Actually, this series is from Understanding Bible Truth booklets by Robert Hicks and Richard Bewes (1981), but I have expanded some texts for modern readers (to make it easier to read) and added Scripture quotes (I’m using ESV Bible) into these writings to clarify its points more clearly. My purpose of making this series available in the internet is single: So that you can be clear the essential facts about the Bible’s teaching in a readily understandable form.
First, What is “Atonement”?
The word ‘atone’ was coined by bringing the two words ‘at one’ together. This expresses it meanings. By dying for the sins of the world, Jesus Christ has made it possible for all men to be made ‘at one’ with God. “The doctrine of the atonement is very simple,” writes C.H. Spurgeon “It just consists in the substitution of Christ in the place of the sinner; Christ being treated as if He were the sinner, and then the transgressor (us) being treated as if he were the righteous one.”
This doctrine, in my opinion, is the very corner-stone of the gospel! It is important because the atonement of Christ:
Fulfilled Old Testament Scripture
The Old Testament showed that God and man could not be reconciled unless a sacrifice was made. Only then could the guilt of sin be removed. The Old Testament animal sacrifices could not in themselves take away sin, nor could they be a final solution to the problem of sin. The New Testament sees them as illustrations of the perfect sacrifice Jesus was to make.
“…every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same [Old Testament] sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:11-14, bracket mine).
Initiated a New Relationship
The Bible teaches that man’s sin has created a barrier of guilt between Him and His creator. However, Jesus accepted the responsibility for human sin and willingly took its penalty on the cross. A new relationship is now available for those who respond to the good news that their sins can be forgiven.
Hostility has been replaced by friendship. Those who unite themselves to Christ are viewed by God as though they had never been rebels at all (“as if” never been rebels). Indeed, the Christian is seen as a new person altogether. The Scripture says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17) and “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation” (Romans 5:10-11).
Destroyed Satan’s Kingdom
The power of Satan’s kingdom was broken through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ; “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). The final destruction of the devil is yet to be (if you’re eager to know more – read the Book of Revelation). The Christian is aware of his activity and influence – but is confident of victory and protection through the power of the cross.
Reversed Sin’s Dominion
In the Bible, the idea of redeeming (or ‘buying back’) a person who is enslaved is very strong. Christ is presented as the One who, by His death, redeems His people from the penalty of God’s moral law. Apostle Paul writes, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree’” (Galatians 3:13).
Because Christ has taken our guilt upon Himself, sin no longer has the power to dominate the life of the Christian. “We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:9-11).
Provided a Way of Victory
With the power of the devil limited (and ultimately doomed), and with the guilt of sin removed, the cross of Jesus has set the Christian free.
The Christian is not set free from the fight of moral purity – rather he or she is set free for the fight. Our personal view of salvation should be as follows:
We have been saved from the penalty of sin by a crucified Savior;
We are being saved from the power of sin by a living Savior;
We shall be saved from the presence of sin by a coming Savior.
I tell you, since the time of the cross; the message has been one of victory!
Guaranteed an Eternity with God
The cross is the guarantee that God has set His eternal love upon His people; there could be no stronger demonstration that the death of His Son.
Death is still an enemy, but it is an enemy that is defeated because of the death and resurrection of Christ. Like the devil, death will face ultimate annihilation (Both writers of Understanding Bible Truth, I perceived, teaches here that the devil will face ‘annihilation’ but I believe that the devil will face ‘eternal punishment’ in hell. There is a different. But don’t worry; this disagreement doesn’t shake our Christian faith at all. The point is – the devil is defeated).
The cross assures the Christian of a promised inheritance in God’s Eternal Kingdom. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Paul writes, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).
My Conclusion about Jesus’ Atoning Death
I told to a group of students this fact: There are 2 ways to come to God, 1) By the Law, and 2) By the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. Since I can’t fulfilled the Law in my lifetime (neither do you), this leaves me of no choice but to let God do the work of salvation for me – my work is to believe by faith that Jesus had died on the cross for my sins. Only through His Atonement can you and I be saved from our sins to live with Him and our Father again. C.S. Lewis observes, “The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God”.
THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.
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