The Atonement: Sacrifice for Satisfaction

"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us-for it is written 'Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree'". 
Galatians 3:13

This is another post, in my series on the atonement of Jesus. Here is the definition, I created, for this series of posts. The atonement is; “God killed His perfect Son to save hate-filled rebels from the wrath they deserved from Him”. Today we are going to think about the fact that Jesus became a curse during the atonement. Let's work through the Biblical truth that Jesus becomes a curse (a sacrifice that satisfies) step by step in the full nature of the atonement. 

First, everyone who disobeys a single part of the law is under a curse from God. The law of God exists for multiple reasons. By as Paul makes clear ( in Galatians 3), one major reason the law exist is to show the standard of holy living humans must achieve. But all humans are sinners by nature. This reality makes clear that no human can meet the standard of the law and thus falls under a curse. This curses humanity becasue it shows the full clarity and weight that humans are under a curse from God. For Christ to atone, He must deal with the curse of the law. 

Second, Jesus lived the only perfect life in human history. Christ was the only human to walk the earth and not be under the curse of the law. Christ was not cursed by the law (because He obeyed it perfectly) and as a result could stand before God perfectly righteous and holy. Jesus was the only human not deserving the curse of God for a single act of disobedience to the law. This truth is why Christ atonement was a sacrifice that satisfies. Christ did not deserve to be cursed, yet substituted Himself as a sacrifice (as a curse to satisfy the curse). 

Third, Christ becoming a curse means the curse for those whom He became a curse for, was satisfied. As Paul makes clear in the verse above, Jesus hanging on a cross means He was cursed under the law of God. But Jesus taking upon Himself the sin of His sheep means, sin brought Him under the curse. No, Jesus never committed a single sin in His 33+ years of life. But on the cross, God the Father imputed the sin of the elect onto Jesus and imputed Jesus perfect righteousness onto the elect. The moment Jesus took upon Himself the sin of the elect, He became a curse because God reckoned all the law breakers to Him. Jesus thus sacrificed His perfect righteousness to become a curse and satisfy the payment for the curse. 

Lastly, when Jesus redeemed us, it was through becoming a curse and paying the penalty for being cursed. Galatians 3:13 is a verse that includes many of the other points of the atonement. Jesus became a curse for the elect so God could justify the elect. Jesus became a curse to redeem the elect. Jesus, as being cursed, propitiated the wrath of God. Jesus, by taking upon Himself the curse brought reconciliation between God the Father and His creation. Jesus, by becoming a sacrifice that satisfies (becoming a curse) fully atoned and completed every part and action needed for salvation from God. Jesus becoming a curse, for the cursed, to free the cursed from the penalty of the curse fully atoned for the sin and curse of the elect.

The work Jesus did on the cross was done for other people, on behalf of them, and as a substitute for them. Jesus Christ was the only human who deserved (and could have demanded) God's blessing. Yet, Jesus took upon Himself the curse instead. Jesus knew what He was getting into. Jesus knew, in order to save His people, He had to take the cup from the Father and drink down the full wrath and curse of sin. Jesus knew He was going to bear "hell on earth" while dying on the cross as a curse. Jesus knew that becoming a curse was going to result in the forsaking of His Father's grace, love, favor, and instead fully bear the wrath, holiness, and anger of the curse. Yet, Jesus willingly and loving went to the Cross, took upon Himself the curse, and removed the curse of the law from the elect. Jesus Christ became a curse (a sacrifice that satisfies) to redeem those under the curse of the law. How beautiful and deep the atonement of Jesus is.