CALVIN – THE INSTITUTES
"In order to remove our condemnation, it was not enough for Christ to endure just any kind of death. To obtain our ransom, it was essential to choose a type of death in which He could deliver us, both by undertaking our expiation and also by giving Himself up to condemnation.”
THE LAW, NOT LAWLESSNESS, HAD JESUS EXECUTED
“If Christ had been cut down by assassins or killed in a rebellion, there could have been no satisfaction. But when He stands as a criminal at the bar of justice and witnesses are brought to give evidence against Him, and the judge condemns Him to death, we see Him taking on the character of an offender. When Christ was led away from the judgment seat to execution and was crucified between two criminals, we have a fulfillment of the prophecy. He was numbered with the transgressors.” (Isa 53:12, Mark 15:27, 28)
WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE THIS WAY
“Why did it have to be this way? So that He might bear the character of a sinner, not a just or innocent person who was cut down by an assassin. The trial demonstrates the guilt that was heaped on Him. On the other hand, Pilate, who condemned Him, was forced to bear public testimony to His innocence. The same judge who condemned also declared Him innocent. So we see Christ taking on the character of a sinner and a criminal, while at the same time His innocence shines out. It becomes obvious that He is suffering for another’s crime and not His own. It is really important to remember that Christ has taken our place, so that we may not spend all our lives in trepidation and anxiety, as if the punishment we deserve, but which the Son of God took to Himself, was still hanging over us.”
"In order to remove our condemnation, it was not enough for Christ to endure just any kind of death. To obtain our ransom, it was essential to choose a type of death in which He could deliver us, both by undertaking our expiation and also by giving Himself up to condemnation.”
THE LAW, NOT LAWLESSNESS, HAD JESUS EXECUTED
“If Christ had been cut down by assassins or killed in a rebellion, there could have been no satisfaction. But when He stands as a criminal at the bar of justice and witnesses are brought to give evidence against Him, and the judge condemns Him to death, we see Him taking on the character of an offender. When Christ was led away from the judgment seat to execution and was crucified between two criminals, we have a fulfillment of the prophecy. He was numbered with the transgressors.” (Isa 53:12, Mark 15:27, 28)
WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE THIS WAY
“Why did it have to be this way? So that He might bear the character of a sinner, not a just or innocent person who was cut down by an assassin. The trial demonstrates the guilt that was heaped on Him. On the other hand, Pilate, who condemned Him, was forced to bear public testimony to His innocence. The same judge who condemned also declared Him innocent. So we see Christ taking on the character of a sinner and a criminal, while at the same time His innocence shines out. It becomes obvious that He is suffering for another’s crime and not His own. It is really important to remember that Christ has taken our place, so that we may not spend all our lives in trepidation and anxiety, as if the punishment we deserve, but which the Son of God took to Himself, was still hanging over us.”
