Things New and Old: Christ is the Alone Substitute

Things New and Old

Ancient truths revealed in the Scriptures are often forgotten, disbelieved or distorted, and therefore lost in the passage of time. Such ancient truths when rediscovered and relearned are 'new' additions to the treasury of ancient truths.

Christ showed many new things to the disciples, things prophesied by the prophets of old but hijacked and perverted by the elders and their traditions, but which Christ reclaimed and returned to His people.

Many things taught by the Apostles of Christ have been perverted or substituted over the centuries. Such fundamental doctrines like salvation by grace and justification have been hijacked and perverted and repudiated by sincere Christians. These doctrines need to be reclaimed and restored to God's people.

There are things both new and old here. "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things" 2Ti 2:7.

Wednesday, June 26, 2024

Christ is the Alone Substitute - 1689.11.3

#Christ_the_Alone_Substitute
#CoF1689_11_3

Christ is the Sole Ground and Basis of Justification before God; your faith is an effect of that.

1689.11.3
"Christ, by His obedience and death, did fully discharge the debt of all those that are justified; and did, by the sacrifice of Himself in the blood of His cross, undergoing in their stead the penalty due unto them, make a proper, real, and full satisfaction to God's justice in their behalf,(8); yet inasmuch as He was given by the Father for them, and His obedience and satisfaction accepted in their stead, and both freely, not for anything in them,(9) their justification is only of free grace, that both the exact justice and rich grace of God might be glorified in the justification of sinners.(10) 8. Heb 10:14; 1Pe 1:18-19; Isa 53:5-6. 9. Ro 8:32; 2Co 5:21. 10. Ro 3:26; Eph 1:6-7; 2:7.

1. Christ is the Substitute:
a. “by His obedience and death, did fully discharged…”
- "by His obedience": He lived the perfect and sinless life for His people; by His death, He suffered the just and holy wrath of God against the sins for His people.
- He lived the sinless life they are required to live, and died the death they deserve to die.

b. Justification before God requires perfect righteousness through the obedience and death of Christ.
- The righteousness needed for justification is by the active and passive obedience of Christ alone. Man's faith is NOT in the justification equation.
- “fully discharged… undergoing in their stead the penalty due unto them….” Debt completely cleared.
- “… in their stead… in their behalf… in their stead…”

2. Christ’s made full satisfaction to God’s justice for all the elect:
a. Christ “made a proper, real, and full satisfaction to God’s justice in their behalf.”
- Only the obedience and death of Christ can render a proper, real, and full satisfaction to God’s justice.

b. God Himself provided this Substitute for the justification of His people.
- “He was given by the Father for them…” The substitute is God’s provision.
- God accepts the substitutionary work (obedience and satisfaction) of Christ on behalf of His people.
- This acceptance is only by God’s free grace alone, everything in the justified being wholly excluded.

c. Justification of sinners magnifies both the exact justice and the rich grace of God
- Any departure from the precise way stated detracts and diminishes both. It dishonours the Triune God.