1) PREPOSITIONS
“Who gave Himself for our sins” (Galatians 1:4).
Nothing demonstrates God’s love more than Galatians 1:4. There’s a small word in that sentence,‘FOR.’ It has only 3 letters but it’s mighty! But what does it mean? In this case, the preposition ‘FOR’ means ‘instead of’ or ‘in place of’ or ‘on our behalf.’ So, our verse could be rendered,
He gave Himself instead of us, or
He gave Himself in place of us, or
He gave Himself on our behalf.
There should be no confusion on the matter. This verse is clear ... it insists that Christ Jesus became our substitute at the cross. Thank you Jesus! Your people are thrilled with this little preposition ‘FOR.’ His was a life which was lived for us. Everything He did, He did for us. Isn’t He wonderful? He has gone away to prepare a place for us but mark it down, He is returning soon to receive us unto Himself (John 14:1-3).
2) PRONOUNS
Look again at our verse and now see the pronoun ‘OUR.’ “He gave Himself for our sins.” It was our sin which caused His death. He died for us. What Christ Jesus did at the cross, He did for us. It was personal! If you believe this, you will enjoy assurance of salvation.
Redemption, for the believer is personal. We say a hearty amen to Paul who again, speaking of Christ, wrote, “who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). It’s a personal salvation, not merely a general one.
Consider how personal the gospel is.
“Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8).
”Son, be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee” (Matthew 9:2).
I have loved you with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn you‘(Jeremiah 31:3).
‘Your sins are forgiven you‘ (Luke 5:20).
‘Fear not: for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name; you are mine’ (Isaiah 43:1)
Look at the gospel invitations in the Bible:
‘Come unto me all you that labour and are heavy laden, I will give you rest’ (Matthew 11:28)
‘Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the earth’ (Isaiah 45:22)
What an amazing atonement. He reconciled us by pouring out His blood.
Luther nailed it when He said, “The sweetness of the gospel lies mostly in pronouns, such as me,my, thy. May every believer be able to say of Christ, ‘Who loved me, and gave Himself for me.”
Jesus suffered the holy wrath of God and died for us. Many nominal Christians (Christians inname only) deny the Atonement and paint a picture of a non-holy God who looks at his wayward children and smiles at their sin. These so-called Christians see him as an easy-going jolly grandparent who sees his riotous grandchildren as only being slightly naughty.
But the true and living God shows that he cannot and will not sweep our sin under the carpet. He, the sovereign Yahweh, believes in the death penalty for all crimes against Him. And thus, God became a man and was executed for the sins of His people. What a redeemer ... what a substitute!
Consider the prepositions and pronouns.
Redemption is personal.
And that’s the Gospel Truth!
Written By: Miles McKee
[email protected]
“Who gave Himself for our sins” (Galatians 1:4).
Nothing demonstrates God’s love more than Galatians 1:4. There’s a small word in that sentence,‘FOR.’ It has only 3 letters but it’s mighty! But what does it mean? In this case, the preposition ‘FOR’ means ‘instead of’ or ‘in place of’ or ‘on our behalf.’ So, our verse could be rendered,
He gave Himself instead of us, or
He gave Himself in place of us, or
He gave Himself on our behalf.
There should be no confusion on the matter. This verse is clear ... it insists that Christ Jesus became our substitute at the cross. Thank you Jesus! Your people are thrilled with this little preposition ‘FOR.’ His was a life which was lived for us. Everything He did, He did for us. Isn’t He wonderful? He has gone away to prepare a place for us but mark it down, He is returning soon to receive us unto Himself (John 14:1-3).
2) PRONOUNS
Look again at our verse and now see the pronoun ‘OUR.’ “He gave Himself for our sins.” It was our sin which caused His death. He died for us. What Christ Jesus did at the cross, He did for us. It was personal! If you believe this, you will enjoy assurance of salvation.
Redemption, for the believer is personal. We say a hearty amen to Paul who again, speaking of Christ, wrote, “who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). It’s a personal salvation, not merely a general one.
Consider how personal the gospel is.
“Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8).
”Son, be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee” (Matthew 9:2).
I have loved you with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn you‘(Jeremiah 31:3).
‘Your sins are forgiven you‘ (Luke 5:20).
‘Fear not: for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name; you are mine’ (Isaiah 43:1)
Look at the gospel invitations in the Bible:
‘Come unto me all you that labour and are heavy laden, I will give you rest’ (Matthew 11:28)
‘Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the earth’ (Isaiah 45:22)
What an amazing atonement. He reconciled us by pouring out His blood.
Luther nailed it when He said, “The sweetness of the gospel lies mostly in pronouns, such as me,my, thy. May every believer be able to say of Christ, ‘Who loved me, and gave Himself for me.”
Jesus suffered the holy wrath of God and died for us. Many nominal Christians (Christians inname only) deny the Atonement and paint a picture of a non-holy God who looks at his wayward children and smiles at their sin. These so-called Christians see him as an easy-going jolly grandparent who sees his riotous grandchildren as only being slightly naughty.
But the true and living God shows that he cannot and will not sweep our sin under the carpet. He, the sovereign Yahweh, believes in the death penalty for all crimes against Him. And thus, God became a man and was executed for the sins of His people. What a redeemer ... what a substitute!
Consider the prepositions and pronouns.
Redemption is personal.
And that’s the Gospel Truth!
Written By: Miles McKee
[email protected]