I was studying a bit on 1 Peter 3:18, "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God...", and came across this paragraph in Gordon H. Clark's commentary on 1st and 2nd Peter, New Heavens, New Earth,

"Here we have the substitution of the just for the unjust; instead of the sinner's suffering for his sins, Christ suffered for his sins. And thus God is propitiated and our sins are expiated. Propitiation, expiation, and substitution are blessed words, for they sum up so much of Biblical teaching. In Leviticus, chapters 4 and 16, the sacrificial rites show that a penalty for sin was exacted and how remission and forgiveness were obtained. Christ fulfills these sacrifices. As the vicarious or substitutionary nature of the old sacrifices is clear, so the New Testament shows the substitutionary nature of Christ's sacrifice: "If one died for all, then all died" (2 Corinthians 5:14), and "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us" (Galatians 3:13).

"Here we have the very central and most essential part of the Gospel. This is indeed the Good News, and there is no Good News without it. When this idea is absent from preaching, the preaching is no longer Christian. This does not mean that a minister can never preach on Abraham or Moses, on election or sanctification. It does mean that the significance of Moses and sanctification depend on Christ's sacrifice, and unless the full and finished work of Christ permeates the message, the message is not worth preaching. For otherwise it is impossible that we be brought to God. No one cometh unto the Father but by Christ; there is no other Name, and there is no other message." (page 125; italics in the original)

I hope each of you that read this can see for yourself, you as a sinner, the vital importance of Christ being your substitute. Of him satisfying the wrath of God in your place. Of him being cursed instead of you. In short of Jesus Christ being your REPRESENTITIVE in dealing with sin and its judgements! Bless the Lord for his great substitution!

O believe on Jesus Christ, that spotless Lamb who is able to bring you unto God, and enjoy this great comfort to your soul!