The Work of Christ The Atonement

Introduction Why did Christ have to die? What does it mean that we need “atonement” for our sins? Today, most people do not believe they need any atonement for their sins.

INtroduction We’ve established that Man is sinful, Christ is able to save us because of his humanity and deity Now, what is the extent of this work? Why was it necessary for Christ to make atonement?

Introduction Christ’s redemptive work on the cross is central to the Christian faith This work is called “the atonement” Atonement simply means “at-one-ment” The Atonement reverses separation caused by sin and reconciles us to God.

Foundations of the Atonement: the Love of God Why did Jesus come to save us? Why did Jesus take on human flesh and choose to be obedient unto death even if that death leads to a cross? John Murray, “No treatment of the atonement can be properly oriented that does not trace its source to the free and Sovereign love of God.”

Foundations of the Atonement: the Love of God The Cause and the source of the atonement is the love of God. John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son….” Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Foundations of the Atonement: the Love of God It’s the supreme expression of God’s love due to the extreme costliness of the sacrifice – the Father sacrifices His own Son! The costliness of Christ’s sacrifice assures us of the greatness of God’s love for His people.

The Necessity of the Atonement – God’s Justice Was the atonement necessary? Could God have done this another way? Did Christ really have to die? What does the Scripture say about the atonement and its necessity?

The Necessity of the Atonement – the Justice of God Two concepts: The Holiness of God Because God is perfectly holy, he requires perfect holiness to share his fellowship and abide in him. The Sinfulness of Man. All men are sinful (Rom. 3:23), our sins creates separation between us and God (Isaiah 59:2)

The Necessity of the Atonement – the Justice of God The righteous demands of God’s law, the unchanging nature of his holiness, and the unflinching demands of his justice that God must punish sin. If God allowed evil and sin to go unpunished, we would say that God is unrighteous or unjust.

The Necessity of the Atonement – the Justice of God Hebrews 2 says, “In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God…should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering…For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people (v. 10, 17).”

The Necessity of the Atonement – the Justice of God While it was not inherently necessary for God to save anyone, he still purposed salvation for mankind. But in order for God to redeem men and women from their sins, there had to be a perfect sacrifice to perfectly satisfy the demands of God’s holiness and justice.

Atonement in OT: The Sacrificial System Through the Law and the Prophets, God repeatedly showed the problem of sin and the need for his justice to be satisfied through the substitutionary atonement. This would accomplish reconciliation Four main characteristics about sacrifices for atonement.

Four main characteristics about sacrifices for atonement. 1. They had to be offered voluntarily – Coercion eliminates any idea of true sorrow or repentance 2. They had to be offered on behalf of the guilty party – an individual had to pay the cost for his sins, substitution had to be made for him

Four main characteristics about sacrifices for atonement. 3. The sacrifice had to be without defect – Perfect purity was required (Lev. 22:21). An injured or blemished animal would not be considered acceptable to God. Only the healthy would be an acceptable offering for the sick.   4. The sacrifice had to involve the loss of blood (or life) of the victim in exchange for the worshipper – It clearly indicated that the punishment for sin is death to the sinner, and blood is required to atone for it.

Atonement in the New Testament Galatians 4:4-5 “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.” The Atonement is a one time event that cannot occur again.

The Nature of the Atonement The primary emphasis of Christ’s work is not on us, but on the Father. “Jesus obeyed the Father in our place and perfectly met the demands of the law.” W. Grudem, Systematic Theology, p. 570. Jesus’ purpose for coming down from heaven was not to do his will but to do the will of the Father who sent him (John 6:38).

The nature of the atonement The obedience of Christ is separated into two categories: active and passive Christ’s active obedience means he obeyed the requirements of the law in our place and was perfectly obedient to the Father’s will as our representative It is through Jesus’ obedience brought to fullness at the cross that makes Christ an all-sufficient and perfect Savior.

The Nature of the Atonement Christ’s passive obedience means that Jesus took on the penalty for our sins and died for those sins Christ’s passive obedience does not mean that Jesus was an involuntary victim of affliction imposed upon him or was a passive recipient of his suffering. (Heb. 5:8 - 9)

The Language of the Atonement 1. Sacrificial and Ritual Language Ephesians 2:13 – “Now in Christ Jesus you who were once far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.” Romans 5:9 – “Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him!”

The Language of the Atonement 2. Redemption: Language of the Prison/Marketplace Matthew 20:28 – “…The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Revelation 5:9 – “You were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God out of every tribe and language and people and nation.” This theme in the New Testament captures the idea that [1] people are slaves to sin, [2] that a payment is required for freedom, and [3] that Jesus paid the ransom for the sins of His people.

The Language of the Atonement 3. Reconciliation: Language of Relationship There’s a broken relationship, and Christ came to restore it.  Romans 5:10 – “For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!”

The Language of the Atonement 4. Justification: Language of the Law Court This idea emphasizes [1] the reality of our legal guilt, [2] the reality of a penalty to be paid, and [3] Jesus (God Himself) as the one who pays the penalty for us. Acts 13:39 – “Through Him (i.e., Christ) everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from through the law of Moses.” 1 Corinthians 6:11 – “…But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

Theories of the Atonement 1. The Ransom to Satan Theory. Idea that Satan held us Ransom, Christ “paid the ransom for us” The problem: this theory makes Satan more powerful than God and Christ. Modern churches do not hold to this theory because it emphasizes Satan as the one whom a ransom is owed. The ransom is owed to God, Jesus pays our ransom to God himself.

Theories of the Atonement 2. Governmental Theory Holds that because God is omnipotent, he did not actually have to require payment for sins, he could merely just forgive sins. The purpose of Christ’s death was to demonstrate that God’s laws had been broken and some kind of penalty would be required. The problem: Christ never actually pays for the penalty for actual sins of anyone. This theory of atonement merely serves as a deterrent from future offenses by man.

Theories of Atonement The Governmental theory does not account for those places in Scripture that affirm Jesus dies for the sin of the world. To say that no penalty for sin is required and God could just forgive them completely misunderstands the justice of God.

Theories of Atonement 3. Moral Influence Theory Jesus died on the cross to provide an example to rebellious humanity of how they should live before God. The theory follows: Upon looking at Christ’s sacrifice, one will be compelled to a grateful response to God’s love, and are forgiven because of this love. Problem: Avoids God’s hatred for sin, ignores the reality of God’s punishment of sin and our desperate need for reconciliation. This theory ends up arguing that man can save himself, if you only follow Christ’s example.

Conclusion A note on these theories: They are how some wanted to explain the atonement, most orthodox, evangelical Christians do not hold to these theories.