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William asked:
But until then I'll still be wondering why the Lord Jesus suffered in His earthly life when He had no sin?
The answer is quite simply... Christ's life (active) and His death (passive) were substitutionary, i.e., He lived and suffered in behalf of the elect. Actively, He lived a perfect/righteous life which is imputed to believers (elect) and Passively His death atoned (bore the punishment) for believers (elect). Both were absolutely necessary, i.e., sinners are in dire need of a perfect righteousness AND making payment for their sins. These two aspects of the atonement are to address Original Sin; Adam's imputed guilt, needs propitiatory sacrifice and inherited depravity needs a perfect righteousness. Isa 53 is a wonderful place to start to see Christ's vicarious substitutionary atonement.

I doubt this is too technical for you to grasp. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

In His grace,

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simul iustus et peccator

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