The modern view of the death of Jesus is that He died for our sins out of sympathy for us. Yet the New Testament view is that He took our sin on Himself not because of sympathy, but because of His identification with us. He was “made. . . to be sin. . . .” Our sins are removed because of the death of Jesus, and the only explanation for His death is His obedience to His Father, not His sympathy for us. We are acceptable to God not because we have obeyed, nor because we have promised to give up things, but because of the death of Christ, and for no other reason. We say that Jesus Christ came to reveal the fatherhood and the lovingkindness of God, but the New Testament says that He came to take “away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). And the revealing of the fatherhood of God is only to those to whom Jesus has been introduced as Savior. In speaking to the world, Jesus Christ never referred to Himself as One who revealed the Father, but He spoke instead of being a stumbling block (see John 15:22-24). John 14:9  , where Jesus said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father,” was spoken to His disciples.That Christ died for me, and therefore I am completely free from penalty, is never taught in the New Testament. What is taught in the New Testament is that “He died for all” (2 Corinthians 5:15)— not, “He died my death”— and that through identification with His death I can be freed from sin, and have His very righteousness imparted as a gift to me. The substitution which is taught in the New Testament is twofold— “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” The teaching is not Christ for me unless I am determined to have Christ formed in me (see Galatians 4:19).

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October 29 2014

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Good morning God and thank you for reminding me that because of your substitution for me You now live inside of me. Thank You for the ongoing reassurance that takes place between You and Your Spirit living inside of me, regardless of my circumstances or performance.

And God says…”Jesus was and is your substitute. He is the one I see living inside of you every day, every minute, and because of His substitution I can love you unconditionally, while offering grace and mercy to you every minute of every day as well. Trust in Me with all your heart and do not rely on your own intellect, understanding, or good works, and I will make your paths straight. And when in your weakness you are unable to rely on me and surrender your notions of what this life is or should be for you, trust that the substitution of Jesus also allows for the grace, mercy and love to fill your gaps. You do not have to be “good enough or righteous enough.” Jesus provided all the love, grace and mercy you will ever require. Just agree with Me, connect with Jesus, and surrender your day.”