Christ the Victor

In addition to taking our punishment for sin on the cross, what else did Jesus’ death accomplish? In this sermon, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains that Jesus’ death was not only a passive act of receiving God’s wrath, but also an active sign of victory. Unfortunately, the modern view presents this aspect of the atonement, not as an addition to the substitutionary nature, but to subtract penal substation from the cross. Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that this victorious nature of the atonement is not a denial of penal substitution. Jesus first and foremost came to bear the punishment for sin. This doctrine doesn't remove it; it adds to it. Jesus went beyond passive sin-bearing, and actively defeated our enemies on the cross. Dr. Lloyd-Jones highlights three enemies Jesus destroyed. First, Jesus defeated Satan. He put him to shame on the cross. Second, Jesus defeated death. No longer does death reign over the children of God. And third, Jesus defeated sin. While Christians still sin, they are no longer under the power of sin. As a result, the whole universe is affected by Jesus’ death. Jesus dealt with and removed all enemies against us. Let not your heart be troubled, believe in God!