atonement involves examining subsets or subcategories under the general umbrella of substitutionary atonement.

One is that Jesus gave His life as a ransom for us. We see this idea in verses like Mark 10:45, which says that Jesus gave his life as a ransom for many. Jesus, as God the Son, paid the price for our redemption and bridged the sin gap between us and God the Father.

Another subset is penal substitution. Penal refers to punishment, so penal substitution is a punishment transfer from one person or thing to another. The punishment for sin that Jesus bore in our place makes true peace and reconciliation with God possible (Isaiah 53:5).

In his article, “What Does Substitutionary Atonement Mean?” Clarence L. Haynes Jr. writes:

“We deserved death as the punishment for our sin. We were not worthy or deserving of God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness. However, from this place of being undeserving, God made a way for our forgiveness and redemption. He did this by placing our sins on Jesus, and when we place our faith in him, we receive his righteousness. Christ became our substitute in death so that we could receive eternal life.”

Jesus was pierced. He was crushed. And as Isaiah 53 says, the punishment that brought us peace was on him.

Did Jesus Know He Would Pay For Our Sins on the Cross?

In the days leading to His arrest and crucifixion, Jesus spoke of the Cross as a fiery baptism (Mark 10:38, Luke 12:49-50). In the Garden of Gethsemane, hours before His death on the Cross, Jesus was fully aware of what lay before Him—not just physical pain but the spiritual anguish of a time of separation from God due to the weight of sin He would carry. Jesus knew that God, in His holiness, would turn away from the stench and ugliness of man’s sin.

Jesus—pure and without sin—knew the ordeal He would carry.

“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? No, it is for this purpose that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify Your name!” (John 12:27).

Our Lord and Savior was not abused or misused by His Heavenly Father. Jesus willingly laid down His life—in submission and surrender to His Father’s plan for humanity.

Why Did Jesus Have to Pay the Penalty for Our Sins?

Because of our disobedience and rebellion against God, we are miserably short of His holiness (Romans 3:23). The Bible is clear that the wages or the penalty for our rebellion is death (Romans 6:23). Someone had to pay a price that would cover the depth of treason our sins revealed. For reconciliation to take place, someone had to be punished. The debt had to be paid.

In our depravity, we did not qualify as the substitutionary atonement for humanity’s sins. But a Holy God, majestic in holiness, did!

Out of His unfathomable love and holiness, and to save us from His righteous wrath against our sin, God the Father placed our punishment on His son, Jesus. On the Cross, the sinless Son of God willingly took the punishment meant for us.

Only a perfect sacrifice would bridge the gap between us and a Holy God—an unblemished sacrifice without the stain of sin. Only Jesus qualified—the precious Lamb of God—our Savior, Redeemer, Rescuer, and Lord.

Oh, the joy of belonging to Christ through His work on the Cross! He is now seated at the Father's right hand, interceding for us (Romans 8:34).

Because of substitutionary atonement, we can sing a new song—

“And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation’” (Revelation 5:9).

Praise God for His unfathomable gift!

Photo Credit:©GettyImages/kckate16

Leigh Ann Thomas is passionate about encouraging others to seek God’s best. She has penned four books, including Smack-Dab in the Midlife Zone—Inspiration for Women in the Middle, and Ribbons, Lace, and Moments of Grace—Inspiration for the Mother of the Bride. 

You’ll find Leigh Ann on an adventure with her sweetheart of 39 years, getting silly with her grands, or daydreaming story plots on the front porch. 

Connect on LeighAThomas.com.

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