This article is a continuation upon the last one I did on why Jesus died in which I contrasted redemption against substitution theology.
In that article I also mentioned 1 Peter 2:24
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
What does it mean that Jesus bare our sin? How does that relate to us being healed and what kind of healing are we talking about?
Under the old covenant the Israelites would regularly sacrifice an animal for a “sin-offering” but before putting the animal to death someone would lay hands upon it’s head (Lev. 4:3&4).
Why did they do this?
We have the example in Leviticus 16 where Aaron laid both hands upon the scapegoat, confessed over it the iniquities of the children of Israel, “putting” them upon it’s head, thus the scapegoat bare all their iniquities before being sent away into the wilderness (Lev. 16:21&22)
We can conclude from this that whenever a person laid hands upon a sin-offering (Lev. 1:4) it was a type of confession by which the animal figuratively bare their sin.
Now let’s consider Isaiah 53 which was written 700 years before Jesus came forth yet prophesied his coming and described his death using similar language to that in Leviticus 16… “surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows” (vs 4), “and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all”(vs 6), “be bare the sin of many” (vs12).
vs 10 says that his soul was an “offering for sin” therefore it’s clear that the old covenant’s sin-offering was a type and shadow pointing to that which was to come.
Christ was the spiritual fulfilment of that type and shadow.
If we go to Hebrews 9 we see that Jesus “offered himself without spot to God” (vs 14) Why? “to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” (vs 26), “so Christ was ONCE offered to bear the sin of many” (vs 28).
Notice the finality of the word ONCE.
Jesus bare our sin in that he provided the means by which we can put away our sin ONCE and for all.
Just as, under the old covenant, when people confessed their sins they figuratively “put” them on the sin-offering, when we confess our sins to God (1 John 1:9) and forsake them through repentance (Prov. 28:13), we figuratively “put” them on Christ in the sense that our “old man” is crucified and buried WITH him (Rom. 6:4-6).
Let’s look again at 1 Peter 2
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness…
Notice the finality of the word DEAD
In confessing and forsaking our sin we are DEAD to sin that we should LIVE unto righteousness.
Being dead to sin is being crucified and buried with Christ. Living unto righteousness is being resurrected with Christ, born-again by the Spirit.
Let’s return to Isaiah 53
11…by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Justify means to declare righteous. Jesus bear our iniquities that we might be declared righteous by his knowledge.
What is the knowledge of Christ?
Genesis says that Adam knew his wife (Gens 4:1) and they became one flesh (Gen. 2:24).
To “know” someone means to become ONE with them like husband and wife.
Paul said in Philippians 3
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death
It’s through participation in the death and resurrection of Christ that we become ONE with Christ. That’s what it means to “know” him.
Hence it is through the knowledge of Christ that we are declared righteous.
This is the reason Jesus bare our iniquities!
Let’s go back to 1 Peter 2:24 and examine the last portion of this verse.
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Is Peter here suddenly talking about physical healing? Does that make sense in the context of this verse?
First of all “stripes” refers to how Jesus was whipped as part of the scourging he endured before going to the cross.
Roman soldiers had objects tied into the leather thongs of their whips such as led balls and broken sheep’s bone.
One can imagine what happened to a person when whipped with such an implement, their blood would be sprinkled everywhere.
Isaiah 52
14 …his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:
15 So shall he sprinkle many nations…
Therefore when it says “stripes” in 1 Peter 2:24 it is referring to Christ being whipped and his blood sprinkled.
Leviticus 17 says
11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood…
Just as physical life is in physical blood, spiritual life is in the Holy Spirit hence the blood of Christ represents his Spirit.
Under the old covenant, after an animal was killed on behalf of the people for a “sin-offering”, it’s blood would be sprinkled upon the alter to make atonement for their sins (Lev. 4:5-7).
When we consider that Christ is our sin-offering and that his blood represents his Spirit Hebrews 9 makes sense…
13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
The sprinkling of Christ’s blood, representing his Spirit, purges our conscience from dead works meaning we no longer require animal sacrifice to make atonement for our sin because we no longer have a guilty conscience.
We no longer have a guilty conscience because through the Spirit, the law has been put into our minds and written in our hearts (Heb. 8:10) meaning we’ve received the “divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4) which is love hence we obey God because we love him.
Love works no ill (wrong) therefore love fulfils the law (Rom. 13:10).
Heb. 8:11 says ”for all shall know me”.
Having the law written in our hearts via the Holy Spirit is to “know” Christ.
Now, what does the word “healed” mean in our 1 Peter 2:24?
healed iaomai means to cure, make whole, free from errors and sins, to bring about salvation
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit CURES us from our sin-sickness.
Notice the finality of the word CURED.
The cure is love for those who truly love God do not commit wilful sin.
That’s why it says in Hebews 10
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Under the old covenant, animal sacrifice was performed over and over again however genuine salvation is not inclusive of a sin-confess cycle.
Jesus offered himself ONCE to put away sin ONCE and for all.
He bare our sin that we may be DEAD to sin through repentance. He shed his blood that we may be CURED from our sin sickness through the indwelling of his Holy Spirit.
I’d like to finish with this verse in Acts 3
19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Are you heavy laden? Are you sick and tired of carrying a guilty conscience? Would you like your sins to be blotted out? Would you like a fresh start through the Spirit?
Christ’s arms are outstretched to you today. He says “come unto me, enter into my love, be cured from your sin-sickness and you will find rest for your soul.”
Just like the prodigal son “came to himself” while in the pig pen and immediately began walking back to his father’s house, in order to be forgiven by God you must REPENT from your sin!
Stop rebelling against God, submit your will to his will through repentance.
Today is the day of salvation. God bless.
