Embracing the Gift of Christ's Righteousness

 

Summary

In our time together, we explored the profound and transformative truth of the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ, focusing on the doctrine of double imputation. This doctrine reveals the heart of the gospel: our sins were imputed to Christ, and His righteousness was imputed to us. We began by reflecting on the sinlessness of Christ, emphasizing that only He, who was without sin, could bear the punishment due to us. This foundational truth is affirmed throughout the New Testament, underscoring that Jesus was the only one capable of fulfilling the law perfectly and thus able to stand in our place.

We delved into the mystery of how God made His sinless Son to be sin for us. This act was not a legal fiction but a profound reality where Christ, as our covenant head, took upon Himself the liabilities of our sin. This was not an act of divine sleight of hand but a righteous and just substitution, where Jesus willingly bore the wrath and judgment our sins deserved. The imagery from Leviticus 16, with the scapegoat and the sin offering, beautifully prefigures this atoning work of Christ, illustrating the transfer and exchange of our sins onto Him.

The purpose of this divine exchange was so that in Christ, we might become the righteousness of God. This is the essence of our justification, where we are reconciled to God not by our merit but through the righteousness of Christ imputed to us. This exchange is the heart of the gospel, where the blessing of the Father is transferred to us, and the curse of sin is placed on Christ. It is a staggering thought that God looks upon us with the same approbation as He does His Son because we are clothed in Christ's righteousness.

Finally, we considered how we enter into this righteousness of God. It is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. This faith, whether strong or weak, if directed wholly to Christ, brings us into the righteousness of God. Our response to this incredible grace should be one of unceasing praise and thanksgiving, recognizing the depth of God's love and the magnitude of Christ's sacrifice.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Sinlessness of Christ: Jesus' sinlessness is foundational to His role as our substitute. Only He, who perfectly obeyed God's law, could bear the punishment for our sins. This truth is affirmed throughout Scripture, highlighting that Jesus was uniquely qualified to stand in our place. [18:19]

2. The Mystery of Substitution: God made His sinless Son to be sin for us, a profound mystery that defies full human comprehension. This act was not a legal fiction but a righteous substitution where Christ bore the wrath and judgment our sins deserved. [23:59]

3. The Divine Exchange: The purpose of Christ's atonement was so that in Him, we might become the righteousness of God. This exchange is the heart of the gospel, where our sins are imputed to Christ, and His righteousness is imputed to us, reconciling us to God. [30:38]

4. Entering into Christ's Righteousness: We enter into the righteousness of God by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. This faith, whether strong or weak, if directed wholly to Christ, brings us into the righteousness of God. [38:54]

5. A Response of Thanksgiving: Our response to the grace of God in Christ should be one of unceasing praise and thanksgiving. Recognizing the depth of God's love and the magnitude of Christ's sacrifice should lead us to live lives marked by gratitude and worship. [42:25]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:29] - Family Worship and Theology
- [01:17] - A Delightful Courtship
- [03:00] - The Centrality of the Cross
- [04:42] - Leviticus and Atonement
- [05:33] - The Day of Atonement Explained
- [07:04] - The Role of the High Priest
- [10:38] - 2 Corinthians 5:21
- [12:26] - Substitutionary Atonement
- [14:29] - The Profound Message of Reconciliation
- [17:20] - The Sinlessness of Christ
- [22:07] - The Father’s Role in Atonement
- [23:59] - The Mystery of Being Made Sin
- [27:52] - Covenant Headship of Christ
- [30:38] - The Divine Exchange
- [38:54] - Entering Christ’s Righteousness
- [42:25] - A Response of Thanksgiving

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Leviticus 16:1-22
- 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

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Observation Questions:

1. What specific role does the sinlessness of Christ play in His ability to be our substitute according to the sermon? [18:19]

2. How does the imagery of the scapegoat in Leviticus 16 prefigure the atoning work of Christ as described in the sermon? [24:56]

