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Course Overview & Agenda
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Course Title:  "Great Words of the Gospel - Substitution"

​Course Description:  A Bible college level discussion of the life-changing meaning and practical application of the biblical teaching of the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, in our place and on our behalf. 
 
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1. Whenever you are ready, you will begin this class by reading the notes and Bible passages provided below. Note: This is a self-paced class designed to last approximately 25-35 minutes, but feel free to take as much time as you need. 
2. Once you have read through the notes and passages, you will have the option of listening to an online audio session that is directly related to the content covered. Note: This optional audio sessions is approximately 43 minutes long and is intended to supplement the content of the primary lesson. You are not required to listen to the audio session (we are aware that you may have data constraints or limited access to a dependable wi-fi signal). 
3. Next you will be given the opportunity to answer a few practice questions. Note: These practice questions are meant to help you get ready to take an online quiz which will be used for course credit.

4. After you finish the practice questions and check your answers (using the provided answer key), you will be ready to take the online quiz for course credit. Note: Once you submit your completed quiz, we will check your answers and let you know how well you did (if any of your answers are incorrect, we will give you the opportunity to review the session material and, if necessary, you will have the option to retake the quiz).
5.
Once we determine that you have successfully completed the quiz, we will send you a free personalized training certificate (in the form of a digital file) verifying that you have successfully completed this course. Note: You will be able to download and/or print this certificate for display.
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Objectives
​Session #1

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 At the end of this session, you will demonstrate that you have attained a clear understanding of the meaning and implications of the biblical concept of substitution, by successfully completing a short online quiz with a total score of 90% or higher. ​

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"Substitution"


​I. Introduction

​​​Although the word "substitution" does not appear in most translations of the Bible, it is a most appropriate and wonderful word for describing one of the most important (although, little known) truths in all of the Scriptures. When properly understood, the teaching of the substitutionary nature of Jesus Christ's death on the cross, has eternal significance and value, and captures the heart of the one who embraces it.
Definition
a substitute (sub·​sti·​tute):
someone who takes the place of another; a replacement

​​II. Substitution & The Gospel

On the cross, Jesus Christ became our substitute, taking upon Himself the full weight of all of our sins and suffering the full punishment for every one of these sins in our place (the punishment that we rightfully deserved). He did this as an act of infinite kindness and love, so that we would never have to suffer eternal punishment and separation from God ourselves. As a result, anyone who trusts only in Him and His finished sacrifice on the cross on their behalf, receives complete forgiveness for all of their sins (past, present and future) and a home with God in heaven for all eternity. All of this is the undeserved free gift of God, provided without cost (without any merit, sacrifice or devotion of our own) to those who simply put their faith alone in Jesus Christ alone.
Helpful Insights
In the Bible, the word "faith" means to believe in (or trust in), someone other than yourself.
The words "faith" and "believe" are synonyms (they mean the same thing).
To have faith in or to believe in Jesus Christ (your substitute) means that you are trusting in, and relying on, Him alone for forgiveness of sins and eternal life, totally apart from anything you do yourself.

​​III. Key Verses About Substitution

"He was delivered over to death for our sins and raised again to life for our justification [those of us who believe only in Him, are forgiven and declared perfectly righteous in God's sight forever]." (Romans 4:25 expanded paraphrase). 

"God made Jesus Christ who had no sin of His own, to become a sin offering and sacrifice for us. He did this, so that we would become the righteousness of God in Christ." (2 Corinthians 5:21 paraphrase). 

"Christ also has loved us and has given Himself up for us, as an offering and sacrifice to God."
(Ephesians 5:2b paraphrase)

"For there is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus who gave Himself a ransom and payment for all men [for all of us!]." (1 Timothy 2:5 paraphrase).


​​​"Jesus Christ personally took upon Himself our sins in his own body on the cross, so that we would become dead to sin and alive to righteousness. By his wounds [suffered on the cross] you are healed [you are made whole spiritually, forever!]."
(1 Peter 2:24a paraphrase)

"Christ has suffered for sins, once and for all. He - the Righteous One, suffered and died for us - the unrighteous ones. He did this in order to bring us to God. He was put to death in the body and made alive by the Spirit 
[when He was resurrected from the dead] " (1 Peter 3:18 paraphrase)


​IV. Substitution Clarified

​Substitution is a work of God, accomplished for us through the death of Christ on the cross. This means that it is not something that we do, but something that has already been done for us in the past. This is true because Jesus paid the full and final price for our sins when He sacrificed Himself, in our place and on our behalf.

It is essential that we understand that we can never be made right with God by trying to keep the 10 Commandments or trying to live a good life. We can never be made right with God by joining a church, giving money, or getting baptized. We can never be made right with God by making a promise to give up sin or by making a commitment to live for Him. Nor are we made right with God by repeating a prayer or by going forward in a revival or evangelistic meeting.
 
