Jesus Christ died as the substitute for sinful humanity, taking humanity's place on the cross.
OT images of substitution
Examples of substitution
Genesis 22:13 See also Numbers 3:12–13, Numbers 3:41, Numbers 3:45, Numbers 8:18; 1 Samuel 17:9; 1 Kings 20:42; Lamentations 5:7; Ezekiel 4:4
Then Abraham looked up and saw behind him a ram in a thicket, caught by its horns. So he went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son.
Substitutes atoning for sin or acting as sin bearers
Leviticus 1:4 See also Exodus 28:38; Leviticus 16:21–22, Leviticus 22:19–20
He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, so it can be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.
Anticipations of the substitutionary work of Jesus Christ
Isaiah 53:4–6 NT writers have interpreted the servant as Jesus Christ: see Matthew 8:17 and 1 Peter 2:23–25. See also Psalm 69:9
Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.
The substitutionary work of Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ died for believers
Mark 10:45; Romans 5:6, Romans 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:10 See also John 10:11, John 11:50; Romans 14:15; 2 Corinthians 5:14; Galatians 2:20, Galatians 3:13; 1 Timothy 2:6; Titus 2:14; Hebrews 2:9; 1 Peter 2:21; 1 John 3:16
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
For at just the right time, while we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.
Jesus Christ died for sin
1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 3:18 See also 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 9:28
He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.”
For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit,
Jesus Christ's substitution as an example
2 Corinthians 5:15 See also 1 Peter 2:21
And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again.
Jesus Christ's substitution as an act of love
John 15:13 See also Exodus 32:32; Romans 9:3
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.