The Second Act of Salvation: Christ’s Substitutionary Work
May the peace and grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus be with you and your house. To the eternal God, almighty, creator of heaven and earth, giver of life, our sustainer and former, to Him be honor and glory for ages of ages. We give thanks to God because, in His grace and mercy, He allows us times of revelation, correction, instruction, and life through His word. Thus, each one whom He has called can walk according to His purpose.
In this teaching, we continue our series on “the Preaching of the cross”, the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven. In the New Testament, this Gospel is presented in various ways: as grace, the gift of God, “the Preaching of the cross” — a term we have adopted for this series —, “the foolishness of the cross”, and the Gospel of Christ Jesus. Each term seeks to apply this message to the life of man and woman. After two weeks of study, we have explored the acts of salvation. Last week, we saw the first: Jesus was manifested in flesh, with the same nature as Adam and Eve, to condemn sin in the body and allow us to live in newness of life.
Today we address the second act of salvation, related to the human condition. The Bible teaches that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), a condemnation that weighs upon every man and woman since Adam and Eve’s disobedience. In Genesis 2:17, God warned: “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die”. Upon disobeying, that declaration became a death sentence still in effect, not cancelled. This second act reveals how God delivers from that condemnation those who come to Jesus: He took our place on the cross of Calvary. He did not eliminate the sentence, but provided life by substituting for us.
To understand this, let’s consider the acts of salvation. It is often said that Jesus on the cross cleanses us from sin, reconciles us, and gives eternal life. However, the Scriptures show that this occurs through specific acts of divine mercy. As in the book of Esther, where the death decree against the Jews could not be annulled, but the king provided a way for them to defend themselves, so God does not cancel the death sentence, but through His love offers life through Christ. Jesus took our place, delivering us from the execution of that sentence.
Known as the doctrine of substitution, this second act addresses the consequences of sin. Let’s examine three of them:
Man and Woman Became Servants of Sin
Romans 6:16 says: “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” When Adam and Eve obeyed the serpent, they became servants of sin. Romans 5:19 adds: “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous”. All, represented in Adam, became enslaved to sin and fell short of God’s glory.
Sin Imposed a Code of Conduct
Romans 7:14-24 describes this struggle: “For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do… Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” Sin imposed a lifestyle that leads us to act against our will. How many times do we say, “Why do I fall again?” It is a code established by Satan, from which only Christ liberates us.
Man Was Condemned to a Gradual Death
Genesis 3:17-19 declares: “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life… In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken.” God revealed, not imposed, this consequence: living by our own strength until we exhaust ourselves and die. This is the human struggle: depending on resources that fail.
Jesus, on the cross, delivered us from these consequences. Matthew 27:16-26 narrates how they released Barabbas and crucified Jesus: “Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he handed Him over to be crucified”. In Barabbas, we were all represented. 2 Corinthians 5:21 explains: “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him”. Jesus received a genetic and spiritual transfer of our sinful condition. 1 Peter 2:24 adds: “Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness”. Isaiah 53:4-6 prophesied: “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows… The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all”. He did not sin, but assumed our nature and acts to liberate us.
However, this provision requires our response. Ezekiel 33:12-13 warns: “The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression… When I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, but he trusts in his own righteousness and commits iniquity, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered; but he shall die for the iniquity that he has committed”. It is not automatic or irreversible; we must remain steadfast and faithful. If we disobey, we reactivate the condemnation.
Why study this? Because many, although free, live in defeat, carrying what Jesus has already carried. Romans 8:17 promises: “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together”. Like Israel, delivered from Egypt but tied to its past, many do not let go of their former condition. Jesus carried our frustration, illness, and brokenness. Why continue carrying them? The “word of the cross” makes us free from sin, from the imposed code, and from gradual death, to live as co-heirs with Christ, in victory and divine power. Today, receive this provision with consciousness: everything was transferred to Him. Do not live in defeat; say: “I am more than a conqueror through Him who took my place”. Thank You, Father, for delivering us and making us heirs in Christ. May Your peace and grace be upon us. Amen.
