One of the greatest doctrinal truths of the Bible is that the Christian life is one of VICTORY OVER SIN. Christ died for our sins, Peter tells us that “Jesus Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that DYING TO SINS, we might live to righteousness…” (1 Peter 2:24). The purpose of Christ’s death was to enable us to live differently. Or another way to put it is that he tells us that God’s purpose for us as Christians is that we LIVE LIKE CHRIST, which of course is our prayer for AMY, that we live righteously; and He tells us three times that His unshakable, infinitely compelling commitment to fulfill that purpose in us is the DEATH OF HIS SON to make it happen. “For Christ also suffered on our behalf, leaving us an example, that we should FOLLOW HIS STEPS…” (1 Peter 2:21)
Something happened in the death of Christ “for us” that guarantees its success in bringing us to follow in Christ’s steps. The purpose is that we live like Christ. He died for us to MAKE US LIKE HIM. Even though, “AMY like a sheep has gone astray; she has turned, to her own way; And the LORD has laid on Him (Jesus) the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6) “He was wounded for AMY’S transgressions, He was bruised for AMY’S iniquities; The chastisement for AMY’S peace was upon Him, And by His stripes AMY is healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)
-Bill Stockham