Penal Substitution
“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.” Isaiah 55:4-5
This doctrine essentially states that Jesus suffered the wrath of God and punishment (penalty) for mankind’s sins in order that mankind would receive forgiveness; a substitution. Though perhaps not the intent, it first sets up God as a vindictive Father taking out on His innocent Son vengeance for the disobedience of humans-- ‘unleashing’ His wrath on Jesus instead of people. The attribution of God’s wrath to Christ’s death and that also as the means of forgiveness is not accurate though it is very convincing. This doctrine neglects other truths which therefore establishes it as a misrepresentation of Scripture, especially as some further misconstrue its implication in their own response to the gospel. Though one may view belief in this doctrine as of little consequence (if they happen to be living in obedience to God anyway) such doctrines must be dispelled in favor of what Scripture states and explains. Our efforts towards contending against these seemingly ‘harmless’ doctrines are not cold-hearted nor to assert intellectual or spiritual authority but rather that people would see and come to truly rest on the pure word of God and the faith that was delivered to the saints.
Jesus said He came to set captives free from the bondage of sin (Lk 4:18) not to take their place or the punishment/consequences of their sins: “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matt 20:28). Those who are in sin are slaves to sin (Jn 8:34) and thus in bondage. As slaves to sin, they receive the wages of death (Rom 6:23). On account that anyone who sins has that ‘record’, there’s the necessity that it be blotted out and remembered no more if the sinner is now willing to live in obedience to the Lord (Ezekiel 18:21-23, Prov 28:13, Heb 8:7-12). Thus, if they are free from sin, they are free indeed because of the Son (Jn 8:36) and if free from sin must continue in that liberty -- in righteousness adding to their faith virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love (2 Pet 1:6-7). So, how then do freedom and forgiveness come about? It is through the blood of Jesus Christ.
The purpose of Christ’s sacrifice was to bear the sins of the world and to shed His blood for the remission of sins, as well as to demonstrate his power over death (Acts 2:24, Romans 6:9). Scripture teaches that there can be no remission of sins without the shedding of blood (Heb 9:22). The way by which forgiveness comes about is not that the wrath of God is justified in Christ as an exchange but rather that the shed blood of Christ as a result of His afflictions blots out the handwriting of [OT] ordinances (Col 2:14), washes us from our past sins (Rev 1:5, Rom 3:25), purifies our consciences for us to now serve the living God [in righteousness] (Heb 9:14). The blood of Jesus Christ is what ransoms from the bondage of sin those that believe this and obey Him. Consider that throughout the OT, God always brought judgment on His people when they transgressed. They incurred the wrath of God for their sins, and in many instances, the Lord was not even pleased with their sacrifices because in those cases, there wasn’t true repentance and obedience (See: Is 1:11-15, Ps 51:16-17, 1 Sam 15:22). The wrath was for the sins they committed and the sacrifice (and blood) for the forgiveness of those sins.
Some hold to the substitution doctrine because it is not apparent to them how God currently serves retribution on disobedience so they hold that it must have been all ‘placed’ on Christ. Scripture states: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:36). Whoever doesn’t believe in Christ for the remission of their past sins to then continue in a new life of righteousness, has the wrath of God abiding on them already and are still in bondage to sin and death (Rom 6:23). “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.” (Rom 1:18-19). Whosoever believes in the Son for forgiveness (John 3:16), abides in Him (John 15) and obeys Him unto righteousness, escapes from the wrath of God that already abides on those disobedient. The wrath again is not on the Son but on those who are disobedient.
In light of Isaiah 53, the afflictions Christ suffered was on account of shedding His blood for the remission of sins as opposed to consequences of divine retribution on Him. Again, seeing as there can be no remission of sins without the shedding of blood (Heb 9:22), it is of absolute importance that Christ shed His. Why the blood? The Lord states: “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” (Lev 17:11). The Old Testament describes the sacrificial processes of bulls, lambs, goats, as well as many other traditions, of which we see the fulfillment in and by Christ. In this case of sacrifices, the shedding of animal blood was not sufficient to take away sins (Heb 10:3-4) and neither sufficient to purify consciences because with every sacrifice, there was always the remembrance of sin! The distinction between the OT sacrifice and the sacrifice of Christ is that Christ is the Son of God and lamb of God (worth far more than any animal sacrifice!) who has laid down His life by choice once and for all. His blood is forever sufficient to make atonement for sinners. And for those sinners He sets free (now set apart as saints, no longer sinners - Eph 2:19, Eph 5:3), they now have clean hands, a pure heart, and have the laws of God written on their hearts and minds by the Spirit of God to now live in righteousness. For with this knowledge and the truth, they cannot continue to sin willfully because there would remain no more sacrifices for sin but a fearful expectation of God’s judgment (Heb 10:26).
It helps to also understand that Jesus Christ decided to offer Himself for the remission of man’s sins by the Will of God: “Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.” (Heb 10:5-7). The Father did not just ‘offer’ Him up or make Him do so. It was Jesus’ choice in obedience to the Father: “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” - Jn 10:17-18.
It was for the shedding of blood that the Son was afflicted and died on the cross so that there would be remission of sins. Having shed His blood, those who are forgiven are to be partakers with Him: “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matt 26:26-28). They are to deny themselves, pick up their cross daily and follow Him (and whoever doesn’t is not worthy of Him, Luke 9:23-24). They are called to put to death sin and flesh once and for all in their lives (Romans 6) and to suffer for His name sake: “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake” (Phil 1:29), and if we suffer with Him, we will also reign with Him (2 Tim 2:12)
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”(1 Pet 2:21-25).
