IT IS WELL: EXPOSITIONS ON SUBSTITUTIONARY ATONEMENT, by Mark Dever and Michael Lawrence

A Brief Book Summary from Books at a Glance

by Steve West

 

Table of Contents

1. The Passover: Exodus 12
2. The Day of Atonement: Leviticus 16
3. Crushed for Our Iniquities: Isaiah 52:13–53:12
4. Ransom for Many: Mark 10:45
5. Forsaken: Mark 15:33–34
6. To Save the World: John 3:14–18
7. Better That One Man Die: John 11:47–52
8. Propitiation: Romans 3:21–26
9. Delivered Over to Death for Our Sins: Romans 4:25
10. Justified by His Blood: Romans 5:8–10
11. Condemned Sin: Romans 8:1–4
12. Becoming a Curse for Us: Galatians 3:10–13
13. Bore Our Sins in His Body on the Tree: 1 Peter 2:21–25
14. Christ Died for Sins: 1 Peter 3:18

 

Summary

 

Chapter 1: The Passover – Exodus 12

The fourteen messages in this book are designed “to show that the doctrine of penal substitution is clearly taught in the Bible.” The phrase penal substitution refers to the fact that Jesus took the place of his people as their substitute, and took upon himself the penalty that they deserved to pay for their sin. Secularists have long rejected this doctrine, but today many people in the church are dissenting from it. Penal substitution is not the only way that the Bible speaks of the cross, but it is essential to its nature. The Passover, as its name suggests, is God’s passing over someone in judgment because they are covered by a substitute. Only lambs that were without blemish or defect could serve as Passover lambs. Jesus Christ is explicitly identified as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and he fulfills the typology of Passover. God made it clear in Exodus that Israel could only be saved through the death of the substitute lamb. This was intentionally designed as a prophetic preparation for Christ as the substitute for sinners. The reason why people in Israel who did not follow Passover instructions were cut off was that the meal symbolized that salvation is only available in the sacrifice of the Messiah. In connection to Passover, the Lord’s Supper reminds us that Christ died to pay the penalty for our sins, and it is through his substitutionary atonement that we are forgiven. Given our sin we are hopelessly lost and helpless: we need Christ as our substitute! If we do not have a perfect substitute, we will not be spared death in the judgment. Repent and believe in Christ! When you are covered by the substitute, you are redeemed, saved, delivered, and blessed. Today, the Lord’s Supper is for the church community as a whole, and only those who have faith in Christ are to partake in it. The doctrine of penal substitution is as old as Passover. . . .

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