We are only made right with God through faith in the finished work of what Christ has already accomplished for us by His death on the cross.

"To the one who does not work for their justification, but trusts in God who justifies the ungodly and the wicked, their faith in Jesus Christ alone is credited to them as righteousness by God. (Romans 4:5 paraphrase).

"For by God's undeserved and unearned grace and kindness, you have been saved through faith only, and this is not at all of yourselves. It is the free gift of God and not the result of any of your own effort or good works." (Ephesians 2:8&9 paraphrase).

"God does not save any of us on the basis of the so called 'good' or 'righteousness' things that we have done [the truth is, we have nothing good to offer God at all]. No. He saves us from our sin and its penalty, only on the basis of His undeserved mercy and compassion...so that by His free grace, we can have the sure and confident expectation of inheriting eternal life, without any doubt or uncertainty." (Titus 3:4-7 paraphrase). 


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V. Substitution Personalized 
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​Are you trusting, with simple childlike faith, in Jesus Christ alone for your salvation? If so, all of the benefits of His substutionary sacrifice (described above) are yours right now!

"
All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.
" (2 Corinthians 5:18&19 - New International Version). 

​"Happy is the one to whom God freely credits righteousness (the righteousness of Christ), totally apart from their own works or merit...Happy are those whose sins and transgressions have been completely covered up and forgiven...Happy is the man or woman whose sins the Lord will never hold against them." (Romans 4:6-8 paraphrase) 

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"Surely He [Christ] took upon Himself our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we realized that He was stricken by God, smitten by God and afflicted. He was pierced [nailed to the cross] for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities and sins; the punishment that brought us peace with God was upon him, and by his wounds [suffered on our behalf] we are healed. Just like lost sheep, we have gone astray and each of us has turned away from God to our own selfish ways; but the Lord has laid on Him [Christ] the iniquity of us all...For He was cut off from the place of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken, smitten and punished [by God the Father]. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deception in anything He ever said or did [he was, in fact, perfect righteous, faultless and sinless]. Yet it was the Lord 's will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer [in our place, on our behalf, for our sins]...the Lord made His life a guilt offering and sacrifice for sin...by the knowledge of Him, my righteous servant [Jesus Christ] will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities...Because He poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors [He was identified with sinners like us]. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." (Isaiah 53:6-12 paraphrase)
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VI. Substitution & Redemption
(Audio Session Taught by Dr. John Clark) 

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Note: This section is optional and not required.

This section consists of an audio file (MP3) that is approximately 43 minutes long. If you have access to wi-fi, or if you have sufficient data, you can listen to it live or download it to a phone or a computer at any time. If you do not have access to wi-fi or sufficient data, you are not required to listen to this audio teaching session. Either way, feel free to bypass the audio teaching and go directly to the "Practice Quiz" section below. Note: We highly recommend that you listen to this teaching, if and when you able.
Summary
Substitution:
1. On the cross, Jesus became your personal substitute.
2. He took upon Himself every sin that you have ever committed or ever will commit.
3. He suffered the full penalty of God's judgment and wrath that you rightfully deserved.
3. Through His death and resurrection on your behalf, He removed all of your sin, shame and guilt forever.
4. The moment you trust in Him alone, with simple childlike faith, you receive full forgiveness for sins and everlasting (never-ending) life with Him in heaven.
5. Those who put their faith in Jesus Christ are declared 'perfectly righteous forever' by God Himself, solely on the basis of Christ's substitutionary sacrifice.
6. All of this is the work of God for you and has nothing to do with anything you do for God. It is the free gift of His undeserved kindness and grace, received through simple faith in Jesus Christ alone.
Practice Questions
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Note: Feel Free to write down you answers on a sheet of paper or note pad. 

1:  Substitution is a work of God for man, not a work of man for God.  (True of False)
 

2. On the cross, Jesus took our place, and died for our sins, bearing in Himself the full punishment for our sins.  (True or False)

3. A substitute takes the place of (replaces) another.  (True or False)

4. Jesus did not do enough on the cross to save us and make us righteous in God's sight. Therefore, in order for us to be forgiven of our sins and go to heaven when we die, we must stop sinning, give up our bad habits, obey the 10 Commandments, and regularly give money to the church.  (True or False) 

5. Because, Jesus became our substitute, taking our place on the cross and being punished for all of our sins, if we put our faith in Him alone...
a) We will receive forgiveness for all of our sins forever.
b) God will never hold any of our sins against us.
c) God will declare that we are perfectly righteous in His sight. 
d)  We will go to heaven when we die.
e) We will spend eternity with God forever.
f) All of the above.

​g) None of the above.


6. We are made right with God by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone, and not by our own efforts, devotion or good works. (True or False) 
Practice Questions
Answer Key

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1. True.    2. True.    3. True.    4. False.    5. f) All of the above.   6. True 

​Whenever you are ready to take the online quiz for course credit, click the button below.
Take the Quiz
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