3. What does the sermon say about the nature of the divine exchange that occurs through Christ's atonement? [30:38]

4. According to the sermon, how do we enter into the righteousness of God? [38:54]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. Why is it significant that God made His sinless Son to be sin for us, and how does this act defy human comprehension? [23:59]

2. How does the concept of double imputation deepen our understanding of justification and reconciliation with God? [12:26]

3. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between God's love and the necessity of propitiation for sin? [23:00]

4. How does the sermon explain the willingness of Christ to bear the wrath and judgment for our sins? [29:42]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on the sinlessness of Christ. How does this truth impact your understanding of His role as your substitute? How can this understanding influence your daily walk with God? [18:19]

2. The sermon emphasizes the mystery of substitution. How can you cultivate a deeper appreciation for this mystery in your personal worship and prayer life? [23:59]

3. Consider the divine exchange where our sins are imputed to Christ, and His righteousness is imputed to us. How does this exchange affect your view of yourself and your identity in Christ? [30:38]

4. The sermon calls for a response of unceasing praise and thanksgiving. What are some practical ways you can incorporate gratitude into your daily routine to reflect the depth of God's love and Christ's sacrifice? [42:25]

5. How can you strengthen your faith, whether strong or weak, to ensure it is wholly directed to Christ? What steps can you take this week to focus more on Christ's sufficiency? [38:54]

6. The sermon discusses the concept of being reconciled to God. How can you actively pursue reconciliation in your relationships with others, reflecting the reconciliation you have received from God? [15:18]

7. In what ways can you share the message of reconciliation and the gospel of grace with those around you? Identify one person you can reach out to this week. [11:28]

Devotional

Day 1: The Unique Sinlessness of Christ
The sinlessness of Christ is foundational to His role as our substitute. Jesus, being without sin, was uniquely qualified to bear the punishment for our sins. This truth is affirmed throughout Scripture, highlighting that Jesus was the only one capable of fulfilling the law perfectly and thus able to stand in our place. His perfect obedience to God's law set Him apart as the only suitable sacrifice for humanity's sins. This profound truth invites us to reflect on the depth of Christ's love and His willingness to take on our punishment. [18:19]

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you strive to emulate Christ's obedience in your daily life, even when faced with temptation?


Day 2: The Profound Mystery of Substitution
The mystery of substitution is a profound truth that defies full human comprehension. God made His sinless Son to be sin for us, not as a legal fiction but as a righteous substitution. Christ willingly bore the wrath and judgment our sins deserved, taking upon Himself the liabilities of our sin. This act of divine love and justice is beautifully illustrated in the imagery from Leviticus 16, where the scapegoat and the sin offering prefigure Christ's atoning work. It is a mystery that invites us to marvel at the depth of God's love and the magnitude of Christ's sacrifice. [23:59]

"Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53:4-5, ESV)

Reflection: How does understanding the mystery of substitution deepen your appreciation for Christ's sacrifice, and how can you express this gratitude in your daily actions?


Day 3: The Divine Exchange of Righteousness
The divine exchange is the heart of the gospel, where our sins are imputed to Christ, and His righteousness is imputed to us. This exchange reconciles us to God, not by our merit but through the righteousness of Christ. It is a staggering thought that God looks upon us with the same approbation as He does His Son because we are clothed in Christ's righteousness. This truth is the essence of our justification and invites us to live in the freedom and joy of being reconciled to God. [30:38]

"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to accept the righteousness of Christ as your own, and how can you begin to embrace this truth more fully today?


Day 4: Entering into Christ's Righteousness by Faith
We enter into the righteousness of God by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. This faith, whether strong or weak, if directed wholly to Christ, brings us into the righteousness of God. It is not by our works or efforts but by trusting in the finished work of Christ that we are justified. This truth calls us to a life of faith, continually relying on Christ's righteousness rather than our own. [38:54]

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper trust in Christ's righteousness today, especially in moments when you feel inadequate or unworthy?


