Question 37. What do you confess when you say the words, “He suffered”?
Answer: That Christ, during all the time that he lived on earth, but especially at the end of his life, bore in body and soul, the wrath of God against the sin of the human race (a), so that by his suffering, as the only propitiatory sacrifice, (b) he has redeemed our body and soul from everlasting damnation, (c) and obtain for us the favour of God, righteousness, and eternal life. (d)
(Click through to see scriptural proofs.)
1 Peter 2:24Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit … .
… who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
Ephesians 5:2Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.
And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
… whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.
… so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
Colosians 1:13Christ 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” … .
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son … .
… he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.
… knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
2 Corinthians 5:21… whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.
Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus … .