Substitution

<<replacement>>

Since the time Adam and Eve sinned, people have continued to be sinners and God declared the penalty for such behaviour is the punishment of spiritual death (Rom 3:10,23, 6:23). As an object lesson, in OT times, an innocent animal was slaughtered in the place of a guilty Israelite who had sinned against God. This introduced humanity to

He deserves unending gratitude for paying our debt

the concept of vicarious atonement – another person ‘paying the price’ for someone else’s offences – a life being exchanged for another life with the ransom being paid in blood. These sacrifices pointed to Jesus, the good shepherd, giving His life as a ransom for many; He died in our place, ‘the sinless one’ for the sinful (Mk 10:45; Rom 8:2; 2 Cor 5:14-15). Through the great divine exchange He does away with our sins, sickness and separation from the Father and we can receive His forgiveness, righteousness, health and a restored relationship with God in return (Isa 53:5; Jn 10:10,15; 2 Cor 5:21; 1 Pet 2:24, 3:18). Christ’s taking our place (substitution) did not ignore the demands of a Holy God, but effectively paid what was due to us for our wrong doing; this far exceeded the OT animal substitutes which only temporarily covered sin (Jn 1:29; Heb 9:28, 10:11,12). When Jesus became the vicarious object of God’s justice our sin was paid for, and we can be declared righteous in Christ (Rom 4:5, 8:1).

The substitution of Christ's sacrifice on humanity's behalf is effective only to those who turn to Him in repentance. Universalism is a false belief that everyone will be saved.