Substitution and Imputation

By definition, substitution means ‘The act of putting one person or thing in the place of another; as, the substitution of an agent, attorney, or representative to act on behalf of another.’ And so it is that sinners being indigent (poor, needy and incapable of any good) that the LORD Jesus Christ is GOD’S court-appointed advocate for those that He purposed to save from before the foundation of the world: 1 John 2:1-2.

Connected with substitution, there is the simultaneous imputation of that work to those the substitute represents. First, there is the accounting of the debt to the substitute. Second, there is the payment of the debt and accounting of the debtor as free upon payment: 2 Corinthians 5:21. Imputation is never complete without both. And so it is that the LORD Jesus was not only numbered among the transgressors, although Himself sinless, yet by His death for their sin, full payment was made before God the Father and there is therefore now NO condemnation for those for whom He paid their horrible sin debt, Romans 8:1.

Some will contend that the elect were justified before the foundation of the world, God’s decree to justify the elect being their justification. Their rationale is that since God’s purposes are as eternal as God Himself, that the elect have always been justified and have never been otherwise before God. The problem is, ‘Can sin be imputed before there was an actual transgression of the law in Adam?’ ‘Can righteousness be imputed before that righteousness has been worked out, established and accomplished by Christ? We must not confound God’s purpose to justify as the actual accomplishing of what He purposed, Acts 4:28.

There is, however, a more popular view that somehow imputation doesn’t take place until the sinner believes, thereby basing justification upon faith first. Many cite the terminology: ‘justified by faith’ in defense of this doctrine, even as others use ‘God so loved the world’ to defend a supposed doctrine of God’s universal love. However, the context of the Scriptures must always be taken into consideration in Light of the rest of God’s Word. The rest of Scripture shows justification by the blood of Christ alone, Romans 5:9, concurrent with His accomplished redemption, Romans 3:24. ‘Justified by faith’ means justified as per THE FAITH (the Gospel of Christ) once revealed unto the saints, Jude 1:3. It is the law of Faith in opposition to the law of works, Romans 3:27-28. That Faith revealed is the fruit of justification, not the instrument or cause! [Romans 1:17]

Simply stated, sin was charged to the account of the LORD Jesus, as the Substitute, when He came in the flesh and laid down His life, not before. He bore it ALL away, by His death when He died: Hebrews 1:3; 1 John 1:9. However, not only was sin put to His account but His righteous obedience ONCE FOR ALL charged to the account of God’s elect: “For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:14)