SATISFACTION (Hebrews 2:14-18)

"Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people." (Heb. 2:17)

Bruce Milne wrote:

“The Bible teaches that the heart of Christ’s work consists in his having on our behalf and in our place borne the punishment due to us on account of our sin and brought us pardon and reconciliation with God in righteousness. This is often referred to as ‘penal substitution’ and has been the centre of evangelical teaching and preaching on the atonement since the Reformation.” (Know the Truth, 155)

Jesus satisfied the demands of justice against us because, in his humanity, he died, and because in his sinless divinity, he didn’t need to. And so God’s great work of salvation could be accomplished. Justice would be done. Humanity would pay for its sins in the person of Jesus, who himself was without sin, so that all those who would be united with Christ, could be declared righteous in him and, therefore, be saved from the death we deserve.

You know, some people when we talk about sin and death and how the whole human race was corrupted by the sin of the one man…Adam, sometimes people are prone to ask the question, “Why should I have to pay for someone else’s sin?” because they sense some injustice in the idea that they should die because of Adam’s sin. But I think the real question should be, “Why should someone else have to pay for my sin?” because that’s the more amazing thought, and that’s just what Jesus has done. In his humanity, Jesus suffered the penalty of sin. In his divinity, Jesus has made possible for you and I to receive the benefit of his suffering. Jesus has paid for my sin and yours. Jesus has satisfied the justice of God so that you and I could be saved.

Brothers and sisters, human beings are sinners, one and all…“for all have sinned” (Romans 5:12), and sin’s just penalty is death, but the justice of God is satisfied in Jesus Christ. The penalty has been paid in full for all those who are in Christ Jesus.

Jesus became sin so that we would become righteous.
Jesus died so that we would live.
Jesus satisfied the justice of God so that we would be saved.