## Atonement

## Hebrews 9:22

A gospel without the Bible doctrine of atonement is not a genuine gospel. Satan, the deceiver, would have men believe that they can be saved by their good works, by turning over a new leaf, by doing the best that you can, but he is eternally wrong. The only way for men to be saved is through the blood of Jesus Christ!

Pulpits across the country are magnifying the life, the teachings, and the character Jesus, but they are leaving out His death. Many are deceived into thinking that salvation can be attained through keeping the Golden Rule or trying to live like Jesus. They are wrong! Salvation is only through the blood! If it were not for the blood of Jesus Christ, we would be lost, without God and without hope in this world.

I. The Necessity of the Atonement.

A. Note: 1 Peter 2:24-25

B. We were going astray (wandering without direction).

1. Like sheep: "The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib" but sheep wander and cannot find their way back home.

2. "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way..." cf. Isaiah 53:6a

II. The Purpose of the Atonement.

A. He died as a vicarious offering for sin.

1. "Vicarious " means to be in the place of another...a substitute.

2. Jesus, deserved to live, but He died in the place of unjust, sinful men who deserved to die.

3. Note: Isaiah 53:5

4. "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God." cf. 1 Pe. 3:18

B. He died a ransom for many.

1. "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." cf. Mt. 20:28

2. A ransom is paid to release to deliver one from captivity.

3. Sin holds man in its power, but Christ died to redeem man from sin and to secure his release from the power of the law.

C. He died as a sin offering.

1. "Thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin." cf. Is. 53:10

2. Throughout the O.T. we read of how innocent blood was shed and offered as an atonement for sin.

3. These blood sacrifices were not sufficient to do away with sin, they had to be offered every year on the day of atonement.

4. "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." cf. Heb. 9:12

5. "He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." cf. Heb. 9:26b

6. "For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us." cf. 1 Co. 5:7

III. The Result of the Atonement.

A. Redemption: the sin-ward aspect of the atonement.

1. Redemption solves the problem of sin.

2. There are three words in the N.T. which are used for 'redeem'.

a. one means "to purchase in the market"

b. another means "to purchase out of the market".

c. the third one means "to release or set free".

3. Together, they give us a clear understanding of redemption.

4. Christ came into the marketplace of sin, the world, and paid the purchase price for our sins with His blood, took us out of the market place and away from the penalty and power of sin, and set us free!

B. Reconciliation: the man-ward aspect of the atonement.

1. Reconciliation solves the problem of the sinner.

2. The sinner is totally depraved; his nature is completely sinful; he is a sinner by birth and by choice.

3. It is impossible for him to fulfill the purpose for which he was created unless he becomes a new creation.

4. Paul tells us that is exactly what takes place when one receives Christ as personal Savior.

5. This is accomplished through the ministry of reconciliation. cf. 2 Corinthians 5:17-19

6. Through reconciliation the position of man was completely changed in relation to God!

7. What Adam lost in the garden, Christ regained on the cross.

C. Propitiation: the God-ward aspect of the atonement.

1. Propitiation solves the problem of pleasing God.

2. Propitiation refers to the mercy seat, which was the place of the atonement.

3. When Christ died on the cross, He became "the propitiation for our sins". cf. 1 John 4:10b

4. He became the place where God and sinful man meet.

5. Jesus said, "No man cometh unto the Father but by me." cf. Jn. 14:6 You and I have sinned. Our sin would send us to hell, but the blood of Jesus Christ furnishes us the power which cleanses us from our sin and provides for an eternity in heaven with Him.What does the blood of Christ mean to you? Today, are you saved? Are you under the blood?

Christian, do you realize what a wonderful thing our atonement truly is? "For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls" cf. 1 Pe. 2:25.

A shepherd not only keeps his sheep, but tends and feeds it. He causes it to lie down in green pastures and leads it beside still waters. He restores it when wounded. He comforts it in danger. He defends it when attacked. He showers his love upon it. His goodness towards it never fails. All this our reconciled God and Savior is, and does, for us because of the atonement.