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THE KING’S BUSINESS
v. 20, 21). It is probably better to state the case thus: God is propitiated, and the sinner is reconciled. The death o f Christ is also viewed in a substitutionary sense (v. 21 ; cf. Isaiah liii. 6; 1 Peter ii. 24; iii. 18). The story o f the passover lamb (Exodus xii.), with 1 Cor inthians v. 7, illustrates the meaning o f sub stitution as here used: one life given in the stead o f another. “ The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of. us all.” God made the Christ, who'knew no sin, to be sin for us. Christ Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree—this is substitution. Christ died in our place, bore our sins, paid the penalty due our sins; and all this, not by force, but willingly (John x. 17, 18). The idea o f substitution is well illustrated by the nature o f the preposition used in connection with this phase o f Christ’s death: In Mat thew xx. 28 Christ is said to give His life a ransom for all (cf. 1 Timothy ii. 6). That this preposition means instead o f is clear from its use in Matthew ii. 22—“Archelaus did reign in the room (or in the stead) of his father, Herod.” , Also in Luke xi. 11— “Will he fo r a fish give him a serpent?” (See Hebrews xii. 2, 16). Substitution, then, as used here means this: That some thing happened to Christ, and because it happened to Christ, it need riot happen to us. Christ died for our sins; we need not die for them if we accept His sacrifice. For further illustrations see Genesis xxii. 13— God providing a ram instead o f Isaac; also Barabbas freed and Christ bearing his cross and taking his place. - “ Upon a life I did not live; ; Upon a death I did not die; Upon another’s death, another’s life, . I risk my soul eternally.” Such a conception o f Christ’s death (v. 18-21) makes it, in the estimation o f the apostle, impossible for him to be guilty of selfishness, pride, or insincerity. It also gives him a new outlook upon the possibil ities that lie dormant in mankind. Men are viewed not as they are in themselves— according to the flesh—but in the light o f
the cross, and as they may become in Christ : “a new creation” (v. ,16, 17 ; cf. Galatians vi. IS; Romans v. 2-19; 1 Cor inthians xv. 45; Philippians iii. 7). , Such a new creature is not an évolution o f man kind, but a definite creative act o f God (v. 18-20; cf. v. 5; i. 21; ii. 14; iv. 6; 1 Cor inthians viii. 6; xi. 12; Romans xi. 36) brought about through the death o f Christ, which is here set forth as a reconciliation, and in the stead o f the sinner. ( b ) Tide Sufferings o f the Apostle (v. 20-vi. 10). With such a ministry the apostle has been entrusted, and in view o f such a trust he aims to be a true ambassador (v. 20), a faithful co-worker, and a sincere minister. For the accomplishment o f all this he has been called upon to suffer. The dignity o f the apostolic office Paul regards as from God, not from men (i. 1; cf. 1 Corinthians i. 1; Galatians i. 16). He regards himself as standing in the place o f God. The mes sage o f the apostle is equivalent to a “thus saith the Lord” o f the Old Testament. What the apostle proclaims and enjoins upon the Corinthians they should “ receive” (cf. Romans v. 11) as the very message o f God, the apostle regarding himself as an ambas sador from the court o f heaven. The apostle is not, in these verses (vi. 3-10), indulging in any personal vindication, or asserting any supreme claims to holiness or sinlessness, either for himself (Philip pians iii. 11-15 ; 1 Corinthians xv. 8-11; iv. 4; 1 Tirnothy i. 15) or for the Corinthian believers (xii. 20, 21 ; 1 Corinthians i. 11; iii. 3; v. 1, 11; viii. 2; x. 14; xi. 30; Gala tians iii. 1). The fact that one’s own conscience is clear with regard to sin (cf. 1 Corinthians iv. 4; Romans xiv. 22) does not prove the absence o f sin in that life (cf. 1 John iii. 18-24). God, not conscience, is the ultimate Arbiter in the matter. God may know of things which I do not yet see, and which further light will reveal to me later. This is the ideal o f the apostle towards which he is striving (cf. Philippians iii. 11-15). That he was seeking to attain this ideal the Corinthians could testify. Surëly
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