In the world of sports, he or she is called the "super sub." This is that player that doesn't start the game, but comes off the bench and repeatedly turns the game around. The "super sub" has such a powerful influence on the game that he snatches victory from the jaws of defeat. The "super sub" changes everything. He does what the starter can't do.
Here in Paul's greeting to the churches of Galatia, he points to the greatest Super Sub the universe has ever known. Jesus Christ. He came off the divine bench and turned the game around. He has snatched impossible victory out of the jaws of inevitable defeat. He has changed everything. He does for us what we could never do.
These verses address what theologians call the doctrine of penal substitutionary atonement. This simply means that the sinless Jesus died in our place for our sins. As our sub, He stepped to do what we couldn't do. Live the perfect life. As our sub, He died the death we were supposed to die. As our sub, He took the full brunt of God's wrath for our sin. As our sub, we get His righteousness, His sinless perfection, in return.
Jesus is THE Super Sub. Jesus is OUR Super Sub.
This is Paul's first letter to any church (at least the first one God preserved to include in the Bible). He will go on to write a total 11 letters to churches, pastors and friends. This is his first. One thing that is consistent throughout his correspondence is his greeting as he wishes grace and peace to those on the receiving end.
"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (v3). Our tendency is fly over this simple greeting and get to the "good stuff." But these are important words. VERY important words. And they may be more important in this letter to Galatian believers than anywhere else.
Remember, the apostle has fired off this letter as soon as he heard about the train wreck caused by the Judaizers. These Jews have rolled into the region just after Paul left and twisted the Good News into something far less than good. They told the churches that the apostle didn't give them the full story. To be true followers of Jesus, you must become a Jew. You must add your works to what He's done. Call it "Jesus +".
When Paul greets the Galatians with grace and peace, he's going back to the very core of the Gospel. His point is that everything is about grace, God's ridiculous unmerited and undeserved favor. When we see the word grace in the Bible, we should pump our brakes and preach ourselves the Gospel. This has nothing to do with what you and I have done or ever will do. This is about what Jesus has done and continues to do. Grace. Amazing Grace.
God showers us with grace because Jesus is our Super Sub.
The mention of peace is crucial because we can't know true peace with God if it's up to our good works. How can we know if we really ever measure up? How can we know if we really ever have a good enough grade? The bottom line: We can't. The only One to make the grade is Jesus. Even if God grades on a curve, Christ turned in the perfect score and broke the curve. The great news is that we have peace with God because Jesus took the test for us.
God gives us peace because Jesus is our Super Sub.
Paul then states the Good News in a very simple but power-packed phrase. "Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins" (v3b-4a). Luther calls it the Great Exchange. Our sin for His righteousness. God sends in Jesus for us in the game of life. We've not only played a terrible game, we've could not have been worse. When Christ takes our spot in the lineup, He is off the charts. He makes EVERY play. He NEVER makes a mistake. And the most amazing part is when we look at the box score after the game, all of His stats are credited to us.
Jesus is our Super Sub.
We see this idea all throughout the Bible. Isaiah 53 and the Suffering Servant. Paul tells the Corinthians how God "made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God" (2Cor 5:21). Peter writes how Jesus took the unthinkable weight of our sins at the cross "that we might die to sin and live to righteousness," giving us ultimate healing (1Pet 2:24). We can't do it. He can.
Jesus is our Super Sub.
Paul goes on to tell the Galatians that Jesus did this "to deliver us from the present evil age" (v4). The term here (Gr. αιων/aion) doesn't mean a period of time but a prevailing system or culture. Satan is running the joint. Things could not be more jacked up. Christ has come to rescue us from the devil's evil world order.
Jesus died on the cross to save us "according to the will of our God and Father" (v4). This echoes back to Gethsemane on that dark and dreadful Thursday night before Jesus' betrayal and crucifixion. In that awful night of prayer, Christ submitted Himself to what His Dad wanted Him to do. "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, Your will be done" (Mt 26:42). Was the relationship between Father and Son ever more real and raw? I don't think so.
This is a great reminder and encouragement about submission. Let's face it. Jesus was and is fully God (Col 1:15-19). Each member of the Trinity is equally God. Yet the Son willingly submitted to what the Father wanted Him to do. In the same way, the Holy Spirit willingly submits to what the Father and Son want Him to do. If Jesus and God's Spirit are willing to submit themselves, shouldn't we? That's Paul's point when he encourages us how we must be "submitting to one another our of reverence for Christ" (Eph 5:21).
While we receive grace and peace because of Jesus' incredible substitution and sacrifice, this brings God "glory forever and ever" (v5). Whatever is for God's glory is also for our good. How cool is that? Let's face it, He didn't have to work it that way. But He did.
His plan and purpose is first and foremost about His glory. No one else deserves credit, praise, glory and worship. Only God. But we are so incredibly fortunate that what brings Him glory is also for our good. And that will never change. It will continue "forever and ever." Amen!
All because Jesus is our Super Sub.
©2012
Jay Jennings
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