Substitution

Substitution means to replace someone or something with another person or thing. For example, if you’re baking some fresh cookies and you run out of butter, some will gasp in horror at this, but margarine can usually do the job. Or, if you’re at the restaurant and you ask for a Coke, but they only carry Pepsi, some might refuse and choose something else, while others would go along with it. Or if you’re the boss at work and you find out that Nancy can’t come in for her shift, you might call Pam to cover for her instead. These are simple substitutions. But in order for a substitution to work out fine, you need to make sure that the thing you’re replacing, or the person stepping in, is just as good or better than what was there before.

This Sunday, we’re going to look at Romans 5:6-11 and see a substitution far more important than any of the examples I just gave. We’re not just talking about a small swap. We’re talking about Jesus stepping into our place, carrying our guilt, and taking the punishment we deserve for our sin. He gave of himself fully for us on the cross to become our rescue. In this third message of our series, Could God Be the Answer?, we’re going to see Jesus, who is our perfect substitution and what it means for us.

Series: Could God Be The Answer?
Message: 3 – SUBSTITUTION
Text: Romans 5:6-11
Patrice Charade
Harvest Alliston
Sep 21, 2025

When I see the extent of my despair, I will turn to Jesus who…

…stepped in for me (v. 6-7)

1 John 3:5

…showing me real love (v. 8)

The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.
– Tim Keller

John 3:16a

…appeasing God’s wrath (v. 9)

1 John 4:10

If Christ had not gone to the cross and suffered in our stead, the just for the unjust, there would not have been a spark of hope for us. There would have been a mighty gulf between ourselves and God, which no man ever could have passed.
– J.C. Ryle

…reconciling me to him (v. 10–11)

Ephesians 2:12-14