As Wayne Grudem points in his Systematic Theology, there are two distinct but equally important aspects of Christ’s work: “(1) Christ’s obedience for us, in which he obeyed the requirements of the law in our place and was perfectly obedient to the will of God the Father as our representative, and (2) Christ’s suffering for us, in which he took the penalty due for our sins and as a result died for our sins.” The clearest Biblical assertion of this fact is in 2 Cor. 5:21, which reads ”For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (Cf. Phi. 3:9; 1 Cor. 1:30; and Rom. 5:19).
Think about it. Those of us loyal to Jesus will pay no penalty and will be judged by his life instead of ours. Awesome! The latter concept is known as “imputed righteousness.” In other words, Jesus gives us or “imputes” his right standing before God the Father to us.
But what about the assertion that Jesus bears the penalty for our sins? More on that later…probably Friday. Hey, I’m busy!
Until then, Grace and Peace.
