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False Allegations about Substitution and Christ’s Mission

False Allegations about Substitution and Christ’s Mission

Recently, I have noted, from online forums and emails, a resurgence in the number of people who misunderstand what our ministry teaches. It appears these misunderstandings arise out of false assumptions. For instance, if we say we don’t believe in “penal substitution,” then some individuals allege we don’t believe in the substitutionary nature of Christ’s death, which of course is not true.

This appears to happen because the people who make such allegations seem to consider “penal substitution” the only possible way for Christ to be our substitute. So, I thought I would provide this blog, which may be of benefit to many of you, our readers, if you find yourself confronted with similar concerns.

  • Denying Penal Substitution does NOT mean denying the substitutionary nature of Christ’s death.
  • Denying God punished Jesus at the cross does NOT mean Jesus avoided God’s wrath.
  • Denying God placed every sin ever committed upon Jesus does NOT mean Jesus did not become sin for us. He did!
  • Denying Christ paid a legal penalty does NOT mean Christ did not pay an infinite price. He did!

 

The key difference is how one understands God’s law. Individuals who make allegations like those cited above tend to see God’s law as “imposed,” like human law; rules dictated without inherent consequence, which requires the ruling authority to police breeches in the law and punish the guilty.

But, when we come back to the call of the first angel of Revelation 14 and worship “him who made the heavens, earth, and seas…”; when we come back to worship the Designer and reject the dictator view of God, everything changes.

God’s law is NOT like a Roman emperor. God is Creator, Builder, Designer, and His law is the law upon which life is constructed to operate, on all levels, physical, relational, and moral. Deviate from this design and one takes oneself out of harmony with how the Designer constructed life to exist, and if God does nothing, then death ensues.

Thus, once Adam sinned, mankind was deviant from God’s design, “dead in trespass and sin,” and in a terminal condition. (Eph 2:1) If the Designer didn’t intervene humankind would have died from sin. “Sin when full grown brings forth death.” (James 1:15) It is as simple as that.

Jesus, then, becomes our substitute by taking our condition upon Himself in order to heal and cure the condition. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2Cor 5:21) It is by his wounds, his sacrifice, that “we are healed.” (Isa 53:5)

Thus, when we understand God’s law, His design for life, the law of love, we recognize our sinfulness, our sinful state, and see that our deviant condition is out of harmony with how He built life to operate. Further, we recognize Christ took up this “terminal” condition and He fixed what Adam’s sin did to humanity.

Jesus destroyed the infection of fear and selfishness and established God’s perfect law of love within the humanity He assumed. In other words, He became sin, suffered the horrible pain this condition brings, and yet through the ordeal He loved perfectly, thereby purifying and perfecting the humanity He assumed. In other words, He did not have individual acts placed upon Him that were then individually punished by some external cosmic authority.

But, if one accepts the lie of the little horn, the change to God’s law, that God’s law is like manmade law, imposed without inherent consequence, one falsely believes that deviation from God’s design requires the lawgiver to impose punishment. Therefore, one falsely believes that the nature of Jesus’ substitutionary death was not for healing, but to pay an imposed legal penalty. Further, one falsely believes God actually used His power to execute Jesus on the cross, punishing Him for each individual act of sin ever committed. Isaiah prophesied we would misunderstand God’s actions when he said, “Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.” (Isa 53:4)

Note, Jesus took up our “infirmities” (our sick state) in order to heal and cure; yet we would misunderstand and think God was striking (punishing) Him. Those who promote penal substitution promulgate this lie, that God, in order to be just had to strike Jesus.

Yes, Jesus did experience God’s wrath upon sin! That is, God abandoned Jesus to experience what Jesus had chosen to do, to go through the cross and die as our substitute. Note what Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me.” (MT 27:46) Not, “Why are you torturing me? Why are you executing me?” Jesus didn’t avoid the wrath of God, which is God’s letting go to reap what one has chosen. (See Romans 1:18-31) Yet, in His wrath, God never laid a hand upon His Son. His hands of protection were REMOVED from Christ and Jesus experienced death at the hands of man.

Because God’s law is the design template upon which life is constructed and because humankind, after Adam, was deviant from this design and in a terminal condition, humanity became incapable of remedying this situation (in other words, we could not put ourselves back into harmony with God’s design). Therfore, God sent His Son to do this work for us. This would cost the Godhead more than we will ever know, but it was not a legal price paid to the heavenly treasurer. It was the price necessary by our condition to free us from Satan’s lies and our own carnal nature.

An analogy would be the high price someone pays when they donate a kidney to a loved one dying of renal failure. Yes, the person who donates a kidney pays a price, but it is not a legal price. Likewise, our situation, our condition, required fixing; the only way to do that was by the exercise of perfect character of love within a real human brain. Jesus became human to do this for us, and it cost Him beyond measure. Infinite Christ, God, is now and forever confined to a finite perfect human brain living within a finite human body.

So, the next time someone suggests we don’t believe in the substitutionary nature of Christ’s death, feel confident in your answer. Christ is our substitute in fixing what Adam’s sin did to humanity, restoring God’s law of love back into humanity, and thereby procuring the Remedy which heals all who trust Him, recreating within each of us a new heart and right spirit, so that it is no longer I that live but Christ lives in me. Through Christ, we become partakers of the divine nature and reconciled into unity with God. (Ezek 36:26, Gal 2:20, 2Pet 1:4)

 

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Just watched watched lesson 10 in the 1st quarter 2021 bible study classs on Isaiah. I want to thank you for your intellectual spirituality; it’s not an oxymoron! From the point of view of a teacher I also enjoy seeing how much personal pleasure you clearly take in not just tasting, but feasting on God’s word – it reminds me of Jeremiah not being able to hold it in! It makes me smile that your cup is so full and overflowing that you make it to Tuesday’s lesson (on a good day). It just goes to show the richness of God’s Word.

