Our series so far has tried to show the biblical evidence that Jesus’s death is substitutionary, Jesus dying in our place so that we don’t have to. https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2025/08/23/is-jesus-death-substitutionary/Then we saw evidence that Jesus’ death is him taking the just penalty for our sin in our place so that we receive the blessing he has earned https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2025/08/24/is-jesus-death-penal/. Thirdly, we saw that on the cross Jesus took God’s wrath at our sin so that we can draw near to God without fear of his anger https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2025/08/25/is-god-angry-at-jesus-on-the-cross/. Last post we saw that penal substitution offers a particularly helpful perspective on why God needs Jesus to die on the cross rather than just forgive us, because he must do justice to sins and wants to show mercy to sinners https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2025/08/30/the-explanatory-power-of-penal-substitution-why-cant-god-just-forgive/.
But as well as its explanatory power, penal substitution also has great pastoral power. To a person who wonders if their sins are forgiven, we can say: “Look at the cross. Jesus died bearing your sins and all the punishment your sins were due. There is no condemnation or punishment left for you. Your sins were paid in full by Jesus, and God’s own just character now requires he never punish you for those sins. You are fully forgiven.”
Penal substitution particularly emphasises the assurance a Christian should have, from the moment they trust Jesus. Some other perspectives on the cross will (rightly) call for further action, will point to a journey that is completed in heaven. But penal substitution speaks of full forgiveness, and so full reconciliation with God, the moment we first turn to Jesus.
As a perspective on the cross, it highlights the once for all nature of Christ’s death. He died once bearing all the punishment for sin, so that there is no need for further sacrifice. Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Hebrews 9:26 Christ’s work of forgiveness and salvation is truly finished on the cross, as Jesus himself cries out.
And that reassures the Christian when the battle against sin seems overwhelming, when the sin within and the sin around us seems to stain us and conquer us. Jesus has paid the price. I can run to the throne of grace. I am forgive. I will be welcome.
Evangelical hymns ring out a confidence of forgiveness, and so friendship with God. That is not because of our goodness- many of those same hymns confess our sin. But the confidence flows from seeing so clearly that Jesus died in our place, bearing our punishment fully, once for all. TO pick one example among many to finish with, here is an arrangement of Toplady’s hymn:
Now why this fear and unbelief?
Has not the Father put to grief
His spotless Son for us?
And will the righteous Judge of men
Condemn me for the debt of sin
Now cancelled at the cross?
Jesus, all my trust is in Your blood
Jesus, You’ve rescued us
Through Your great love
Complete atonement You have made
And by Your death have fully paid
The debt Your people owed
No wrath remains for us to face
We’re sheltered by Your saving grace
And sprinkled with Your blood
Jots and Scribbles 