Last Sunday you heard a message from Pastor Ron about what we believe about the Holy Scriptures, this week I am going to cover a very important statement of faith… from our Articles of Faith.. Article number 6 - The Atonement . So let’s get started this morning.
14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
2CO 5:16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Cor. 5:14-21
Article number 6 - Atonement
“We believe that Jesus Christ, by His sufferings, by the shedding of His blood, and by His meritorious death on the Cross, made a full atonement for all human sin, and that this atonement is the only ground for salvation, and that it is sufficient for every individual of Adam’s race. The atonement is graciously efficacious for the salvation of the irresponsible and for the children in innocence, but is efficacious for the salvation of those who reach the age of responsibility only when they repent and believe.” Manual, pg. 27
I pray this morning that I can emphasize how important it is today that you understand what God has done for you through His Son Jesus Christ… in providing Atonement for our sins… without the Atonement through Christ we would all be lost with no hope for heaven… all that would wait for us when we died would be the Wrath of a Holy God upon a disobedient and sinful people…….. But Thank God for having a plan for our Salvation.. Amen?
Let’s look at the meaning of Atonement.. The word “atonement” translates the Hebrew OT word Kippur, but there is no Greek NT word for atonement. The OT word’s basic meaning is “to cover”. This basic meaning of the OT word means that our sins are covered over as a wound is covered when it heals and new flesh takes the place of, say; an infected cut. Psalms 32:1 says, “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.”
Rom. 8:3-4 tells us… 3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.”
Do you know what the righteous requirements of the law were for sin? There had to be atonement for that sin… there had to be a shedding of blood… doesn’t this speak to us today about how serious God is about sin? There are a couple of important things I want you to catch about God as we talk about the Atonement.
First, the Atonement speaks to us about God’s Holiness. He is Holy. In Him there is no Sin. In His Holiness He cannot, will not condone sin.. It goes against His very nature… who he is… we are learning all about this on Sunday nights… if your missing it… your really are missing it…. So know this.. God is Holy and He wants us to live Holy lives…. That brings us to the second part….because of our sin, we are totally unable to live a Holy life.. So God, who is Holy and wants us to be like Him in every way… made a plan from the very beginning so that we could be Holy…
Second, the Atonement speaks to us about God’s great love for us. God knew that because of sin, we would be unable to meet his requirement… so He sent His own Son as a lamb to be slain on our behalf… to make atonement for our sins… for all mankinds sins.. This atonement was for every single person.. Not just some elect group as some might teach today… This atonement is for you. Do you realize how much God loves you to do what He has done? Think about it.
1. God planned the Atonement - Some so called experts have suggested that the Cross was not planned, that it somehow intruded itself into the situation, and then God made use of it. Anyone who would believe that God can be caught off guard in any way has not interpreted the Scriptures very well… would you agree?
God’s Word teaches us that Christ’s atoning death was in God’s plan all along. It speaks of Christ as the “Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world” Rev. 13:8. Some Seven hundred years before Christ walked this earth, Isaiah had foretold that Christ would suffer death on our behalf in Isaiah 53.
What did Jesus say himself? “For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45
Make no mistake.. Jesus Christ came to earth for the purpose of giving His life on our behalf. Think about it today… There is one who has died in your place, who has taken upon Himself all of your sins, those already committed and those that might ever be committed… He has died so that you could be free to serve and love God and know His Holiness… know God in a personal way….. Is there anyone else that would do such a thing?
2. Why Blood in the Atonement? Blood is very significant for the Atonement. “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Heb. 9:22 Lev. 17:14 tells us that “the life of every creature is it’s blood.”
So we are redeemed through Christ’s death because a life was given… not because any given amount of literal blood was poured upon us. In the OT times the priest drew blood from animals until no life was left in them -- and with that blood made atonement for the sins of the people. That blood represented the life of a perfect animal given for the covering over of sin -- in the sense of healing.
What was happening in the OT was just a picture of what Christ would do for all of mankind in the New Testament.
Our passage this morning says this in 2 Cor. 5: 14-15 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
I’m reminded of a true story that happened some 20 years ago in Chicago. It was a great meeting of leaders from every known religion, they came from all over the world. There were many long and well prepared speeches given, as you could imagine.
During one session, Dr. Joseph Cook, of Boston, suddenly rose and said, “Gentleman, I beg to introduce to you a woman with a great sorrow. Bloodstains are on her hands, and nothing she has tried will remove them. The blood is that of murder, and nothing will take away the stain. She has been driven to desperation in her distress. Is there anything in your religion that will remove her sin and give her peace and Hope? A hush fell upon the gathering as the speaker turned from one to another for an answer. Not one of the company replied.
Raising his eyes heavenward, Dr. Cook then cried out, “I will ask another question. John, can you tell this woman how to get rid of her awful sin?” The great preacher waited, as if listening for a reply…. Suddenly he cried, “Listen, John speaks: “the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” 1 Jn. 1:7
Not a soul broke the silence; the representatives of Eastern Religions and Western cults sat dumb and silent. In the face of human need, they were without a message of hope. The Gospel of Jesus Christ alone can meet the need.
“And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”
Today, who are you living for? This atonement that we have talked about was made for you. Have you accepted God’s awesome grace, His Son as your personal savior? Christians… are you living for yourselves or are you living for the One who died for you?
Today I know this… Jesus Christ died for my sins, and your sins… He arose and now he sits at the right hand of the Father interceding on your behalf, and mine. If you need his forgiveness for sins… by His grace His Holy Spirit will make it clear to you… in your heart of hearts you will feel this great need to pray and ask God for forgiveness… this isn’t a bad thing…this is God’s grace reaching out to you.. Wanting you to know what true peace and contentment can be like… do you know that your sins are forgiven and that your in right relationship with God? You can… 1 John 1:9 says this.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Through the Blood of Jesus you can have all your sins covered, cleansed, removed, washed away… moved away from you as far as the East is from the West… in other words…Never to be brought up again in God’s sight….. It’s almost unbelievable.. But it’s true.. I’ve experienced it… God’s Word is true… You can be Free… what will you choose today… If God is speaking to you this morning, maybe he’s been talking to you for a long time… you can respond to Him this morning, and here at New Hope our church is filled with people who have made this decision, and they would love to help you pray if you would like… this morning as we close with this song.. We are going to stand, and if you feel like God has been talking to you… come forward, bring a friend… I would be glad to pray with you… but you respond to God as he speaks to you… and you can experience this Atonement for sins for yourself and know the freedom that comes from living in Peace with God.
Sing.