Day 5: A Life of Thanksgiving and Praise
Our response to the grace of God in Christ should be one of unceasing praise and thanksgiving. Recognizing the depth of God's love and the magnitude of Christ's sacrifice should lead us to live lives marked by gratitude and worship. This response is not just an emotional reaction but a daily commitment to honor God with our lives, acknowledging His grace in every aspect of our being. [42:25]

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, ESV)

Reflection: What are three specific things you can thank God for today, and how can you incorporate a habit of thanksgiving into your daily routine?

Quotes


The death of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ -- His sin-bearing, sin-atoning, wrath-quenching, God-glorifying, sinner-saving death -- is the central, foundational and climactic glory of the Christian faith. Paul was not only speaking for himself in Galatians 6 when he wrote, "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." [00:03:00]

Because, you see, the cross of Christ is not simply a truth we confess; it is a truth we glory in. It is our only boast in this life and in the life which is to come. As Steve was speaking to us a little earlier, I was thinking of that great verse in one of Horatius Bonar's hymns, when he wrote: "Upon a life I did not live Upon a death I did not die; another's life, another's death I stake my whole eternity." [00:03:41]

"For our sake he" -- that is, the Father -- "made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." I'd like to ask four questions of this 21st verse. Number one: why does Paul mention Jesus' sinlessness? Number two: how could God justly make His sinless Son to be sin for us? Number three: why did God make His sinless Son to be sin for us? And finally: how do we get into Christ that we might thereby "become the righteousness of God"? [00:13:06]

In this 21st verse, Paul is completing the message which with which the Christian ambassador has been entrusted. He has written, in verse 20, "We are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God." "Be reconciled to God." Now, if Paul had stopped there, he would've been announcing the ultimate counsel of despair. [00:15:01]

But Paul does not stop at the end of verse 20, does he? "For our sake" -- and here, he is completing the message of reconciliation that the Christian ambassador has been commissioned to proclaim -- "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." This verse answers the question of all questions, does it not? [00:16:27]

It's striking, more in the Greek text than in the English text, that Paul begins actually with establishing and affirming the sinlessness of Christ. "Him who knew no sin" is how the Greek text begins in this 21st verse. And this, of course, is a truth that the New Testament is at pains, again, and again, and again, to affirm to us. [00:18:19]

And then, secondly, Paul goes on to tell us that He made Him to be sin for us. That He -- who is this "He"? It is God the Father. It is the heavenly Father who made His own Son sin for us. Maybe you know these words of Octavius Winslow: "Who delivered up Jesus to die? Not Pilate for fear, not Judas for money, not the Jews for envy, but the Father for love." [00:21:07]

Now what does this actually mean? Well, I'm not sure. I've read many books on this, reflected on many commentaries. I'm not sure anyone really knows. There is language we can use, but what infinities, and depths, and unfathomablenesses there are in these words. We know what it does not mean. It does not mean that God made Christ a sinner. [00:23:59]

And perhaps something even more glorious than that is that, even as the Lord Jesus Christ finds the shadow of the cross beginning to penetrate His human soul as He makes His way to Calvary, and as He finds Himself in Gethsemane with the unimaginable horror of what yet lies before Him beginning to penetrate into the utmost depths of His human soul, He is nonetheless saying, "Not my will but yours be done." [00:28:52]

And if we were then to ask the question, thirdly, but why? Why did the Father make His own Son to be sin? The apostle tells us, "So that" -- a clause of glorious consequence -- "so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." Paul is describing here the sinner's justification. How can we ever be acceptable to God? How can we ever be reconciled to God? [00:30:38]

And the scandal of the gospel is this: by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. In no other way, by self-abandoning, self-denying casting of all that we are on the grace and sufficiency of all that Jesus Christ is, other refuge have we none, hangs our helpless souls on thee. By faith alone. What a glorious thing that is. [00:38:54]

Unceasing praise and thanksgiving should be our great, great response to what God has done for us in His Son in making Him who had no sin to be sin for us. I heard Sinclair Ferguson say this once: that "even as the Father was executing on His Son His righteous wrath that we deserved, even as the Father was pouring the eternal vials of His just judgment on His Son, He was surely singing, 'If ever I loved thee, my Jesus 'tis now.'" [00:42:25]

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Transcript
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