THE VICARIOUS ATONEMENT " For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die." -- Tomorrow:
"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be save from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement." (Romans 5:6-11)
DYING FOR ANOTHER IS SCARCE
Here a strong appeal is made to our hearts. This is more than passing along information. It helps us to gain a perspective of the remarkable revelation of God and Christ that are found in Jesus' death. It is exceedingly rare for anyone to die for another – for any reason.
With great power the Spirit will show us the love of God far surpasses any known to mankind. It has no equal or parallel among the sons of men. His love is not distinguished by a certain Greek word, as some incorrectly affirm. Perhaps you have heard some sophist refer to God's love as the "agape" kind of love. This is NOT a true saying. Some examples will confirm what I have said.
SOME USES OF AGAPE
One of the Greek words used for "love" is agape. It reflects the idea of deep interest and concern, choice and devotion to. Its use, however, is not limited to Divine expression. In the sermon on the mount Jesus said, "For if ye LOVE them which LOVE you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?" (Matt 5:46). Both references to "love" come from "agape." Scripture speaks of those who "l LOVED the praise of men more than the praise of God" (John 12:43). The word used there is "agape." Jesus once upbraided the Pharisees because they LOVED "the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets" (Lk 11:43). Again, the word used is "agape."
SOME USES OF PHILEO.
Another Greek word for "love" is "phileo." This word indicates a love that is emotional, where the feeling of affection is found. Although generally applied to the love of men, its use is not confined to that. Jesus said of His Father, "For the Father LOVETH the Son, and showeth Him all things that Himself doeth: and He will show him greater works than these, that ye may marvel" (John 5:20). The word used here is "phileo." During His last evening with the disciples, Jesus said, "For the Father himself LOVETH you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God" (John 16:27). Again, the word "phileo" is used of God's love.
The rich love of God and Christ cannot be fully appreciated from a linguistic point of view. Language itself breaks down when speaking of Divine qualities. We will find that the love evidenced in Christ's substitutionary death confirms this to be the case.
NOT TOTALLY STRANGE
It is not that one person dying for others is totally strange. Corrupt Caiaphas, the high priest who headed up the illegal proceedings of Christ's death, spoke of one dying for many. He reasoned, "it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not" (John 11:50). He was not thinking of redemption from sin, but of appeasing the Roman government so the nation of Israel could be spared. Yet, God had put this word in his mouth for succeeding generations – to see the truth of a vicarious atonement. Of Caiaphas' words the Spirit says, "And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; and not for that nation only, but that also He should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad" (John 11:51-52).
Once the impeccable holiness of Jesus is acknowledged, and His total separate from sin perceived, it becomes obvious that His death was because of someone else. The Law could not condemn Him, for He "did no sin, neither was any guile found in His mouth" (1 Pet 2:22). The wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23), and where sin is not found, there can be no death. Therefore, if Jesus died – and He surely did – He died because of the sin of someone other than Himself. His death was vicarious, or substitutionary. It is on the part of wisdom for you to be thankful for His marvelous death, for you are among the "ungodly" for whom, and because of whom, He died!
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You that Christ died an undeserved death that I might receive undeserved life.