Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
For ages, millions have died trusting in Christ as their Substitute. For the most part, their idea of substitution has been "vicarious." Christ stands in place of them, instead of them, as an insurance company stands instead of you, in place of you, when you suffer a loss.
Or, as a lawyer who stands before the judge in place of you, instead of you, in a court case. Now, in this Day of Atonement, God's idea of substitution is a clearer one, a "shared" one. It's not that "vicarious" substitution in any sense is wrong; but the closer God's people come to the Savior, the clearer is their vision of His substitution.
For example, in the Day of Atonement they "sing as it were a new song before the throne," a song that no other group in history could sing (Rev. 14:1-5). This indicates a new experience in relating to Christ, a new and dearer understanding of Him. Further, they "follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth," indicating a new experience that means a closer identity with Him as the crucified One and as their High Priest.
It can't be a righteousness by works experience that is "new," for legalism can never inspire a body of God's people to follow Christ so closely in His closing High Priestly ministry. It must be a righteousness by faith experience that is "new." The goal is changed from merely preparing a body of people to die and then come up in the first resurrection (a wonderful goal that requires the miracle of regeneration). But the "new song" that is sung prepares a body of people for translation at the second coming of Jesus. Thus it closes His ministry as High Priest, and inaugurates what leads to His coronation as King of kings.
How do these people identify so closely with "the Lamb"? It's not a fanatical "me-first-to-be-among-the-144,
--Robert J. Wieland
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: September 27, 2001.
Copyright © 2012 by "Dial Daily Bread."
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