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God lead me to your book “The God-Shaped Brain” while I was searching for another book about the brain and then to your interview about your book on HeartWise Ministries [where] I found out about [Come And Reason Ministries]. I’m now devouring the webcasts of your Bible studies. I have been so greatly blessed and I thank God so much for your courage to speak the Truth in love no matter what. Listening to you contrast the two opposing systems (laws) and digging deep to unearth the hidden treasures in the Bible makes me so incredibly happy and I feel very blessed to be part of your Bible Study Group although I live far away. I am just so excited that there is a group of people that is spreading the Truth about the character of God and it saddens me how few realize what our Father in Heaven is really like.

Kessy B., Australia

 

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Two years ago I stumbled upon your book, “Could It Be This Simple,” and then found “The God-Shaped Brain” videos on YouTube, your bible study class, and the ‘Come And Reason’ mobile app. I shared your book with a friend and after nine months of showing love, patience, and kindness this person has been changed by the love of God, too. The same love that healed me, I now express to other women in tangible ways, such as to a Baptist woman with high anxiety and childhood trauma. She was extremely happy and relieved when I shared about the so-called “judgment of God” and burning in hell. She had no desire to serve a God that was so harsh. I have repeated the phrase dozens of times to her. “What we believe has power over us, but we have power over what we believe…”

This message that you are sharing has changed my life. I will continue to serve other women and bring this message of God’s healing love to their lives by sharing your books, YouTube videos, and The Remedy Bible app. Keep up the good work. Don’t be discouraged. God is doing a mighty work in and through this ministry!

Jill L., Midwest, USA

 

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We listen to your bible studies lessons in our class in Montana. You actually were the main reason I decided to get a laptop, so I can go to your site and listen, read, learn, and print the class notes. I am so grateful to learn the correct view of God and his character. Now, to just have others have an interest in knowing, so I can share it with them. Good thoughts your way.

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Testimony 67

I was introduced to Come And Reason by a friend of my mother-in-law, who gave me several CD’s of Dr. Jennings. The clarity of the message and recognition that God’s is a God of love was so clear, advancing beyond Dr. Maxwell’s message. However, grappled with Maxwell saying God used emergency measures for the fallen world. Now after several years of being a regular listener of the Come And Reasoning bible study class and attending Jennings’ meetings in Dallas/Fort Worth, TX, things are becoming clearer for me. Design law versus imposed law has added so much to my personal understanding of theology. This message has really impacted my work in counseling so many people miserable because they are searching for and trusting human governments to create order and peace or believing in a God who says love Me or I will kill you. I am grateful that I have an alternative view to offer my clients that makes sense. I teach a bible study class on a semi-regular basis and I value the materials that Come And Reason so freely offers to aid me in presenting this vital message. Thank you for continuing to provide advancement in our very limited understanding of a Infinite God that is rational and believable.

Dr. Roger D, Arlington, TX, USA

 

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Testimony 69

After reading your book, ‘Could It Be This Simple,’ someone was explaining Christianity in a way that made sense to me for the first time in my life. One morning, I simply prayed “I’m sorry and I love you.” As soon as I silently said that, I could literally feel God’s presence and light flood down on me from above and fill me up with love and joy. I sat there crying my eyes out, because I was so overpowered with this feeling of love and joy. It was just so incredible. I hope that more people can read this book and get a blessing from it. It’s really amazing.

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Testimony 64

I’ve been reading the bible and walking with Jesus since I was around 16. I’m 42 now. I’ve mostly been alone in my walk although I went to several churches in different denominations. For the past 3 years God has been showing me His character of agape. It’s been a blessing and changed how I view God and my walk with Jesus. About a year ago I came across the power of love and the principles of design law. These teachings changed how I read scripture and have been such a beautiful blessing. I’m very excited and grateful for these truths. We share these truths of agape, design law and the reality of the principles of the two trees in the garden of Eden with people on Facebook and YouTube. People all over are learning to trust God and His agape design law which makes life possible. Thank you for everything you shared with me. May God continue to bless your ministry and lives.

Bradley M., Hinsdale, NY, USA

 

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Testimony 70

I have been watching you for many years and have learned to love God with all my heart. I was raised by a loving Christian mother that had been lied to about who God really was, so our religious upbringing was hell fire and damnation. As soon as I was old enough and moved out, I not only left the church, I ran as fast as I could to get away from it. Sad to say, it wasn’t until the past couple of years that I learned and understand who my Father really is and how much He loves me. I understand God’s Design Laws (which make sense) and when I’m teaching my church Bible study class, I’m able to really put to use the things I’ve been learning and Holy Spirit is leading. Thank you for introducing me to my Father of true, pure love. Everyday with Him is new and exciting. One thing that breaks my heart is that I didn’t know Him sooner. God Bless you and your ministry!

Judy Phelps, Reno, NV, USA

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I’m a native Ghanan, but am currently in France for my master’s degree. Prior to this, during my final years at undergraduate studies in Ghana, I was introduced to your ministry and I’ve been immensely blessed by what you share, especially about the Design and Imposed Laws. God richly bless you for that.

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Michael A., Ghana

 

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K.B., LA, USA

 

Testimony 58

I have been watching your videos in The Power of Love seminar and I must say these have liberated me and have improved my relationship with the Lord. I am no longer terrified of him as I was before following your teachings.

Thando N., South Africa