Type of Doctrine: Primary
"And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption . . ."
-1 Corinthians 1:30 ESV
Why does it matter?
God did not have to save people. He could have left us without hope of being saved (as he did the angels who sinned). Instead, thankfully, he chose to save people. And in doing so, God needed to make unrighteous people (who deserve God's wrath) righteous.
While there are various views on the atonement, this subject is typically viewed as a primary issue. Thus, all Christians agree that the work Christ did was necessary to save people.
What is it?
How are we saved? Yes, we are saved by believing in Jesus (John 3:16). But, what did Jesus do for us? If you say "die on the cross," then that is true. But Jesus did even more than that to make unrighteous people righteous. Theologians often call this Christ's active obedience and passive obedience. The following section is adapted from Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2020), 706-717.
Christ's Active Obedience
Jesus lived a perfect life in your place. He perfectly obeyed every single law in Scripture for you. He never sinned, even once. Paul writes that if you believe in Jesus, you don't have a righteousness from yourself; instead, your righteousness "comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith" (Phil. 3:9). In other words, Jesus lived a righteous life so that you could be considered righteous. Since Jesus actively obeyed in your place, this is called Christ's active obedience.
Christ's Passive Obedience
But Jesus also suffered in your place. The sufferings that he experienced in his life and death were for you. He paid your penalty. Scripture often refers to the cross in this way. For example, in Colossians 2:13-14 Paul writes: "And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross." In other words, God makes believers come alive and forgives by canceling the debt of sin. How? By nailing it to the cross. Likewise, Peter says, "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit" (1 Peter 3:18). Note how he points to Christ's suffering for sins and specifically states "the righteous for the unrighteous" (1 Peter 3:18). Jesus passively obeyed by suffering in your place - the righteous for the unrighteous.
Jesus lived a perfect life in your place. But Jesus also suffered in your place.
What this means is that Jesus not only paid for your unrighteousness, but he also gives you his righteousness! What a rich, heart-warming truth to reflect on this Easter!
Application
Believe in Jesus! And once you do thank him! Jesus paid for your unrighteousness, and he gives his righteousness to you.
Where can I learn more?
Bibliography:
-Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2020.