What does it mean that Jesus was our substitute on the cross?
Jesus was our substitute on the cross meaning He took the sinner's place, though He did not become a sinner Himself. He took upon Himself all the sins of the human race, without sin, so that where we should have died, He died in our place, providing righteousness in Him.
Les explains from II Corinthians 5 that Christ became sin for us, He who knew no sin, so that we might have the righteousness of Christ in Him. He did not become a sinner per se; He took the sinner's place and became our substitute. Les illustrates this with Abraham offering Isaac: God provided a ram in the thicket, and the ram did not become Isaac but became the substitute. In the same way, when Christ went to the cross, He did not become a vile sinner, but He took upon Himself all the sins of the human race without becoming a sinner. It was His substitutionary work that where you and I should have died, He took our place. He did not become any particular person; He merely became our substitute. Paul refers to this in Philippians 2 and Galatians 2.
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
More Questions
Did Jesus become us when He took our place?
In substitution, Christ did not become Lesfeldic, Kenneth, or anybody else; He merely became our substitute.
Where does Paul refer to Christ becoming our substitute?
Paul refers to Christ becoming our substitute in Philippians chapter 2, as well as in Galatians.