"And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor" (Ephesians 5:2).

The Christian doctrine of the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ is widely rejected by religious liberals. Nevertheless, it is central to true Christianity. If Christ did not die for our sins, and rise again, then we are "yet in |our| sins" (I Corinthians 15:17) and there is no hope of resurrection and eternal life.

The New Testament, therefore, contains many references to this key doctrine. One such section is in the Book of Hebrews, showing that the old animal sacrifices were only types and have now been put away. "We see Jesus . . . that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man." "Now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself." "This man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God" (Hebrews 2:9; 9:26; 10:12). There are similar references in almost all of the books of the New Testament.

Yet, probably the single chapter with the greatest number of references to the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ is in the Old Testament. Note the following excerpts from the magnificent 53rd chapter of Isaiah.

"Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: . . . But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. . . . and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. . . . for the transgression of my people was He stricken. . . . when thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin. . . . for He shall bear their iniquities. . . . He was numbered with the transgressors; and He bare the sin of many" (Isaiah 53:4-6,8,10-12). Jesus Christ: our Substitute, our Sacrifice, our Savior! HMM